Shakur Stevenson vs. Isaac Cruz - WBC Ordered

[Ruthless-RKO]

Shakur Stevenson-Isaac Cruz Lightweight Eliminator Ordered By WBC At Its Convention

Opposing business interests could prevent Shakur Stevenson and Isaac Cruz from fighting at any point in the near future.

Those two lightweight contenders are represented by competing promoters and appear on different networks, but that didn’t stop the WBC from ordering a final elimination match Wednesday between Stevenson and Cruz. Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the WBC, announced during the sanctioning organization’s convention in Acapulco, Mexico that Stevenson and Cruz must fight next if they want a chance to become the WBC’s mandatory challenger in the 135-pound division.

The 24-year-old Cruz is the WBC’s second-ranked contender for boxing’s undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney (29-0, 15 KOs), whom Sulaiman confirmed is expected to defend his IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO belts against former champ Vasiliy Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) in his next fight.

Mexico City’s Cruz (24-2-1, 17 KOs) knocked out countryman Eduardo Ramirez (27-3-3, 12 KOs) in the second round of his most recent action, which was scheduled as a 12-round WBC elimination match September 4 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The 25-year-old Stevenson, a former featherweight and junior lightweight champion, is listed fourth in the WBC’s most recent rankings at lightweight. Stevenson figures to move up to the third spot when its next ratings are released because Australia’s George Kambosos Jr. (20-2, 10 KOs), the former champion, lost a 12-round unanimous decision to Haney in their immediate rematch October 16 at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

The left-handed Stevenson relinquished his WBC and WBO 130-pound championships when he couldn’t make weight the day before his last fight.

Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) came in 1½ pounds overweight September 22 and announced he would move up to the lightweight division. The 2016 Olympic silver medalist beat Brazilian contender Robson Conceicao (17-2, 8 KOs) by unanimous decision the next night at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Stevenson’s hometown.

Like Haney and Lomachenko, Stevenson is promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc.

Haney’s next fight, which presumably will come against Ukraine’s Lomachenko, will mark the end of Haney’s three-fight agreement with Top Rank. It is unclear whether Haney, win or lose against Lomachenko, will remain in the lightweight division thereafter because it has become increasingly difficult for the 24-year-old Haney to make its 135-pound limit.

[AngryGoon38]

Shakur Stevenson-Isaac Cruz Lightweight Eliminator Ordered By WBC At Its Convention

Opposing business interests could prevent Shakur Stevenson and Isaac Cruz from fighting at any point in the near future.

Those two lightweight contenders are represented by competing promoters and appear on different networks, but that didn’t stop the WBC from ordering a final elimination match Wednesday between Stevenson and Cruz. Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the WBC, announced during the sanctioning organization’s convention in Acapulco, Mexico that Stevenson and Cruz must fight next if they want a chance to become the WBC’s mandatory challenger in the 135-pound division.

The 24-year-old Cruz is the WBC’s second-ranked contender for boxing’s undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney (29-0, 15 KOs), whom Sulaiman confirmed is expected to defend his IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO belts against former champ Vasiliy Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) in his next fight.

Mexico City’s Cruz (24-2-1, 17 KOs) knocked out countryman Eduardo Ramirez (27-3-3, 12 KOs) in the second round of his most recent action, which was scheduled as a 12-round WBC elimination match September 4 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The 25-year-old Stevenson, a former featherweight and junior lightweight champion, is listed fourth in the WBC’s most recent rankings at lightweight. Stevenson figures to move up to the third spot when its next ratings are released because Australia’s George Kambosos Jr. (20-2, 10 KOs), the former champion, lost a 12-round unanimous decision to Haney in their immediate rematch October 16 at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

The left-handed Stevenson relinquished his WBC and WBO 130-pound championships when he couldn’t make weight the day before his last fight.

Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) came in 1½ pounds overweight September 22 and announced he would move up to the lightweight division. The 2016 Olympic silver medalist beat Brazilian contender Robson Conceicao (17-2, 8 KOs) by unanimous decision the next night at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Stevenson’s hometown.

Like Haney and Lomachenko, Stevenson is promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc.

Haney’s next fight, which presumably will come against Ukraine’s Lomachenko, will mark the end of Haney’s three-fight agreement with Top Rank. It is unclear whether Haney, win or lose against Lomachenko, will remain in the lightweight division thereafter because it has become increasingly difficult for the 24-year-old Haney to make its 135-pound limit.

Lomachenko is 17-2. You put 16-2.
I think that he should move back down to 126, if possible. If not, then 130.
He's Very Obviously Way Too Small for 135. With Stevenson leaving 130, this would be the ideal time for Loma to win a belt at Jr-Lw(130). For 135(LW), and/or 140 jrWW bouts, I'd Much Rather see Haney vs guy's like Garcia, Tank, Lopez, Catteral or Taylor.
If Pitbull Cruz could get down to 130 then Loma-Cruz would be Very Interesting. They'd Both have Extra Speed and stamina if they both dropped down to 130. It'd be a thrilling and entertaining bout. They're both too small for 135.

[Ruthless-RKO]

That article from Boxing Scene

[Bandog]

Shakur Stevenson-Isaac Cruz Lightweight Eliminator Ordered By WBC At Its Convention

Opposing business interests could prevent Shakur Stevenson and Isaac Cruz from fighting at any point in the near future.

Those two lightweight contenders are represented by competing promoters and appear on different networks, but that didn’t stop the WBC from ordering a final elimination match Wednesday between Stevenson and Cruz. Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the WBC, announced during the sanctioning organization’s convention in Acapulco, Mexico that Stevenson and Cruz must fight next if they want a chance to become the WBC’s mandatory challenger in the 135-pound division.

The 24-year-old Cruz is the WBC’s second-ranked contender for boxing’s undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney (29-0, 15 KOs), whom Sulaiman confirmed is expected to defend his IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO belts against former champ Vasiliy Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) in his next fight.

Mexico City’s Cruz (24-2-1, 17 KOs) knocked out countryman Eduardo Ramirez (27-3-3, 12 KOs) in the second round of his most recent action, which was scheduled as a 12-round WBC elimination match September 4 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The 25-year-old Stevenson, a former featherweight and junior lightweight champion, is listed fourth in the WBC’s most recent rankings at lightweight. Stevenson figures to move up to the third spot when its next ratings are released because Australia’s George Kambosos Jr. (20-2, 10 KOs), the former champion, lost a 12-round unanimous decision to Haney in their immediate rematch October 16 at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

The left-handed Stevenson relinquished his WBC and WBO 130-pound championships when he couldn’t make weight the day before his last fight.

Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) came in 1½ pounds overweight September 22 and announced he would move up to the lightweight division. The 2016 Olympic silver medalist beat Brazilian contender Robson Conceicao (17-2, 8 KOs) by unanimous decision the next night at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Stevenson’s hometown.

Like Haney and Lomachenko, Stevenson is promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc.

Haney’s next fight, which presumably will come against Ukraine’s Lomachenko, will mark the end of Haney’s three-fight agreement with Top Rank. It is unclear whether Haney, win or lose against Lomachenko, will remain in the lightweight division thereafter because it has become increasingly difficult for the 24-year-old Haney to make its 135-pound limit.

Lomachenko is 17-2. You put 16-2.
I think that he should move back down to 126, if possible. If not, then 130.
He's Very Obviously Way Too Small for 135. With Stevenson leaving 130, this would be the ideal time for Loma to win a belt at Jr-Lw(130). For 135(LW), and/or 140 jrWW bouts, I'd Much Rather see Haney vs guy's like Garcia, Tank, Lopez, Catteral or Taylor.
If Pitbull Cruz could get down to 130 then Loma-Cruz would be Very Interesting. They'd Both have Extra Speed and stamina if they both dropped down to 130. It'd be a thrilling and entertaining bout. They're both too small for 135.

Maybe Canelo, when he turns 34 or 35, he can drop down to 154 again, since he's short for anything higher. He's about an inch taller than Lomachenko.

[margaret thatcher]

lol, what the hell does canelo have to do with this

shak would box cruz's head off

[gilgamesh]

Why in the f*ck? Do we have to watch all the top guys in Boxing bat around the same f*cking punching bag back and forth amongst themselves for 2 years before anybody even talks about fighting each other?

You need a tune up to get people excited fine. Negotiate it, and fight the damn fight within like 2 months. That's all it should take to get an insignificant fight against an insignificant opponent out of the way.

[KiwiRider]

That article from Boxing Scene

And they said in an article about the WBO conference where they mandated it-that this bout was 'highly unlikely'
And yet they still chunder out an article about it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Shakur Stevenson Welcomes Isaac Cruz Title Eliminator: “I Don’t Duck And Dodge Anybody”

“I don’t duck and dodge anybody,” said Stevenson on his social media account when asked if he’ll fight Cruz.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Bob Arum Says Isaac Cruz Doesn’t Want Shakur Stevenson Fight, Doubts It Happens

“I don’t think so. I don’t think Cruz is really anxious to fight him because I don’t think anybody is really anxious to fight Shakur. So, I don’t think that fight will happen,” said Bob Arum to spam, reacting to the WBC ordering Shakur Stevenson and Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz to fight during the sanctioning body’s convention on Wednesday.

“I think we’ll go in a different direction for Shakur. Because there are four sanctioning bodies,” said Arum when asked what happens when a sanctioning body orders a fight, but the promoters don’t want to make the contest.

“Cruz will probably look to fight somebody else for another sanctioning body’s mandatory, and we’ll do the same with Shakur.

“If I’m wrong, we’ve reached out to Sean Gibbons. Shakur will obviously fight anybody at 135 because he’s a fantastic fighter, and I don’t blame Cruz for not wanting to fight him.

“100%,” said Arum about whether he’d be interested in making the Stevenson-Cruz fight if Pitbull and his promoters were interested in fighting Shakur.

“I can’t really see anybody other than the top, top guys, like Haney or Lomachenko, being anything other than an easy fight for Shakur. He’s that good,” said Arum.

[Bandog]

I hope Arum is wrong. Never would guess pitbull would turn down a fight.

[KiwiRider]

I hope Arum is wrong. Never would guess pitbull would turn down a fight.

Essentially he is the boss.
It's the reason why some fighters start their own production company, so they can get the fights they want done. GGG did it to great effect.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Just an honest duck.

Call Loma easier.. but then say SS is boring.

I’m sure Arum will pay Cruz more money to fight Stevenson than to fight Loma.

[Mexi-Box]

Just an honest duck.

Call Loma easier.. but then say SS is boring.

I’m sure Arum will pay Cruz more money to fight Stevenson than to fight Loma.

Stevenson is boring. They have to pay a premium because it's not even boxing when he'sin the ring it's a marathon.

[Bandog]

Cruz turned down a couple others besides Stevenson. Too bad. The "boring" excuse basically means he will out badly outclassed, and schooled. Learn to cut off the ring.

[Mexi-Box]

Cruz turned down a couple others besides Stevenson. Too bad. The "boring" excuse basically means he will out badly outclassed, and schooled. Learn to cut off the ring.

Money dries up at some point. Arum seems to have not learned his lesson from Rigondeaux and Crawford. The old man can throw money at boring fighters all he wants, but at the end of the day, you can't buy fans.

Go watch Bailey/Alexander and tell me that's good for boxing. Stevenson is boring.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Stevenson: "If Little Puppy Cruz Doesn't Want Fight, Bring On Zepeda, Kambosos"

“If the little puppy [Cruz] doesn’t want to fight let’s get who is next in line. Isn’t it William Zepeda or George Kambosos Jr.? It doesn’t really matter. I’m ready to smoke someone regardless,” Stevenson said on social media.

“Because Zepeda is the one whooping people, he’s the so-called boogeyman so let’s see what the hype is about.”

“I don’t get my credit for [the Valdez win because] I made it look too easy,” said Stevenson. “I have to make these fights closer for me to get the credit I deserve.

“I’m locked in with no fight date, no opponent, but I’m getting ready for all of y’all.”

[AngryGoon38]

Why in the f*ck? Do we have to watch all the top guys in Boxing bat around the same f*cking punching bag back and forth amongst themselves for 2 years before anybody even talks about fighting each other?

You need a tune up to get people excited fine. Negotiate it, and fight the damn fight within like 2 months. That's all it should take to get an insignificant fight against an insignificant opponent out of the way.

Welcome to the modern age of """ Business Boxing """.
Where Boxing is at least 99% for Maximizing Business Profit negotiations and 1 % at best for the fans of Boxing.

[Mexi-Box]

I don't know if it's fair here to say "what's best for fans" when referring to Stevenson.

Him and Mick Conlan were being shoved down our throats for a good while due to their Olympic pedigree, but they were/are television poison.

Maybe the onus should be on them to start being more exciting in the ring and get fan clamor. I've yet to see an exciting Stevenson fight.

Cruz would fight Tank and Garcia in a heartbeat because they bring excitement and fans.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Stevenson has called Zepeda’s bluff.

“Yo, William Zepeda, offer was sent today,” Stevenson tweeted out, tagging Zepeda on the post after being called out by the red-hot contender.

[KiwiRider]

I don't know if it's fair here to say "what's best for fans" when referring to Stevenson.

Him and Mick Conlan were being shoved down our throats for a good while due to their Olympic pedigree, but they were/are television poison.

Maybe the onus should be on them to start being more exciting in the ring and get fan clamor. I've yet to see an exciting Stevenson fight.

Cruz would fight Tank and Garcia in a heartbeat because they bring excitement and fans.

Television poison?
There are way more boring fighters out there. Conlan is a little gun shy after being knocked out of the ring, but that's understandable - it was a sickening KO. Stevenson is a little shy to engage and defensive minded, but very talented, and I appreciate that. Wait until he is really up against it and we will find out what he is made of.