“I said I would fight Shakur last,” Russell said to MillCity Boxing. “I want that to be a buildup.”
After the issues Gary Antuanne Russell had against Andy Hiraoka in February, it’s easy to see why he’d prefer more buildup before facing Shakur Stevenson. The problem is on the other side. Stevenson hasn’t pushed for the fight, and without a clear financial upside, it remains a tough sell.
The 27-year-old Russell rejected any suggestion that he’s avoiding Stevenson, insisting he is open to facing anyone in the division. At the same time, he pointed to timing and business considerations as the reason for holding off.
“I can do that, but they can easily decline,” Russell said of calling for the fight immediately. “Business-wise, it wouldn’t be smart.”
Instead, Russell outlined a more gradual path. He spoke about targeting other titleholders first, including a potential trip overseas before returning to the United States for a unification fight. That sequence, in his view, would strengthen his position and make a future bout with Stevenson harder to pass up.
Russell also acknowledged Stevenson’s standing in the sport, referencing his accomplishments across multiple weight classes.
“You can’t dispute what he did,” Russell said. “He got the titles, the accolades.”
By placing Stevenson at the end of his plan, Russell is aiming to build toward a fight that carries more weight than a standard title defense. The approach may slow down a matchup that fans want to see, but it reflects a calculated decision about when the fight would carry the most value.
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