Shakur Boxes, Haney Runs: Malignaggi Defends Stevenson’s Style

Former world champion Paul Malignaggi weighed in on the ring craft of unbeaten WBC lightweight titleholder Shakur Stevenson (23-0, 11 KO):

“People kept saying, ‘Turki will tear into Shakur,’ but I don’t see it that way. Shakur isn’t running—he’s boxing. He slips out of range, then steps back in. He controls the real estate, takes it and gives it back, all with purpose. That’s not running.

What matters is that Turki Alalsheikh can tell this style apart from what Haney and Scull showed. That was genuine track-meet stuff, not boxing. Maybe Haney got the win, but it was an escape—entertainment sacrificed for a payday,” said Malignaggi.

Earlier, the head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority Turki Alalsheikh vowed he no longer wants to stage “Tom-and-Jerry fights where one guy just runs and the other keeps chasing.”

12 July: Shakur Stevenson is set to defend his belt against Mexico’s William Zepeda.

Photo: Shakur Stevenson’s Instagram