Shakur Stevenson’s ‘Big Names Only’ Dodge: Is Unbeaten Jadier Herrera Too Dangerous a Flashback to Robeisy Loss?

Shakur Stevenson reacted to unbeaten #10-ranked WBC contender Jadier Herrera (17-0, 15 KOs) calling him out last Saturday night, saying that he wants “the big names only.” The WBC lightweight champion Shakur says that they keep trying to “direct me to the little kids.”

One can tell that Shakur is afraid of mixing it up with the powerful southpaw Jadier Herrera, because it would be a flashback to the last time he fought a Cuban in the 2016 Olympics, and was schooled in his loss to Robeisy Ramirez. Stevenson was chased around the ring by Robeisy, and outpunched in a one-sided defeat.

Ducking Herrera?

Jadier Herrera is 22, the same age as Floyd Schofield, who Shakur had hand-picked and was eager to fight last month on February 22nd in Riyadh.

The only difference is that the 5’11” Herrera is a lot taller than the 5’7″ Schofield, a southpaw and punches with much more power. The shots that Jadier hit Enriquez (21-4-2, 8 KOs) with last Saturday night at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool would have put Stevenson in a lot of trouble.

Herrera went to war with Enriguez, battering him with punches until the referee was forced to step in and stop the contest in the seventh round. By that point in the fight, Enrique was bleeding and helpless.

Stevenson says he “never heard of this dude,” talking about Jadier Herrera. However, boxing fans can say the same thing about Shakur’s recent opponent, Josh Padley, a part-time fighter, who works as an electrician. Stevenson chose Padley (15-1, 4 KOs) over Herrera as his opponent for the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 event. Padley was just as unknown to fans as Jadier, but with no punching power and harmless.

Shakur says he only wants to fight the big names, but his resume since moving up to the lightweight division in 2023 is filled with obscure fighters that most fans are unfamiliar with.

Stevenson’s resume

– Josh Padley
– Artem Harutyunyan
– Edwin De Los Santos
– Shuichiro Yoshino

Jadier Herrera is ranked #10 WBC, #14 IBF and #14 WBA. He’s one of the biggest punchers in the lightweight division, and a serious threat to Shakur.

“I Will Kill You”

“Maybe the next fight is in Saudi Arabia. I’m ready for the people,” said Jadier Herrera to Boxing News. “My next opponent may be Shakur Stevenson. I don’t know. Send me the contract. I’m 100% ready. I have 14 knockouts [correction: 15 KOs]. I’m serious. Send me a contract. I hit and he [Shakur] just punches. He just wants to score points, but I hit to knockout,” said Herrera about the difference between him and Shakur.

“Send me the contract. I’m not here to play. I’m not baby. Send me a contract. I will kill you. Don’t play with me,” said Jadier.