Shakur Stevenson can’t shake off the disappointment from his missed opportunity to face Vasily Lomachenko after stepping up to the lightweight class two years ago in 2023. Feeling let down, Stevenson had admired Lomachenko, a former three-division world champion, and is convinced that Loma avoided a showdown with him.
At the time, Lomachenko might not have considered Stevenson worthy of a fight, given that Shakur hadn’t yet risen to stardom when he entered the lightweight division. Even today, Stevenson is not a household name, and his recent bout with Josh Padley was tucked away in the undercard of Turki Alalshikh’s event on February 22nd.
Reflecting on Lomachenko’s performance against George Kambosos Jr. last year, it’s apparent that Loma’s offensive prowess and power remain formidable. Although now 37, Loma has seen his abilities affected by age, injuries, and a less active career. Nevertheless, he’s still exceptionally skilled, and might just have too much talent for someone like Stevenson, whose game doesn’t pack enough punch to topple a well-rounded fighter such as Lomachenko.
### A Source of Disappointment
When talking to Shakur for Ring Magazine, Chris Mannix asked, “Which unmaterialized fight disappoints you more, Tank Davis or Vasily Lomachenko?”
Shakur responded, “Definitely Lomachenko. With Tank, I always expected that fight would happen on his schedule, given his superstar status. I call for it, say his name, and he might get upset, but it’ll happen when he’s ready.”
He continued, “With Lomachenko, he was someone I looked up to. I saw him as a hero of sorts. So, realizing he might have avoided fighting me was a big letdown. He’s had an incredible career, undeniably a legend, but I still feel he dodged our confrontation.”
Had Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, taken on Stevenson, it’s highly likely that his superior offensive game would have secured him a victory. Shakur’s defense might be solid, but his offense is not up to par for a matchup against someone as complete as Lomachenko.
Recently, Lomachenko’s career has slowed since his active days, possibly influencing his decision not to fight Shakur. In the past couple of years, Loma’s only stepped into the ring against Devin Haney and George Kambosos Jr.
