Many young boxers still seek to compare themselves to Manny Pacquiao, even though he has been informally retired for a number of years. Yordenis Ugás defeated Pacquiao in his last fight, which took place in 2021. In eight different weight classes, he defeated a who’s who of boxing to capture twelve major titles after turning pro in 1995
Shakur Stevenson is one man who believes he could have defeated the “Pac-Man.” Stevenson is only 26 years old, has won multiple world titles in three weight classes, and will defend the WBC lightweight title for the first time against Artem Harutyunyan on July 6 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Stevenson will be looking to make an impression in the ring after eight months away from the ring after what many believe was a subpar performance last time out against Edwin De Los Santos back in November.
Ahead of that contest, he was asked by Boxing Mane what would’ve happened should he have come up against Pacquiao and he insisted he would have won,
“I think I would smoke Pacquiao. I like Pacquiao, but I was going to make sure he took them tests. Tests was going to have to be taken. I wasn’t going to fight him without making sure he was like doing the tests and everything was straight. No cheating or nothing.”
Should Stevenson successfully defend his belt, there are plenty of superb matchups to be made, including with long-time rival Gervonta Davis who recently claimed he would ‘slaughter’ Stevenson.
