Even still, they could've done it with someone like Teraji, Janibek, or Fernando Martinez if they were trying to avoid Riyadh-sponsored fighters.
I don't know, there's literally just been some social media drama because Turki said he doesn't wanna book Bivol v Benavidez, then the day after it was confirmed as the next fight.
I'm a Tank fan and I don't think he should've even been there in the first place. I will say however that Haney is still there and he definitely shouldn't be there either and he got humbled way worse than Tank. I don't care if it was a no-contest. So if they're gonna do something like that, be even handed.
I put Teraji in my list. But I'm not so sure what hid is any better than what Shakur and Janibek have done.
Lets look at each boxers more notable wins. Janibek: Rob Front, 37 year old Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam, and Vincenzo Gualtieri. Stevenson: Jamel Herring, Oscar Valdez, Robson Conceicao, Edwin De Los Santos. Teraji: 36 year old(champion) Ganigan Lopez, Pedro Guevara, Milan Melindo, Masamichi Yabuki, Hiroto Kyoguchi, Anthony Olascuaga, 35 year old Hekkie Budler. All 3 also of a few other notable, lower tier wins. But Teraji is clearly above Janibek. And I would put Teraji above Stevenson simply due to his more extensive body of work. I think he is like 15-1 in title fights now, and a lot of those title defenses were against world class opponents.
And if Teraji beats Akui (who is a current champion) this week he's clearly ahead of Janibek and Shakur. Olacuaga who he beat is now a champion and is defending his title against Kyoguchi who Teraji also beat. Yabuki who Teraji beat is also a current Champion. And lastly Carlos Canizales who Teraji beat also should be a champion right now if it wasn't for one of the biggest robberies in recent times when he fought the Thai in Thailand and was robbed. He could have three current champions on his list of victims.
Haney also beat Kambosos, Linares, Prograis, debatably beat Loma, and fought a juiced RyGa to a near-draw despite being KD x3 times. Yeah, Haney way better than Tank.
I really like both Janibek and Shakur but in terms of accomplishments I think Teraji is already solidly ahead of them in terms of accomplishment currently irrespective of the result against Akui. There's a very arguable case that Teraji is a top 5 jr. flyweight based on his sensational run at the weight.