Stevenson sets sights on Russell for 140lb unification
Two elite champions could collide at super-lightweight if Stevenson gets his dream fight against WBA titlist Gary Antuanne Russell.
Shakur Stevenson wants the fight that brings the best out of him: a 140-pound unification showdown with WBA super-lightweight champion Gary Antuanne Russell. Stevenson, the WBO titlist at 140lbs, named Russell as his ideal next opponent. A victory would unify the WBA and WBO belts at super-lightweight, pitting two of the division’s most dangerous punchers against each other.
The 27-year-old Stevenson has already defended his WBO strap twice since capturing it in December 2022, but a unification bout against Russell would catapult him into the pound-for-pound conversation at a higher tier. Russell, 28, holds the WBA title after a 2023 win over then-champion Ismael Barroso. His last ring appearance was a majority-decision loss to unified lightweight king Devin Haney in December 2023, a performance that showcased his resilience despite the setback.
