Shakur Stevenson went from turning down Gervonta Davis’s offer to fight on November 2 to appear at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season.
The WBC lightweight champion somehow chose not to participate in THE 2024 end-of-year event in Las Vegas to face a blown-up super featherweight who lost his last fight. Stevenson faces Joe Cordina on October 12, a Welshman who looked terrible when stopped against Anthony Cacace in his previous fight.
It’s a baffling decision. Cordina lost his IBF 130-pound title at the Kingdom Arena but is somehow rewarded with a shot at the green and gold belt at 135 pounds.
Conversely, fans will be happy to know that William Zepeda, Stevenson’s mandatory, is reportedly facing the winner on another Riyadh Season card in the first trimester of 2025.
Confirming what amounts to an underwhelming undercard for Stateside boxing fans, the predominantly British bill has nothing but Stevenson to offer fans on the other side of the Atlantic. Due to the US interest in Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol in the headlining slot, this could be a huge mistake.
Shakur Stevenson tops Riyadh Season undercard
Beterbiev vs Bivol was initially due to occur in June. The event was delayed as Beterbiev suffered an injury. At the time, ESPN was set to broadcast the main event in the United States, with DAZN televising the undercard as Pay Per View in all territories.
Judging by the UK heavy card, which also features Fabio Wardley vs Frazer Clarke II, Chris Eubank Jr., and Ben Whittaker, it’s highly likely the event will be PPV on British shores.
Announcing the unremarkable accompaniments to Beterbiev vs. Bivol, organizer Turki Alalshikh seems quite happy with the end result.
“The four-crown fight between Beterbiev and Bivol in an exceptional confrontation at the opening of Riyadh Season,” said Alalshikh. “The undercard is with fourteen boxers in seven exciting fights.”
Additionally, His Excellency stated, “Beterbiev and Bivol. A fight and confrontation that everyone is waiting for at the opening of Riyadh Season. We have a group of boxing champions in the undercard, Shakur Stevenson vs. Joe Cordina, Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Kamille Szeremeta, and other champions.”
Furthermore, it seems a missed opportunity to collaborate with ESPN in what could have been a double broadcast featuring a mixture of British and American stars to accommodate both sides of the Atlantic.
Sadly, that is not the case.
Beterbiev vs Bivol – Full card for October 12
Four-crown Showdown
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
[Undisputed light-heavyweight title]
Shakur Stevenson vs Joe Cordina
[WBC lightweight title]
Chris Eubank Jr. vs Kamil Szeremeta
Fabio Wardley vs Frazer Clarke II
Jai Opetaia vs Jack Massey
Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron
Skye Nicholson vs Raven Chapman
Mohammed Alakel vs Jesus Gonzalez
Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, experienced boxing writer, and World Boxing News Editor since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
