Shakur Stevenson is already calling his shot - and the name he's calling is Gervonta "Tank" Davis.
Less than three months after taking the WBO super-lightweight title from Teofimo Lopez in January, the Newark native isn't sitting back and waiting for the phone to ring. He's made it publicly clear that Tank is the fight he wants next. And honestly, you don't even need to think twice about why. Stevenson - technically immaculate, a pure southpaw surgeon - against Davis, one of the most explosive finishers in the sport. That's not just a good fight. That's the kind of matchup that defines an era. Styles make fights, and these two styles make a classic.
Here's the thing though - the business side is going to be a mess. Both guys carry serious weight with their promotional and network partners, which means a whole lot of headaches before a single punch gets thrown. That's just boxing. But the will is there on Shakur's end, and Tank has never been shy about wanting the smoke when a big fight comes knocking.
If they actually find their way to the same ring, the super-lightweight division - already one of the most stacked in boxing - gets its defining moment. And look, Stevenson has earned the right to make that call. He didn't just beat Lopez. He outboxed him. Made it look almost easy against a guy who was supposed to be one of the division's biggest names.
Shakur's called his shot. The only question now is whether boxing's promotional machine can get out of its own way long enough to let it happen. We've seen that movie before. Let's hope this time it ends differently.
