Shakur Names Who He Wants To face After De Los Santos
Shakur Stevenson and Edwin De Los Santos’ public workouts took place in the run-up to their boxing bout on November 16th, 2023, as the former named his ideal next opponent.
The vacant WBC lightweight belt is on the line after Stevenson enforced his mandatory position. That resulted in Devin Haney moving up to 140 to take on Regis Prograis, as the ‘Dream’ was stripped. In response, the WBC ordered Shakur to face the next highest-ranked fighter. Vasiliy Lomachenko was ruled out after the Ukrainian confirmed he would not fight in 2023. Meanwhile, a fight with Frank Martin broke down as the fighter demanded a 50-50 split just when an agreement appeared close. That is when De Los Santos stepped up to the plate in the hope of pulling off a shock.
Quotes
Thursday night’s attraction 💫@ShakurStevenson x #ShakurDeLosSantos pic.twitter.com/vsiN8qZ7nb
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) November 13, 2023
“I can’t wait. It’s going to be very exciting. You’ve got the tough Edwin De Los Santos, but I’m here to whoop his a**! We can’t think about what comes after. I’m not worried about after. We’ve got a job to do Thursday night. I’m coming here to get my belt. I think that Edwin is a good fighter. I think he’s more of a boxer than what he’s trying to act like. So, he’s going to try to move around. And I’m going to figure him out by the fourth round,” Stevenson
“Estamos pa’ pelear” 🇩🇴 @EdwinLaGranada #ShakurDeLosSantos | 16 DE NOV | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/zMjjySFq9w
— Top Rank en Español (@trboxeo) November 13, 2023
“We are not here to hesitate. We are here to fight. We accepted the fight, and we are going for it. I think at one point I was being underestimated. But now he has accepted the reality that he is going to have a very tough fight. I feel very good because it is one of my dreams to be in Las Vegas and fight for a world title, which will happen this November 16,” De Los Santos
Outside of the De Los Santos fight, Stevenson had his eyes on a fight against Lomachenko. And since both fighters are with Top Rank, a fight would be easier to make. And given that Loma would present the toughest test of Shakur’s career, the focus was on the Ukrainian moving forward.
“On Thursday night, me and Edwin in the ring, and I’m going to f** him up. I think that’s a distracting fight because I’m supposed to be fighting Lomachenko. Edwin first, but next should be Lomachenko. That’s the big fight, that’s the fight that should be next. One of the best two fighters in the division going head-to-head,” Shakur