Shakur Hints At 135 Move Again – ‘I May Go Back'

After beating Teofimo Lopez in January to become a four-division champion, Shakur Stevenson is ready for the big fight.

However, in doing so, Stevenson suggested that his future at lightweight may not be over. After beating Lopez, the WBC stripped Shakur of his belt at 135. There were reports that Shakur refused to pay a sanctioning fee to keep hold of the belt. The Newark native revealed he is considering a return to the lightweight division with one specific goal in mind: the Ring Magazine lightweight championship.

If Stevenson makes the move, he could find himself in a clash with Raymond Muratalla. Stevenson has already secured The Ring titles at both 130 lbs (junior lightweight) and at at 140 lbs (junior welterweight). Adding the 135-pound version would make him a rare three-weight Ring Magazine champion. Meanwhile, Muratalla solidified his status as an elite fighter with the biggest victory of his career after beating Andy Cruz in a majority decision. Following the win, Muratalla made it clear that Stevenson is his primary target: "I’m not Teofimo. I’m ready to fight him at 135 or 140." Shakur has left the door open for that.

Will It Happen?

"I would like the winner of Teo and Shakur next week. It just goes to show that I’ve got just as much skills if not more. We know he’s an Olympic gold medalist, and I’m not. But I’ve got the skills tonight," Muratalla added

“This is crazy to say, but I may go back to 135 and get that Ring belt. I may. We’ll see, though. I can’t promise that I will, but I may. I like the Ring Magazine belt. I don’t know what it is about it. I always liked it. I had a Ring belt at 130, and right now I have a Ring belt at 140, but I never had a Ring belt at 135. It’s like, should I go get that Ring belt just to have it?,” Shakur stated 

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