Shakur Stevenson is now a free agent after his last fight with his former promoter Top Rank Inc. on Saturday, a 12-round unanimous decision over Artem Harutyunyan in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey.
Stevenson has made it clear he is going to explore all options as he voiced displeasure with Top Rank during the lead-up to his previous fight.
One possible suitor is Floyd Mayweather, a Hall of Fame boxer, who runs Mayweather Promotions.
Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs), 27, of Newark, New Jersey, after his recent win posted a photo to his social media that appeared to be a FaceTime call with Mayweather.
“It’s an option, for sure,” Stevenson told CigarTalk. “I got nothing but respect and love for Floyd.
“At the end of the day, I wouldn’t mind working with Floyd as long as it makes sense, and it is a partnership type of thing,” said Stevenson. “I appreciate Floyd.”
Stevenson mentioned that Mayweather has reached out to him and offered advice despite not being signed to his promotional entity.
“Even after this fight he called me and told me little things I could have done better,” Stevenson continued.
Stevenson has faced criticism over his past performance against Harutyunyan and Edwin De Los Santos for not being entertaining. The criticism has seen him lash out via social media at pundits and social media users alike. The criticism is similar to what Mayweather once heard during his prime pay-per-view days, when people would scoff at some of his outings and performances.
Stevenson also noted that Mayweather doesn’t usually attend Top Rank events.
“Floyd came to a Top Rank event because of me,” Stevenson said.
The fight also adds an underlying bit of drama for a super-fight fans yearn for. Mayweather and his ex-protégée Gervonta Davis are at odds, given some contentious posts they have aimed at one another. Fans want to see Stevenson versus Davis is a desirable fight and with Mayweather added to the storyline, it might elevate the event.
Stevenson downplayed that had anything to do with, and explained he has had a relationship with Mayweather for some time.
“Before him and Tank were beefing, we have been where we at with it,” Stevenson said. “We’d sit in the Girl Collection [Floyd Mayweather’s strip club] at 3, 4, 5, 6 a.m. talking about boxing — no cap.”