Boxing News: Tweets Led to Shocking Shakur Stevenson Retirement

Shakur Stevenson stunned the boxing world Tuesday night by announcing his retirement on 'X.'

Throughout his brief career, the 26-year-old competed in three different weight classes, including lightweight, featherweight, and super-featherweight.

Stevenson said he has better things to do with his life than box, citing the sport as "weak."

"I’m officially retiring from the sport of boxing," Stevenson wrote. "I’ll be in the gym forever perfecting my craft and helping the next generation become great and chase they dreams but I ain’t fw this weak boxing game."

Before his sudden retirement, Stevenson, a New Jersey native, had remained unblemished with 21 consecutive wins, including 10 KO's. His most recent victory saw him defeat Edwin De Los Santos in a unanimous decision to capture the previously vacant WBC world lightweight title.

Stevenson did not have a bout on the books to begin 2024. He had been complaining of other boxers such as Vasiliy Lomachenko "ducking" him in favor of an IBF lightweight title fight against George Kambosos. The last straw may have been the WBO's mandate to have Emanuel Navarrete and Denys Berinchyk fight for the vacant gold at 135 pounds, as explained by Michael Benson.

‼️ Shakur Stevenson claiming he’s now retiring from boxing after hearing that the WBO have ordered Emanuel Navarrete vs Denys Berinchyk for the vacant WBO lightweight world title. Shakur had previously called out Navarrete to challenge him for his WBC belt. pic.twitter.com/ybmi6YPNf6
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) January 30, 2024

"Shakur Stevenson claiming he’s now retiring from boxing after hearing that the WBO have ordered Emanuel Navarrete vs Denys Berinchyk for the vacant WBO lightweight world title," Benson wrote. "Shakur had previously called out Navarrete to challenge him for his WBC belt.

In a piece released Tuesday, DAZN cited potential blockbuster fights Stevenson could have partook in, including Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia, both of which are obsolete.

It is unknown what the WBC will do moving forward, but given boxing's ever-changing landscape, the division will move forward as advertised but differently.

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