Shakur Stevenson Names His Dream Fight: A Mayweather Chess Match

Shakur Stevenson is undefeated at 25-0 with the WBO super-lightweight belt around his waist, and he's still hunting for his next opponent. But ask him which fighter he'd most want to share a ring with, and he doesn't hesitate: Floyd Mayweather, the man who walked away 50-0 with world titles in five weight classes.

Speaking on the Ball In The Family Podcast, Stevenson said the appeal isn't the highlight reel — it's the brain. He described Mayweather as one of the smartest fighters he's ever watched and said what fascinates him is the idea of two high-IQ operators trying to out-think each other for 12 rounds. For a boxer whose whole game is built on defense and problem-solving, that's a telling pick.

It makes sense on paper. Stevenson has never lost, but only 11 of his 25 wins have come by stoppage — this is a guy who wins by control, not carnage. His January decision over Teofimo Lopez was vintage Shakur: pick your spots, take zero risks, walk away with the belt and a clean scorecard. That style has drawn plenty of criticism, but it also happens to be the closest thing the modern era has to Mayweather's blueprint.

What's Actually Next

The reality is that the Mayweather bout is pure fantasy — the man's been retired from real boxing for nearly a decade. What Stevenson does need is a live opponent, and the names keep circling. Devin Haney, now the WBO welterweight champion at 33-0 (15 KO), sits at the top of the wishlist, along with O'Shaquie Foster. Neither fight has been announced.

There's also the ghost of unfinished business. Teofimo Lopez, now 22-2 (13 KO) and unranked after that loss, remains a name that moves the needle if Stevenson wants a rematch narrative. But right now, the champion is between chapters with no signed deal.

As for Mayweather himself, he's still keeping his own toe in the water. A rematch with Manny Pacquiao — the two originally met in the fight that shattered gate and pay-per-view records — was set for September before being postponed. That one's now being penciled in for early 2027. So while Stevenson won't be trading counters with Floyd anytime soon, the older man clearly isn't done playing dress-up in the ring.