News of Gervonta “Tank” Davis facing off against Jake Paul has stirred the boxing world, but Shakur Stevenson says he’s not shocked. Speaking to TMZ Sports, the undefeated former champion explained that Paul’s presence at Davis’ last fight hinted that this matchup was already in the works.
“I’m not shocked,” Stevenson said. “Jake was at Tank’s fight, and he told y’all he was going to fight somebody like Jake Paul. So, it don’t surprise me.”
While the fight announcement has sparked debates about the massive size difference between Davis and Paul, Stevenson doesn’t believe it will make much of a difference in the outcome. Paul, who has weighed near 200 pounds in past bouts, towers over the smaller Davis, who has spent his entire life in the ring. Still, Stevenson doesn’t see a path for Paul. “I can see Tank just outboxing him and making it real easy,” he said. Asked if Paul had any chance, Stevenson was blunt: “No. Not at all… It’s just levels.”
As for how Davis might get it done, Stevenson predicted a decision win rather than a knockout due to Paul’s size. “That guy’s too big. I don’t think he’s just going to knock that guy out,” Stevenson said. “I see him outboxing him.”
Despite the hype, Stevenson admitted he has no plans to tune in. “Hell no,” he laughed. “From the competitive side, it don’t excite me. But from the business side, I understand it. Some checks are just hard to say no to.”
Looking ahead to his own future, Stevenson revealed that he’s eyeing either Teófimo López or Lamont Roach as his next opponent, depending on negotiations. He believes a fight with López could elevate him on the pound-for-pound list, while Roach remains appealing after his recent draw with Davis.
The Newark native also spoke about training alongside his mentor, Terence “Bud” Crawford, ahead of Crawford’s blockbuster bout against Canelo Alvarez. Stevenson is confident in Crawford’s chances, noting that Bud’s power carries into higher weight classes. Still, he acknowledged the risk: “Canelo used to be one of my favorite fighters. He’s bigger, he’s skilled, he’s fast, he’s strong. It’s a big risk. But if anybody can do it, it’s Bud.”
For Stevenson, fights like Crawford vs. Canelo represent what boxing should be—athletes daring to take on the best. “Scared money don’t make no money,” he said. “Real fighters go in there, drop their pride, and they’re not scared to lose. I gotta respect Crawford for what he’s doing for the sport.”
Source: YouTube
