Stevenson articulated that an immense sum would be required. A fortune capable of altering lives. Funds sufficient to sustain generations of families. Otherwise, he expressed no desire to compete against someone he regards as kin, fearing it could jeopardize their bond.
And frankly, he faces no obligation to engage in such a contest regardless.
There is minimal public interest in a bout between Shakur and Keyshawn. A brief period of intrigue existed when both held championship belts at 135 pounds, but that quickly subsided. It is not a matchup currently sought by fans, nor one that would generate significant momentum.
Shakur is not compelled to avoid this challenge. No one is forcing him to take it on.
Keyshawn, too, has become inactive. He has not competed professionally for ten months. He has yet to defeat any notable opponents. He currently lacks influence, and prolonged periods of inactivity tend to rapidly diminish a fighter’s presence.
“I am absolutely certain that it would fundamentally change the nature of our current relationship,” Stevenson declared on the Dialogue YouTube channel. “Therefore, unless they offer us $500 million or some equally extravagant amount that will provide for our families for the rest of our lives and for subsequent generations, I don’t understand why people even bring it up. I simply don’t care.”
The more pressing inquiry is whether either individual will ever achieve a stature where such a vast sum of money becomes a realistic possibility.
Presently, that prospect seems remote.
At the 140-pound division, both would encounter formidable adversaries. Fighters such as Gary Antuanne Russell and Ernesto Mercado represent unforgiving contests. These matches offer no certainty, and defeats detrimentally affect negotiation power.
In the entire realm of boxing, virtually only one figure could even jest about a half-billion-dollar prize purse: Turki Alalshikh. And even in those events, Shakur has typically appeared on the preliminary fight cards. The idea of him securing even a tenth of that amount is highly improbable.
If Shakur aspires to earn anything comparable to the compensation Terence Crawford received for his fight against Canelo, he would likely need to implement significant changes. This would involve fighting differently, overcoming more prestigious opponents, and cultivating genuine public demand. Victories over Teofimo Lopez and William Zepeda alone are insufficient to propel him to that level.
“I could win decisively against him. He could also win decisively against me with the correct strike,” Shakur remarked. “Inside the squared circle, we are relentless warriors. If an unfortunate event were to occur, preventing him from returning to his loved ones, that responsibility would fall upon me. I could not bear such a burden.”
Regarding Keyshawn, he relinquished his WBO title last summer after failing to meet the weight limit for a scheduled bout against Edwin De Los Santos, which was subsequently canceled. He has not fought since then. He has advanced to the 140-pound division, but his future trajectory remains unclear.
Currently, the potential match between Shakur and Keyshawn is not being delayed by financial matters.
Instead, it is being stalled by practical circumstances.
