Undefeated American boxer Shakur Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs), the reigning WBO super featherweight world champion, reached out to his fans and left them intrigued by his upcoming plans. The 29-year-old posted a short but eloquent message on his personal Instagram, directly hinting that negotiations over his next bout are in the final stages. 'Big dawg #FightAnnoucementCoupleMoreDays' ('Cool guy #FightAnnouncementInAFewDays'), the American boxer succinctly captioned his post, thereby confirming that the official fight announcement is just around the corner.
Training Camp Under Mayweather's Wing
Stevenson is currently undergoing an intense training camp, preparing under the watchful eye of legendary Floyd Mayweather's team. As is well known, Stevenson has previously called Mayweather 'the smartest fighter in the history of boxing,' and their collaboration has gone far beyond simple sparring — coach and protégé have built a full-fledged preparation system. It is precisely in Mayweather's gym that the champion is working through the final touches ahead of his upcoming ring appearance, while the name of his potential opponent remains under strict wraps. The official fight announcement is expected to appear within days, in line with the hashtag in Stevenson's post.
Division Landscape: Who Is Contending for Unification
To grasp the scale of the upcoming event, it is necessary to look at the current picture in the super featherweight division. In addition to Stevenson (WBO), the world champions in this category are Gary Russell (WBA), Dalton Smith (WBC) and Richardson Hitchins (IBF). Four belts — four different holders, which makes any potential Stevenson bout with one of them automatically a unification fight. It is precisely this configuration of the division that fuels speculation that the announced fight could become the key event of the year in super featherweight.
Expert Predictions: Unification Bout or Top Contender?
Experts, commenting on Stevenson's intriguing post, assume two main scenarios. The first — a unification bout with one of the three other world champions, which would be a logical step for a boxer with a 25-0 record and mandatory challenger status. The second scenario — a clash with another top contender in the division who does not hold a belt but has sufficient ranking for a marquee match. In either case, the choice of opponent will determine not only the sporting but also the commercial significance of the future event. For now, Stevenson remains silent about his opponent's name, which only intensifies fan interest.
Context: From Opponent to Mentor
The relationship between Stevenson and Mayweather has become one of the most discussed stories in the boxing world in recent years. After Mayweather retired, he switched to the role of trainer and manager, and Stevenson became one of his key protégés. The boxer himself has repeatedly emphasized that working with Mayweather radically changed his approach to preparation and ring tactics. Now, as the fight announcement is about to be made, the entire boxing world will be watching exactly whom 'Floyd' has chosen for his protégé — and what kind of blow this will land on the division.
