I was in the " I don't give Shakur any credit camp", for quite a while.. Now I have to admit his skill level is very high, on reflection Lopez did have the ingredients to showcase his style effectively. When I heard Shakur talking about,,,"Picking guys apart" I understood how he approaches the sport, Hit and don't get hit..don't worry about ko's. A friend of mine who fought at jr middle had a saying that he stuck with during his career, an old cliche' I'm sure, " Box a fighter and fight a boxer". Teofimo couldn't make Shakur fight and got dominated. Now, is there anyone out there who can make Shakur fight?
I've never denied his skill level and talent. I'm not like they are I always recognize and give fighters credit for their talent and skills. But unlike them I also factor in important context. Why? Because context matters big. But that being said, everything I've been saying is true. Outboxing or outboxing your opponent whilst putting yourself in the danger zone and actually taking risks is far more difficult to do, far more impressive and far more entertaining And tiny, small or average sized fighters who turned pro in their mid to late 20s moving up in weight and becoming multi-weight champs whilst beating bigger, much or way bigger opponents who hold big or huge physical advantages over them is far more difficult, far more risky, and far more impressive than massive weight bullies who turned pro in their teens doing so who not only aren't beating bigger opponents but are very often either still much bigger or bigger than their career opponents at those weights in their 2nd, 3rd or 4th weights or at worst are still roughly the same size as them in their 4th, 5th or even 6th weight and who are never having to contend with or try and overcome being at a big or huge size and length advantage Just like winning in your opponent's backyards on a deck stacked against you with a full set of home officials or on the road often or your entire career is far more impressive, risky and difficult than spending your entire career fighting on a deck heavily stacked in your favour with home refs and judges is. The chances of you losing via hook or crook skyrocket when you do one. He doesn't have to fight. As said, you can still outbox and outclass your opponent whilst taking risks and providing some entertainment for the fans and if you're skilful enough you can do so whilst not getting hit or caught clean much at all. As said, Usyk does it often on a deck stacked against him vs much or way bigger guys who are massive punchers vs fighter their own size and bigger. Loma literally had the best combination of offence and defence in the sport whilst being an extremely aggressive fighter and fighting bigger, much or way bigger guys in their backyards with home refs and home judges or on the road and in the only fight he fought tentatively in his career vs a much bigger weight bully in their backyard who was a devastating puncher at that weight whilst being injured he put it on them in the 2nd half of the fight. Shakur stunk the joint out for 12 rounds on a deck heavily stacked in his favour vs a same size Los Santos and he has done so numerous other times too.
Shakur only problem is himself being that he lacks power, and a flamboyant character to build himself into a star.Like a Canelo or Floyd.Beating Teo is on the road to being great in the purists.But he certainly has room for growth in entertainment side of things.Which is lacking at the moment.It goes to show how hard it is to be a household name in baxxin.Legends of the sport are born.Like Duran, Ali, sugar ray, Hearns, Pernell and money may.Kid got big shoes to fill for sure.
Lol maybe, but his wares were on display. Social media has ruint the chance for me to like him. Glad SRL never had to stand up to what he said when the camera was off. Was peak SRL faster? Quicker? Slicker? All these I gotta answer maybe. Stevenson brain trust is unprecedented. S.O.G and Bud are his mentors. SRL was meaner for sure. Bigger testes as well. ****ing SRL tried to slug it out with ****ing Duran. Stevenson lacks that dawg and is being carried by his own hard work at his craft and a genetic win and unequaled mentors. SRL meets him in an alley and beats him to death H2H.
He's the kind of American boxer who is killing the sport, skilled but boring and has no intention to hurt. He's a fencer not a fighter, had no interest in the Lopez fight as I knew it would be a 12 round UD stinker.
He is extremely good at what he does , he has refined his game to be a defensive counter puncher , and sets his stance well and tries to see everything Infront of him at a good safe distance. I see things from Crawford which he picked up , not actually so much in fighting style wise , more small details like staying in control and cool in the ring , showing that elite composure. His control of range is very impressive too , sharp counter puncher, makes you miss by cm and counters well. How to beat him? , someone who would be bigger than him in the ring and take the fight up close, and most probably try to stop him inside the distance , if it goes to the cards it's hard to beat on points because he doesn't let you land much and he himself counters very well ..