The highly anticipated title fight between Shakur Stevenson and Frank Martin has vanished from the boxing schedule. Top Rank officials had announced earlier this week that both parties had reached an agreement for the WBC vacant lightweight title fight, effectively canceling a scheduled purse bid. However, things took a sudden twist when Top Rank sent a contract to PBC, only to be informed that Frank Martin would no longer proceed with the bout.
Martin was poised to earn a career-high seven-figure payday, leaving the boxing world surprised and fans eagerly awaiting an explanation for this sudden change of heart.
The fight was originally set to headline a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card on November 16 in Las Vegas, adding to the anticipation surrounding the event, especially with the Formula 1 Grand Prix debut happening on the Vegas Strip in close proximity. PBC has remained tight-lipped about the situation, declining to comment, while Martin’s trainer,Derrick James, ESPN’s reigning Trainer of the Year, also chose not to respond to inquiries.
Shakur Stevenson, currently one of the most promising stars in boxing, expressed his frustration on Instagram, labeling himself as the “most ducked fighter in the sport of boxing” and challenging another fighter named Edwin De Los Santos. De Los Santos (16-1, 14 KOs) is up next fighter that could fight #1 Stevenson for the vacant WBC lightweight title.
Stevenson’s rise through the ranks has been meteoric, and this unexpected twist in the Frank Martin saga has left fans wondering what’s next for the talented Newark native as he seeks to claim titles in a third weight class, further solidifying his status as a force to be reckoned with in the world of boxing.
