Shakur Stevenson, the WBC lightweight titleholder, has been criticized heavily for his decision to defend his title against Joe Cordina in his upcoming fight on October 12th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Many boxing fans, including Gervonta Davis’ assistant coach Kenny Ellis, have mocked the choice of opponent, calling it a “huge” fight. However, the backlash against this matchup is justified due to several factors.
One of the main issues with Shakur vs. Cordina is the lack of public interest in the fight. Cordina, who is coming off a knockout loss and has never fought at the 135-pound weight class before, is considered to be only at a domestic level in terms of boxing skill. Additionally, there is no demand for this fight, as U.S. fans, even hardcore boxing enthusiasts, are unfamiliar with Cordina. Placing this bout as the co-feature on a prestigious event like Beterbiev vs. Bivol does not do justice to the overall quality of the card.
Shakur’s decision to face Cordina in an attempt to build his stardom and set himself up for a potential fight against Gervonta Davis has been met with criticism. Despite wanting to increase his popularity, Shakur’s recent lackluster performances have led to a decline in his stock among fans. By choosing an opponent like Cordina, who suffered a recent knockout loss and does not pose a significant challenge, Shakur risks damaging his reputation further.
In the upcoming fight, it is unlikely that Shakur will be able to showcase his true abilities against Cordina. While Cordina hits hard and presents a potential threat, Shakur is expected to box his way to a decision victory rather than take risks in the ring. This risk-averse strategy may prevent Shakur from truly proving himself as a top-level fighter and building the necessary momentum to face elite competition like Gervonta Davis.
Shakur Stevenson’s choice to face Joe Cordina in his next title defense may be a misguided attempt to build his stardom and prepare for bigger challenges in the future. Critics argue that this matchup does not reflect Shakur’s true potential as a fighter and may ultimately harm his reputation in the long run.