By Shakeria Hawkins @ShakeriaAshlee
Time is definitely something the 20-year-old boxer Shakur Stevenson doesn’t take for granted. On Wednesday, Stevenson did not waste any time expressing who he wanted for his next pro bout. Stevenson (6-0, 3 KOs), called out UK boxer Josh Warrington (27-0, 6 KOs), at a public work out at the MGM Grand on Wednesday. When asked who was someone he would like to fight next, he said, “I want Josh Warrington, he got the belt, I want him.”
Photo Credit: Shakur Stevenson Twitter Account
Stevenson is on the undercard Terence Crawford vs. Jeff Horn world championship event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Stevenson, the 2016 U.S. Olympic silver medalist, will face Aelio Mesquia (16-1, 14 KOs), of Brazil, in an eight-round featherweight contest on June 9.
Josh Warrington has held the IBF featherweight since May after upsetting Lee Selby at Elland Road on. Before Stevenson can face IBF featherweight titleholder Warrington he will have to defeat Mesquia on Saturday night.
This is Stevenson’s debut fight in Las Vegas and although Stevenson has not had a fight with more than eight rounds in his pro career confident is something the young fighter doesn’t lack. During an interview, he said that he’s ready for tougher opponents as well as fights with more rounds. Stevenson told boxing fans in the crowd at the end of his public workout to expect a knockout on Saturday night.
“I’ve been in the ring with a lot of different styles in the amateurs that have prepared me for this point. People should expect my best performance as a pro. I’m going to put on a show and knock this guy out,” said Stevenson.
