By: Sean Crose
Shakur Stevenson has apparently determined to single handedly decrease the retirement age by calling it a profession on the ripe outdated age of 26. “I’m officially retiring from the sport of boxing,” he posted to social media early Tuesday morning. “I’ll be in the gym forever perfecting my craft and helping the next generation become great and chase they dreams but I ain’t fw this weak boxing game.” Whether or not this announcement proves to be true in the long term is anybody’s guess, although this form of factor just isn’t unusual in boxing, the place exterior the ring politics generally tend of spoiling even the sweetest odor of success.
With that being mentioned, three division titlist Stevenson is nothing if not somebody in possession of a rare expertise. After incomes a silver medal within the 2016 Olympics, Stevenson went on to compile a document of 21 wins in opposition to zero defeats in a profession that – if his retirement announcement is reputable – lasted lower than seven years. Suffice to say, many, if not most, really feel the Newark, New Jersey native will certainly return to the ring. If Stevenson doesn’t, in fact, it could be a lack of one of many sport’s premier skills.
With that being mentioned, Stevenson disenchanted many followers and analysts in his final struggle. For Stevenson’s efficiency final November in opposition to Edwin De La Santos was so void of motion that even Stevenson’s usually lauded ability set did not impress. Stevenson himself appeared lower than thrilled along with his efficiency and – in reality – each fighter, even mutli-divisional titlists, have off nights. In different phrases, the De Stanos struggle was far, removed from profession ending materials. Still, though he referred to “this weak boxing game” in his social media publish, Stevenson didn’t make it precisely clear why he was selecting to depart his occupation behind.
