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Message: [QUOTE="JAXCUSE, post: 4371843, member: 516"] While I think Shakur is the best 130-35 lber in the world (have felt so for about the last 6 months or so), the “ESPN promotional narrative” and weak matchmaking is becoming tiresome to this fight fan… I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but wouldn’t be surprised if TR told Stevenson “now is the time to hype your jump to 135 / don’t bother trying to make 130 for this defense / just drop the Jr Light belts (TR doesn’t care about that division anymore or just let Navarette have it - weak competition at that category right now) / we have Haney (undisputed) and Loma under contract at 135 / let’s set “media demand” for matchups at Lightweight…. I thought fight was uncompetitive and unexciting from the opening bell. Bad stylistic mix - Brazilian long, awkward, home-run thrower and low work rate vs defensive specialist with average punch who doesn’t close. I liked Teddy Atlas’ comment - “I stayed up past midnight for this crap…”. That said, it’s far past time to put Stevenson in with the elite of his weight category. He toys with B Class competition. I respect that, but 135 talent pool contains guys (stylistically, durability and size) that will challenge him. Even a guy like Pitbull Cruz would present all kinds of problems for Stevenson (that I’d like to see if he can handle). If I’m Teo Lopez, I get my head together, suck back to 135 and challenge this kid. Big stylistic, size and power advantage IMO…. But, I get the business model. It’s all about minimizing risk and maximizing gain (to the fighter and for the promotional group). Not so much fighter development or even excitement for the fans. That’s why we still don’t have Crawford/Spence…. Best fight of weekend was Joyce/Parker (Heavies). Hard fought, gutsy and great KO. Joyce is kinda (stylistically) like Big George Foreman. Not quite the weight in the hands, but is awkward, has the chin, heavy punch and just keeps coming forward. Fun to watch. Would present a formidable challenge to a smaller Usyk. DAZN is trying to “hype” that matchup if a Fury unification matchup cannot be made. [/QUOTE]

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