EDDIE HEARN has told Shakur Stevenson to come back to boxing whenever he is ready to stop sulking.
Stevenson, regarded as one of the most talented boxers in the world at just 26, announced a shock retirement online.
He posted: “I’m officially retiring from the sport of boxing I’ll be in the gym forever perfecting my craft and helping the next generation become great and chase they dreams but I ain’t (f*** with) this weak boxing game.”
Stevenson, 26, has been campaigning to challenge for the vacant WBO lightweight world title against Emanuel Navarrete, 29.
But the organisation instead picked Denys Berinchyk, 35, to fight Navarrete for the belt vacated by Devin Haney, 25.
So an enraged Stevenson – who holds the WBC 135lb title – announced his retirement in protest.
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But boxing promoter Hearn is not buying it.
He told FightHype: “It’s ridiculous. Like I don’t even know why we give this kind of stuff airtime.
“Like, Shakur Stevenson, one of the best pound for pound fighters on the planet, he’s so boring. How old is the guy, 26?
“Of course he’s not retiring. Just say to him, ‘Alright, mate. Bye. Come back to us when you’ve finished your tantrum.’
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“What Shakur Stevenson should be doing is actually getting off Twitter because I rate him as one of the top fighters in the world.
“Do you think a fan wants to read about Shakur Stevenson sulking about the politics of boxing and saying he’s retiring and then when he comes back, what, do you expect people to support him even more?”
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Despite Stevenson’s claim, he has opened the door to a swift return for the right price and fight.
He said: “I’m waiting for the opportunity for me to come out of retirement.
“I got a WBC belt. So all roads to undisputed, being at 135, it come through me.
“We can already see them unifying, Lomachenko and a Navarrete fight.
“They can’t become the undisputed champion without coming to get the WBC strap off of me.
“They can do whatever they want, but I’m still going to be right here waiting on everybody. My opportunity got to come.
“There’s no way of becoming undisputed at 135 without one of those dudes coming to see me.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
