You know, boxing’s full of undefeated records, but very few carry the kind of weight Shakur Stevenson’s does right now. Three divisions, 24 wins, not a blemish on the résumé—and yet, for years, he couldn’t shake the critics. Fans said he was too cautious, pundits said he wasn’t entertaining enough, even after dominant wins. Then came that night under the lights at Louis Armstrong Stadium, where he handled William Zepeda so cleanly that a lot of those voices suddenly went quiet.

But here’s the thing: instead of rushing back into the spotlight the way fighters used to, Stevenson’s doing the exact opposite. While Shakur Stevenson and Lamont Roach have expressed interest in fighting, it’s the looming matchup with Teofimo Lopez that has fans buzzing. The two have already begun the pre-promotional tour, with Lopez taking to social media to stoke the flames. “I’m excited… can’t wait to kick Shakur’s a–,” Lopez said. “They say January, some say February. Like whoa, whoa, whoa. Let’s make the fight happen in January, why are we waiting so long?” Though the official date remains unconfirmed, all signs point to Stevenson knowing exactly when the timing will be right for his next fight.

Shakur Stevenson puts health first for future generations

Unlike Teofimo Lopez, who only fought once this year, and won against Arnold Barboza Jr. in New York, Shakur Stevenson has already fought twice this year and has no plans to step into the ring again in 2025. Sitting down with Gilbert Arenas and The Gil’s Arena Crew, the 24-0 star explained why. When asked if boxing might return to the days where fighters competed four to six times a year, the southpaw from Newark responded, “I think it’s hard… back in the day, fighters used to fight a lot more than the fighters now.” For him, the era of constant fights simply isn’t realistic anymore.

Stevenson pointed to the toll frequent fights can take on a boxer’s long-term health. “When you just getting your brain punched four or five times a year and then you go to leave a life after boxing, this shit ain’t just about boxing. I want to be here for my kids,” he said. His reasoning is simple. He wants to remain sharp, articulate, and present for his family long after his career ends.

History has proven his point. Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, battled Parkinson’s disease later in life, a condition many experts believe was worsened by years of repeated head trauma. Similarly, Jerry Quarry, a heavyweight contender from the same era, suffered from dementia pugilistica (commonly known as “punch-drunk syndrome”) and passed away at just 53. Fighters with massive career totals, like Archie Moore with over 200 bouts or Sam Langford with nearly as many, often paid the price with severe neurological issues that affected their final years. These cases stand as grim reminders of the cost of too many fights.

And that’s exactly why Shakur Stevenson rejects the idea of pushing himself into multiple training camps and fights in a short span. “Come on man, training camp after training camp. Mind you, in training camp, you sparring. So now you going rounds of getting punched over and over,” he explained. He stressed that beyond the official fights, the sparring and preparation also take a toll. For him, it’s about protecting both his physical and mental health for the long run.

Ultimately, Stevenson made it clear he doesn’t want to repeat the mistakes of fighters from past generations. “I want my daughter to understand me and I want to be able to articulate well to my daughter,” he said, emphasizing his desire to stay healthy enough to pass down his life experiences. While critiquing the current boxing landscape, he also made his priorities clear: his health, his family, and his future matter more than short-term glory inside the ring. Regardless, when speaking on boxing greatness and today’s era, he didn’t hold back from sharply critiquing certain fighters.

Shakur Stevenson blames Mayweather for boxing’s biggest problem

On the latest episode of The Arena, Shakur Stevenson didn’t mince words about today’s fighters. “I feel like guys in this generation are scared to put it all on the line,” he said. That sparked a follow-up from one of the hosts, who asked if Floyd Mayweather’s obsession with protecting his undefeated record might have influenced the modern approach to boxing.

The WBC lightweight champion admitted there’s truth to that. Mayweather, after all, reshaped how fighters think about their careers. “Everybody wants to be undefeated,” Stevenson explained. “People are scared to take chances. They would rather go fight a bigger notoriety fight than fight a guy that’s the best guy.”

According to the 28-year-old, this mentality has changed the sport entirely. Instead of seeking out the toughest challenges, fighters are prioritizing fame and marketability. “Floyd definitely changed that when he went undefeated and talked the way he talked and did everything that he did,” Stevenson said. “He changed the sport of boxing.” 

Perhaps the idea that Mayweather started the trend of protecting one’s record needs a closer look. But one thing is certain, Floyd Mayweather often fought more than three times a year, while Shakur Stevenson says he can’t risk his health doing the same. That said, what are your thoughts on Shakur Stevenson’s comment?