Sparring partner Kevin Johnson says Shakur Stevenson will be in trouble if his surgically repaired right-hand breaks down in his fight against Floyd ‘Kid Austin’ Schofield on February 22nd in Riyadh.
Johnson predicts a victory for Stevenson if he’s healthy, but he could lose if he reinjured his right hand during the fight against the 22-year-old Schofield. He says Floyd would attack the one-armed Shakur and “overwhelm” him with punches. Shakur’s brittle hands are the key to this fight. If they hold up, he wins. A breakdown in this area leaves him easy prey for the tiger shark, ‘Kid Austin.’
The Peck & Run Problem
Unlike Edwin De Los Santos, ‘Kid Austin’ would be relentless against an injured Shakur. He will be that way anyway, but it’ll be much worse.
Stevenson couldn’t peck and run his way to a win like he did against De Los Santos because Floyd would hunt him down and punish him with power shots. He doesn’t hit as hard as De Los Santos, but he hits close enough to do damage. Shakur should have lost that fight if Edwin had cut off the ring better and showed more courage to throw when he did trap him.
WBC lightweight champion Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) hasn’t fought since injuring his hand training for a fight against Joe Cordina on October 12th. He had hand surgery, and he began training last week for his defense against Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs).
“I feel like with a healthy hand, Shakur has it just because ‘Kid Austin’ comes forward. He will bring a fight to you, but it’ll be a sloppy fight,” said Kevin Johnson to Fighthype, picking a healthy WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson over Floyd ‘Kid’ Austin’ Schofield on February 22nd if Shakur’s surgically repaired right hand doesn’t fall apart.
“He [Schofield] doesn’t know what to stand at. He’s orthodox and southpaw all of a sudden. Not only that. He throws wide punches. That’s a style that is made for Shakur Stevenson. It’s like, ‘I’m going to tag your a*** with all these wild punches and missed footwork that you’re doing now.’
“You’re opening up your body with your switching. I feel like Shakur is going to win this hands down. Now, his hand injury. If his hand gives up on him and he has one hand, that’s going to be tough. Although his defense is good, you only got one hand,” said Johnson about Stevenson.
If Shakur is healthy, he’ll win a boring 12-round decision using his hit-and-run style, but it won’t be easy. Kid Austin will be hitting him hard and attacking nonstop. He’s going to make Stevenson look bad regardless.
Austin’s Aggression
It’s good for him that the fight is in Riyadh rather than in the U.S. because he would be booed out of any venue. Shakur isn’t built physically or mentally for the lightweight division. He’s timid and fragile in both areas. Going up against a younger, fearless fighter with power will be tough for Stevenson.
“You might lose that hand to set up body shots and hooks or whatever the case. Kid Austin will come forward to punch. So, he’ll overwhelm you with all these punches while you’re trying to get out of there and try to hit him with one good shot. You can’t use your other hand. So, you’re limited,” said Johnson.
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