Gary Russell Jr., the unified boxing champion, has made no secret of his high regard for Shakur Stevenson’s skills in the ring. He believes that Stevenson outmatches both Devin Haney and Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, and envisions him defeating these two and other leading fighters in the 135-pound division. He seems skeptical, however, about the prospects of a face-off between Stevenson and Davis given Davis’ current legal entanglements and potential hiatus from boxing.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has previously indicated his interest in facilitating a match between Stevenson and Haney, with Stevenson being one of the three fight options he intended to discuss with Haney. The silence from Haney and his father, Bill Haney, on this prospect could be interpreted as a hint that they might be considering vacating their undisputed 135-pound championship and stepping up to the 140-pound category.
Russell’s praise for Stevenson extends to his professional development, commitment to the sport, and fundamentally solid performance. He expressed his admiration for Stevenson's work ethic, noting how Stevenson used to spar with his younger brother and recognizing his journey from those early days to the Olympic platform.
In contrast, Russell views Haney and Davis as relying more on their athleticism rather than strategic thinking in the ring. He highlighted Stevenson’s composure, control, and intelligence, qualities he believes give Stevenson a competitive edge. Despite any potential rivalries, Russell commended Stevenson’s dedication and expressed his belief that these traits would serve him well against opponents like Haney and Davis.
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