Shakur Stevenson: Eddie Hearn wants double signing with Keyshawn Davis

Eddie Hearn has admitted he would love to sign Shakur Stevenson and Keyshawn Davis, but the Matchroom boss says neither discussion has reached the contractual stage.

Speaking to iFL TV, Hearn confirmed he has spoken to both Americans. He also revealed that two other US signings are further down the line.

“I don’t have anything at contractual stage with Shakur Stevenson or Keyshawn Davis, but I would love to sign both,” Hearn said.

Two other US signings close

Hearn said he is in talks with seven fighters in total. Two of them, both American and reportedly including a world champion, are already at contract stage.

He would not name them, and Matchroom has not announced anything. For now, treat it as a promoter’s promise rather than a done deal.

Why Shakur Stevenson is the big target

Stevenson recently secured his release from Zuffa Boxing without having a single fight for them, and he has announced plans to launch his own promotional company.

The 25-0 American last fought on 31 January, outpointing Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden to win the WBO super-lightweight title. That makes him an unbeaten four-division world champion, and Hearn believes he could become the greatest fighter of his generation.

Speaking separately after the Pacheco vs Fulghum press conference, Hearn urged Stevenson to prioritise his long-term career and warned against listening to the wrong advice or the wrong deals. “Now is not the time to mess up the plan,” he told BoxingScene.

Hearn wants Stevenson to chase undisputed status at 140lb. He named Gary Antuanne Russell, the WBA champion, and Britain’s Dalton Smith, along with Raymond Muratalla and Isaac Cruz. Muratalla is already in the picture, because the WBO has ordered Stevenson to negotiate a mandatory defence against him.

A British angle for Dalton Smith

That should make Sheffield sit up. Smith holds the WBC title at super-lightweight, and he and Hearn have already talked up a unification with Stevenson at Hillsborough. We covered the WBO order over Muratalla last month, and why it does not necessarily rule out a Smith fight.

If Hearn lands Stevenson, Smith vs Stevenson suddenly becomes much easier to make, with both men under the same promoter.

Keyshawn Davis told to get busy

Hearn was blunter about Davis. He rates the former lightweight champion highly, but feels he does not fight often enough.

“Get on the horse, man. You’re wasting your career,” Hearn told iFL TV.

Davis has since left Top Rank, so he is free to talk to other promoters. He and Stevenson are close friends and share the same manager, J. Prince, so any deal for one could affect the other.

Verdict

This is a pitch, not a signing. Hearn has said it himself: neither discussion has reached the contractual stage.

But it tells you plenty. Matchroom wants to grow in America, and Stevenson would be the perfect place to start. For British fans, the real prize could be a huge night for Dalton Smith.

Watch this space. If those two other US names are announced soon, it will show Hearn means business.