The WBC has ruled that Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (24-2-1, 17 KOs), number two in their lightweight rankings, must face ex-world champion Shakur Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) in a final elimination bout where the mandatory contender for the absolute of this division, Devin Haney, will be determined.
But it is unlikely that Top Rank will want to release the 25-year-old Stevenson to the grated klacha Cruz, since they are saving Shakur for a fight with the winner of Haney’s potential meeting with Vasily Lomachenko. One analyst believes that Lomachenko will no longer be able to defeat Stevenson.
Stevenson wants Super Six at lightweight and ‘a lot of money’
In addition, the WBC officially sanctioned the fight of IBF/WBA/WBC welterweight champion Errol Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) against the mandatory challenger, ex-champion Keith Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs).
Given Spence’s desire to go out in 2023 (or 2033, or 2044 …) to fight for the absolute against WBO champion Terence Crawford, he has nowhere to go – he will have to meet with Thurman.
Crawford claims he and Spence were offered $25 million each.
