Paulie Malignaggi believes that regardless of the strength in depth at both lightweight and super lightweight, one man stands above all of the others.
The outspoken New Yorker thinks that when all is said and done, that Shakur Stevenson will rise above his contemporaries, including Gervonta “Tank” Davis if they were to ever box.
Newark star Stevenson is 21-0 (10 KOs) and a talented former Olympian who failed to dazzle last time out posting a decision win over Edwin De Los Santos in November.
But Malignaggi is sold on Stevenson’s talent.
“Excitement value and effectiveness don’t necessarily go hand in hand,” said Malignaggi. “I know Gervonta is a more exciting fighter, I know he’s more of a fan-favourite, but Shakur Stevenson’s effectiveness makes him the best fighter between 135-pounds and 140. Nobody beats him between those weight classes, even those weight classes are stacked with talent.
“I know Gervonta’s a fan-favourite, there’s an emotional response when people are fan favourites of a fighter. We see it with Canelo all the time, people love a fighter so much that they start going in to denial about what he can do, and I do believe that Gervonta Davis’ boxing ability is underrated because he punches so hard, people more focus on his power, but Shakur Stevenson is the most cerebral fighter in boxing today.”
Southpaw Stevenson turned pro in 2017, and his inner-circle includes the likes of Terence Crawford and Andre Ward. Stevenson won the vacant WBC lightweight belt against De Los Santos
“This guy is the best pure boxer in the sport, no one can touch him, no one can beat him, including elite level guys,” Malignaggi continued, during a ProBox TV Sparring Sessions show. “Shakur Stevenson would beat Gervonta Davis and he’d make it look pretty easy.
“I’ll tell you what, Gervonta’s power is always a wild card, but Shakur Stevenson is way too good. Shakur is the most effective fighter in the sport. It wasn’t exciting against De Los Santos, he still dominated a dangerous guy, a guy who’s a dangerous puncher, it doesn’t matter how exciting you think he was.
“We’re talking about who wins. Whether it’s exciting, whether it’s boring, Shakur will beat you and that’s the bottom line.
“If he’s looked at the right way, he will be the No. 1 fighter pound-for-pound in the world one day.”