After seemingly moving out of the lightweight division, pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson could be poised to move back down, after confirming his interest in a world title challenge in the 135lb scene.

Stevenson had held the WBC lightweight world title at the beginning of the year and planned on returning to defend it after venturing up and dethroning Teofimo Lopez for the WBO super-lightweight crown.

However, shortly after his triumph over Lopez, Stevenson was stripped of his lightweight title due to unpaid sanctioning fees, a move which has seen him opt to keep his super-lightweight strap and seemingly campaign at 140lbs, even threatening a move up to welterweight.

Yet, an immediate title shot could tempt him to return to lightweight and speaking on The Agnew Podcast, the Newark southpaw admitted his interest in a challenge for Raymond Muratalla’s IBF world title.

“I would love to make that fight happen. I think that Raymond Muratalla is a great fighter, I definitely see his game where he does a lot of great things; he is long, tall and he has got a great right hand.”

Muratalla scored a surprise majority decision victory over Andy Cruz to retain the IBF title at the beginning of the year but the Californian has hardly been linked to a fight since. Instead, ‘Danger’ is expected to face the victor of Cruz and Albert Bell’s planned bout.

Therefore, with no mandatory due any time soon, Muratalla looks to be the most obvious option, should Stevenson wish to return to the lightweight division.

Terence Crawford hung up the gloves late last year, calling time on an unbeaten professional campaign that spanned 257 rounds and five divisions.

Following his victory against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez to become a three-weight undisputed champion, the 38-year-old retired at what many viewed as the perfect time. He left behind an opening for an American star, having occupied the top spot on most pound-for-pound lists.

The likes of Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney will continue to stake their own claims, but are stylistically more comparable to Floyd Mayweather than Crawford.

Another man many tip to become America’s next pound-for-pound star, and whose attributes can be likened to Crawford’s, is Jaron Ennis. In fact, promoter Eddie Hearn said that his charge is the man to ‘replace Crawford’.

“I’ve seen all the top fighters. I truly believe that Jaron Ennis is the pound-for-pound number one in waiting … I think this guy’s going to go through this division, move up to 160, three-weight world champion. I think he’s the guy to replace Terence Crawford. I think he’s that good.”

Crawford, however, is not sold just yet. Speaking on X recently, he said that Ennis ‘can’t even tie my shoes.’

How when he can’t even tie my shoes

— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) April 30, 2026

Ennis still has time on his side. Though a fight against Crawford did not materialise, with ‘Bud’ moving to super-welterweight as ‘Boots’ was picking up his old belts at welterweight, he has now moved to 154lbs himself. He is less than two months away from challenging to become a unified champion against Xander Zayas.

It’s a fight Crawford has backed Ennis to win, however he has said that he believes another champion in the division, Sebastian Fundora, has the beating of the American.

The Zayas fight is another opportunity for ‘Boots’ to step out of his countryman’s shadow and carve his own path. At 28 years old, it’s a journey fans will be watching for some time yet.

Sarrismo, the rising gelding who has qualified for the Big Dance, now confronts his forthcoming task – validating his black-type aspirations in the Listed The Coast at Gosford.

Yet to place outside the top three in nine races, this gelding has linked three consecutive wins this campaign, extending his streak from Warwick Farm and Doomben into the Orange Cup (1600m) on April 19, thrusting him into Big Dance calculations.

The $3 million Randwick marquee on Melbourne Cup Day represents Sarrismo’s key objective according to Tom Charlton, who is focused on observing the four-year-old’s stakes debut this Saturday.

“That will be his primary aim in the spring,” Charlton said of the Big Dance.

“I guess we just work out whether this will finish him for the campaign, or whether we push on for one more run.

This preparation, he seems to be putting it together. He’s won his three runs, and looks to be stepping forward each time.

It’s his toughest test, but it looks like the right option to have a crack.”

In the $500,000 Gosford Listed race, Andrew Adkins – successful on Sarrismo at Orange – retains the partnership as the gelding sheds weight to the 53kg allocation from 61kg.

Up against Group 2 winner Depth Of Character and Rotagilla’s latest success, the event offers a true measure for Sarrismo, with punters installing him at $4.80 favourite on potential alone.

“He will have to improve, but he’s drawn well so he should naturally be able to be ridden in a forward position, which should suit him,” Charlton said.

“We will see where he fits into that next grade.”

Cristal Clear from the Annabel and Rob Archibald yard is an early defection, resulting in 11 runners for The Coast where seven have odds of $10 or less in a wide-open market.

Visit betting sites for the best sports betting options on The Coast at Gosford in 2026.

Travis Pastrana is returning to the NASCAR Truck Series later this month, with the No. 25 Kaulig Racing Ram truck at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The announcement came on Wednesday through the team’s social media channels, immediately drawing strong fan reaction.

Pastrana’s return adds to a program that has already featured a mix of veterans and specialists throughout the 2026 season, as part of its rotating free-agent program. The entry has already featured names like Tony Stewart, Ty Dillon, Colin Braun, Corey LaJoie, Parker Kligerman, and Carson Ferguson, with upcoming appearances from Jamie McMurray and Clint Bowyer.

Pastrana now joins that list for Charlotte. His most recent NASCAR appearance came earlier this year in the Truck Series season-opener at Daytona, where he finished 15th driving for Niece Motorsports. Fan reaction to the announcement was largely positive.

One user summed up the mood online, writing on X:

“YEEEESSSS!! Welcome back, 125 Motocross CHAMPION 🐐.”

Another fan wrote:

“Travis is not a bad driver. He could finish top 12.”

Others kept it simple.

“Now they’re cooking.”

“OH HELL YEAH,” added another.

There were also suggestions for future entries, with one fan proposing that Robby Gordon and Carl Edwards should also get opportunities in the No. 25 truck.

The reaction highlights how effective the Kaulig Racing rotating model has been. For now, the rotation continues, with A.J. Allmendinger set to drive the No. 25 at Watkins Glen before Travis Pastrana takes over at Charlotte on May 22, 7:30 p.m. ET.

Travis Pastrana’s NASCAR return draws attention as Kaulig’s free agent program builds momentum

Travis Pastrana brings a unique background compared to most drivers in the Truck Series field. He is an 11-time X Games gold medalist with a career spanning motocross, rally racing, and stunt performance. In NASCAR, he has made 50 starts across national series, including 42 in the second tier, where he recorded a pole at Talladega and multiple top-10 finishes.

Pastrana’s Cup debut in the 2023 Daytona 500 resulted in an 11th-place finish. In the Truck Series, he has seven starts, with a best finish of 13th.

Following his return announcement on Wednesday, Pastrana said in a team statement:

“I love racing and competing at everything, and NASCAR is one of the biggest and most competitive stages on earth. Having the opportunity to hop in the No. 25 Ram truck with Kaulig Racing through the Free Agent Program is an amazing opportunity. These Ram 1500s are so much fun to drive. We’re going to go out there, put on a show for the fans and see what we can do.”

Travis Pastrana’s return fits cleanly into that approach, and based on early fan response, it is one of the more anticipated entries in the program so far.