Floyd Mayweather compares current fighter to Pernell Whitaker: “It’s all about skills”

Shakur Stevenson’s defensive genius and ring IQ have drawn comparisons to some of boxing’s all-time greats — and Floyd Mayweather Jr has now added his own ringing endorsement.

Stevenson is preparing for the biggest fight of his career on January 31, when he takes on WBO super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden. A victory would make Stevenson a four-division world champion and cement his status as one of the very best fighters in the sport.

To date, Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs), has never looked like losing in nine world title fights, though his last outing against William Zepeda presented arguably his toughest test. Zepeda tried to impose his aggressive style, only to be out-boxed and out-foxed by Stevenson’s supreme skill set.

Mayweather, who retired unbeaten after 50 fights, sees parallels with Stevenson’s dominance and praised the American for his reign at 135lbs, where he has held the WBC title since November 2023. Speaking to Ring Magazine Daily, Mayweather placed Stevenson in the same conversation as one of boxing’s greatest defensive masters.

“The most skilful fighter at 135 would be hands down Shakur Stevenson. It’s really all about skills. Pernell Whitaker wasn’t a huge puncher but he was very exciting, very tough and he fought everybody. And Shakur is trying to do the same thing. He want to fight the best they got out there.”

Whitaker, known as “Sweet Pea,” was one of the most technically gifted fighters of his generation. A four-weight world champion and Olympic gold medallist, he reigned at lightweight, light-welterweight, welterweight and light-middleweight during a career spanning the 1980s and 1990s. Renowned for his elusive movement and defensive wizardry, Whitaker could control the pace of a fight and frustrate opponents with near-perfect timing and anticipation — qualities Mayweather sees mirrored in Stevenson today.

If Stevenson can overcome Lopez at the Garden, he won’t just add another belt — he will stake his claim among the sport’s elite, following in the footsteps of the very fighters he is often compared to.