Leaked footage of Shakur Stevenson training in camp for his fight against Floyd Schofield in 46 Days has shown he is still not using his surgically repaired right hand in training for his WBC lightweight belt title defense on February 22. He prefers his right hand, doesn’t want to use it and concentrates on his left.
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Unfortunately, this strategy won’t work for Stevenson against Schofield. He will be in attacking mode from the first round and if Schofield runs like he did against Edwin De Los Santos, he will come after him like a hungry cat.
Training films reveal weaknesses
The southpaw Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) is still reduced to using only his left hand, as was the case in his narrow win over Edwin De Los Santos in 2023. In the video, Stevenson barely uses his right hand, which shows he doesn’t trust. It’s too tender.
If Shakur’s right hand falls apart against Schofield, he will not be able to hold his ground and fight against this type of fighter. He won’t be able to keep Floyd at bay with only one hand working for him.
For this fight against the young 22-year-old Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs), it is crucial that Shakur, 27, has more than just his left hand working for him. This guy can punch and will attack relentlessly. This is how Floyd fights; he and his father know that Shakur is fragile.
“I think if Floyd Schofield could fight high, use a lot of pressure and use that jab [he’ll beat Shakur]. The jab is the key to Shakur’s style,” Oscar De La Hoya told Fight Hub TV.
Shakur’s added volume
Stevenson looks like a middleweight now, having made weight since his last fight against Artem Harutyunyan six months ago on July 6. He’s going to have to gain that weight because he looks like a 160 pound fat guy. Stevenson doesn’t look healthy and doesn’t look anything like a professional athlete.
I don’t know what he ate to get so big, but he needs to stop raiding the cookie jar. He looks like an old drummer from a 60s rock band.
That weight will have to come off. Shakur will step away from the kitchen table and watch his eating if he doesn’t want to get stuck having to be drained to the bone during fight week. He doesn’t have the physique of a fighter anyway, but he made matters worse by exploding the six months he was out of the ring.
In contrast, Schofield looks ripped and already in fighting shape. This is youth, of course, but it is also hard work. He doesn’t sit around eating, watching his belt, or posting on Twitter 24/7.
