WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs) insists that Turki Alalshikh needs to make the battle between him and Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis following Shakur’s three-knockdown, ninth-round technical knockout victory over his little-known backup opponent Josh Padley (15-1, 4 KOs) on Saturday evening on the Kingdom Area in Riyadh.
Weak Opponent
It was goal follow or Shakur tonight, as he was touchdown jabs and energy photographs at will in opposition to Padley. Within the sixth, Stevenson re-injured his surgically repaired left hand and was largely pressured to battle with simply his proper the remainder of the way in which. Three rounds later, Shakur dropped Padley thrice in spherical 9, and his nook had the battle stopped.
Introduced in as a substitute opponent, Padley confirmed no energy or velocity within the battle and was unable to supply a lot competitors in opposition to Stevenson. Padley did land on photographs as a result of Stevenson was preventing extra aggressively than he usually does as a result of he was going through a weak puncher in a scenario the place his again was in opposition to the wall. He wanted a powerful efficiency to strengthen his place of deserving a giant payday battle in opposition to Tank Davis.
The massive query is whether or not Turki will need to spend some huge cash on a battle between Shakur and Tank after tonight’s efficiency. There are extra thrilling fighters with higher expertise at light-weight who can be higher choices.
Shakur appeared very common in opposition to a straightforward opponent that almost all high 15-level fighters at light-weight would have destroyed in three rounds. He needs credit score for a straightforward battle and is hoping that Turki will line up a giant payday in opposition to Tank that he doesn’t deserve.
“Turki needs to make the battle, too. As soon as once more, it’s the most important battle in boxing,” stated Shakur to the media after his win over Padley tonight. “He need it. I would like it. Now, its all as much as Tank,” continued Shakur.
“It means all the pieces,” stated Shakur when instructed that Terence Crawford referred to as him his ‘little brother. “I’m an elite-level fighter. I’m on the very best talent degree. I’ve obtained my brothers coming right here to assist me. I can hearken to him just a little bit extra as a result of he is aware of what he’s speaking about.”
