Tank has the power, but Shakur believes he has something more important.

There are a few reasons why Gervonta Davis is one of the biggest draws in boxing, and why Shakur Stevenson doesn’t come anywhere close when it comes to selling out arenas and fighting against big name opponents.

The biggest reason is their contrasting styles. Davis likes to knock people out. Stevenson likes winning fights by avoiding punches, which has made many boxing fans label him as “boring“; so much so that he got booed by the crowd in his hometown last weekend.

ls Tank Davis a one-trick pony?

Stevenson addressed what makes him different than Davis and other boxers in a recent interview with Cigar Talk.

People are blessed with different abilities. [Tank] is blessed with a god-given ability that if he cracks you, 9 times out of 10 you’re gonna go down. That’s his ability. I’m blessed with god-given eyes. My eyes are amazing. A lot of people don’t understand how good my eyes are. I can see really well, punches coming my way I know how to get away from them at any given time.

There’s no denying what Stevenson is saying, but it’s why many boxing fans don’t like watching him. He’s a very technical fighter, but sometimes people just want to see hands being thrown.

Stevenson most recently defeated Artem Harutyunyan by unanimous decision, marking the first successful defense of his WBC lightweight title, which he won against Edwin De Los Santos in November of last year. A fight against Davis has been rumored, but it’s far from being a done deal.

Gervonta Davis was mentored by Floyd Mayweather early in his career. Now, their relationship consists of social media digs.

The 29-year-old from Baltimore is flying high after yet another knockout win, this time over previously undefeated Frank Martin, to retain his WBA Lightweight World Title.

At 30-0 with 28 stoppages, many believe ‘Tank’ is unbeatable in his current division. His team certainly do, and they have in the past said it’s only a matter of time until he beats all-comers.

It appears that, to find a suitable challenge, they’re even looking to past eras. On Instagram, ‘Tank’s co-trainer Kenny Ellis floated the idea of a fight against Mayweather, calling on the 50-0 retired fighter to ‘stop spinning the fans.’

“Gervonta can decode the shoulder roll. If Floyd can fight another exhibition he can fight another fight. If he’s as great as he says he is let’s stop spinning the fans. Gervonta vs Floyd. Can Floyd do what George Foreman did?”

His reference is to George Foreman‘s success as the oldest ever heavyweight world champion, winning the belts at 45. Should Mayweather, 47, ever consider a return for a belt – although it wouldn’t be the one Davis holds as he wouldn’t make 135 – he could break even Bernard Hopkins‘ record of the oldest world champion ever at 46.

Shakur Stevenson wants the best that the 135-pound division has to offer. While he is fresh off a dominating victory against Artem Harutyunyan, he has already reiterated his desire to have the marquee fight that he seems to have been chasing for a while. So, who fits the bill? Is it one of the standing champions at 135? Or is it any up-and-coming, hot prospect that can quench his ambition? If you already have a name in mind, then scroll down to see whether it made the list.

‘Sugar’ put on a show before his home crowd at Prudential Center, as he exhibited his superior defense and swift movement. However, it didn’t turn out to be exactly an exciting performance that the fans wanted to witness. While Stevenson made his first successful defense at 135, it also stamped his doubters’ criticism of him being a not-so-fan-friendly fighter and tough to market. The American fighter needs a name that can go to war against him and allow him to showcase the best version of himself. And you don’t have to look beyond the biggest name at 135 in Gervonta Davis.

Shakur Stevenson vs. Gervonta Davis: high payout, clash of brutal force and technical prowess

What does Stevenson, 25, need right now? An opponent that brings the fight to him and possesses an explosive arsenal. What’s more? Davis, 29, more than qualifies. ‘Tank’ has swayed the fans with his thunderous knockout power and has a long list of followers, which will also bring traction to their fight. In addition, the two have been at each other’s throats for quite some time, so the hype and demand for a fight are already there.

And you would love to see a showdown of contrasting fighting styles, where the WBC champion’s technical skills and his fast pair of hands, along with accurate punching ability, might frustrate and triumph over Davis’ in-ring IQ and thunderous power. However, Stevenson also runs the risk of getting ripped apart by the Baltimore native. Will he be able to put on a masterclass of hitting and simultaneously avoid getting hit, as he has done in his previous fights?

Shakur Stevenson versus Gervonta Davis could be next, at least according to Kenny Ellis, the co-trainer of ‘Tank’.

It was reported that Vasiliy Lomachencko, the IBF lightweight champion, was in talks with Davis, the WBA belt-holder, regarding a unification contest but according to Ellis, the Ukrainian veteran is plotting a more direct route to lightweight supremacy.

“Lomachenko said he will step aside and let Gervonta Davis fight Shakur Stevenson this fall and he’ll fight the winner early 2025,” Ellis said on Instagram.

Given Lomachenko’s age, one might presume he’d be better off fighting the likes of Davis sooner rather than later. However, with Stevenson holding the WBC title, Lomachenko could fight for three belts rather than two if he waits a little longer. Furthermore, should Davis defeat Stevenson he’ll be an even more marketable foe for Lomachenko than he is at present. And should Stevenson win, Lomachenko gets the chance to repay the American for last night wearing a shirt with his face on it and the words ‘Bob is saving his son from this ass-whooping’.

Stevenson, who coasted to victory over Artem Harutyunyan, is now a free agent after revealing he turned down a $15m offer from Bob Arum’s Top Rank for a five-fight extension to his now-expired contract with the promotional powerhouse.

Last week, Stevenson told BoxingScene that a fight with Davis would be “the biggest fight in the world, if we are really thinking about it. Every hood in America is going to watch that fight… That’s the biggest and best fight to make in boxing.

“That’s the game plan for me and the end goal. That’s the fight that I am going to kick the door down with. Honestly, that’s the direction I want to go in.”