STEVENSON SLAMS 'UNDERWHELMING' JIBE: HAS THE 'FEAR' FACTOR GONE?

Shakur Stevenson, the American slickster, has been quick to jab back at claims that some of boxing's recent big fights haven't lived up to the hype. A reporter dared to suggest that bouts like Naoya Inoue vs. Jason Moloney and Teofimo Lopez vs. Masayoshi Nakatani were 'underwhelming'. Stevenson, never one to shy from a verbal spar, fired back. He reckons these fights were 'great' and that the problem lies with fans and media expecting too much. It's a proper debate, this. Are we, the boxing faithful, getting too spoiled by the all-out wars of yesteryear? Or is the 'sweet science' sometimes just a bit too… scientific?

Stevenson's point, if you read between the lines, is that a masterclass of skill, movement, and tactical brilliance can be just as compelling as a slugfest. He’s a purist, no doubt. But for the punters who pay good money, they want fireworks. They want to see a proper tear-up, a bit of grit, a chin tested. Think Benn vs. Eubank, or Hatton against Tszyu – fights that had you on the edge of your seat, not just admiring the footwork. It's a fine line. The art of boxing is beautiful, but sometimes, you just want to see someone get lamped. Stevenson might be a future legend, but he needs to remember what puts bums on seats and keeps the sport alive on the cobbles.