At this point, Shakur Stevenson is just taking what he can get.
Gervonta Davis, William Zepeda, Vasiliy Lomachenko, Denys Berinchyk, or even Raymond Muratalla. Those were the names that Stevenson was hoping would come across his table. Yet, for various reasons, none were available.
As he continued to pursue them, he heard the bombastic callouts of Floyd Schofield. The 22-year-old audaciously claimed that he was the man to take Stevenson out, all he needed was an opportunity. It wasn’t that Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) was afraid but he saw no upside in fighting him. Ultimately, however, with his options getting thinner and thinner, Stevenson figured, why not?
Officially, the two will square off on February 22nd on a stacked card in Saudi Arabia. Now that their matchup is signed, sealed, and delivered, the time for trash talk is over. Stevenson, for the most part, ignored Schofield. But just because he turned a blind eye, doesn't mean he didn’t hear every word he uttered. Schofield, by and large, is still talking. Stevenson though, wants to see if he’s all bark and no bite.
“This little kid thinks he can beat me,” said Stevenson to Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions. “He’s been calling me out my name all the time. Let’s see if he can handle the pressure, the hype, the lights, everything. I wanna see.”
It’s sink or swim time for Schofield. He hasn’t faced a top contender as of yet but he doesn't believe he needed to. Stevenson, from his point of view, is great defensively but offensively? He's lackluster.
Pressure bursts pipes and Schofield is convinced that his pressure will break Stevenson’s will. For The Ring’s No. 3 ranked lightweight and current WBC champion, nevertheless, the young 22-year-old will soon find out what it feels like to swap fists with the upper echelon.
“Honestly, I just know I’m on a whole different level.”