Promoters Eddie Hearn and Leonard Ellerbe argued back and forth about a potential mega-fight fight between Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Shakur Stevenson.
Hearn told Ellerbe that WBA ‘regular’ lightweight champion Tank Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) needs WBC champ Shakur Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) to give him a “real fight,” and that the two of them would make for a huge mega-clash.
Understandably, Hearn is in a mad rush for the Shakur to get the fight against Tank Davis. The British promoter Hearn signed Shakur to a two-fight deal with his Matchroom company, which some view as an escape route.
The way Shakur looked in his last two fights, he’ll lose sooner or later against one of the contenders, and he’ll be useless to Hearn once that happens.
Ellerbe argued that Shakur can’t beat Tank, and the fight between them will eventually happen. The gist of what Ellerbe was saying to Hearn is that the Tank vs. Shakur fight is not ready to happen. Ellerbe is not saying when, but it seems it needs more time.
Shakur’s stock is too low right now for Tank to fight him. Stevenson is coming off of consecutive lackluster fights against Artem Hartuyunyan and Edwin De Los Santos. Shakur needs a couple of solid wins over Joe Cordina and William Zepeda before a match between him and Tank would be a viable option.
“Tank will be back before the end of the year. We’re looking at a couple of guys right now,” said promoter Leonard Ellerbe to the media about Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis planning on fighting before the end of 2024.
“As it relates to the Shakur Stevenson fight, Tank wants him, but it’s all about the timing of everything.”
“I know we’ve got a two-fight plan with Shakur. Hopeully, he extends. Joe Cordina [on October 12th], and Zepeda in February,” said Eddie Hearn about his plans for Shakur Stevenson. “I think Tank against Shakur is one of the biggest fights in the sport.
“I think Tank is so exceptional that it’s going to take someone as good as Shakur to give him a real fight, and I love that fight,” said Hearn.
“He won’t beat Tank. Shakur can’t beat Tank,” said Ellerbe.
“I disagree. Tank loses rounds,” said Hearn.
“Tank decides to do what he wants to do in certain fights,” said Ellerbe.
“Me and you can have a bet on that fight,” said Hearn.
“Most definitely,” said Ellerbe.
“I think Shakur is the man to beat him,” said Hearn, reiterating his belief that he thinks Stevenson can beat Tank Davis.
“Shakur cannot beat Tank. He’s a very good fighter. I have a lot of respect for him with what he’s done in the ring, and he has a good team around him,” said Ellerbe. “He can’t beat Tank.”
“I disagree with you on that,” said Hearn.
“I don’t want to get into details. He’s won every fight he’s had in the ring, but the business is always different,” said Ellerbe. “We all know what Tank brings to the table. Every time he comes out, you get this [the massive amount of media and fans that Canelo Alvarez is drawing for his fight this Saturday night against Edgar Berlanga.
“So, he’s going to keep doing what he’s doing, and inevitably, those two [Tank and Shakur] will meet in the ring. It will happen, it will definitely happen,” said Ellerbe.
“I agree with you. I’ll say this about Shakur. His fire has been dampened for a long time by people [Top Rank] that knew he was going [leaving at the end of his contract]. He did a big gate in Newark for [Artem Harutyunyan fight on July 6th in New Jersey],” said Hearn about Shakur.
“He was the highest-rated fighter on ESPN this year. Shakur does big numbers, but I didn’t want to tell everyone that he does big numbers. If we keep building him and he comes up against a commercial giant like Tank, Shakur against Tank is one of the great American fights and one of the biggest fights in boxing,” said Hearn.
“He’s a good fighter. What else do you want me to say? He just can’t beat Tank,” said Ellerbe about Stevenson.
“I think your guy [Tank] needs challenges. He’s that good,” said Hearn to Ellerbe.
“He challenges himself,” said Ellerbe, brushing off Hearn.
“There’s no one out there that will give him a real fight,” said Hearn.
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