Arum says “optimistic” that Shakur (21-0, 10 KOs) will want to stay with Top Rank, just as Vasily Lomachenko did when his contract experienced and he became a free agent.
If Shakur re-signs with Arum, one possible fight for him could be against the winner of tonight’s match between Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr. Those two are fighting for the vacant IBF lightweight title in Perth, Australia.
Shakur has developed a bad reputation for being a boring fighter who doesn’t come to fight and is not worth fighting.
Hopefully, Arum knows what’s in store for him if he extends Shakur’s contract with Top Rank.
In the past, Arum was less than pleased with Cuban talent Guillermo Rigondeaux when he was with Top Rank. Rigondeaux had a far more entertaining style than Shakur, yet Arum didn’t seem excited about his fights.
Shakur has none of the power that Rigondeaux possessed, and he stands and fights the way Rigo did when he was with Top Rank.
Note: Ash-Shakur Nafi-Shahid Stevenson (born June 28, 1997) is an American professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in three weight classes from featherweight to lightweight, including unified and lineal titles at super featherweight.
As an amateur, he represented the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in the bantamweight division.
