{"id":689556,"date":"2026-01-11T19:56:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T19:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/689556\/"},"modified":"2026-01-11T19:56:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T19:56:12","slug":"floyd-mayweather-compares-current-fighter-to-pernell-whitaker-its-all-about-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/689556\/","title":{"rendered":"Floyd Mayweather compares current fighter to Pernell Whitaker: “It’s all about skills”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shakur Stevenson<\/a>\u2019s defensive genius and ring IQ have drawn comparisons to some of boxing\u2019s all-time greats \u2014 and Floyd Mayweather Jr<\/a> has now added his own ringing endorsement.<\/p>\n

Stevenson is preparing for the biggest fight of his career on January 31, when he takes on WBO super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s supreme skill set.<\/p>\n

Mayweather, who retired unbeaten after 50 fights, sees parallels with Stevenson\u2019s 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<\/a>, Mayweather placed Stevenson in the same conversation as one of boxing\u2019s greatest defensive masters.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe most skilful fighter at 135 would be hands down Shakur Stevenson. It\u2019s really all about skills. Pernell Whitaker wasn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Whitaker, known as \u201cSweet Pea,\u201d<\/a> 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 \u2014 qualities Mayweather sees mirrored in Stevenson today.<\/p>\n

If Stevenson can overcome Lopez at the Garden, he won\u2019t just add another belt \u2014 he will stake his claim among the sport\u2019s elite, following in the footsteps of the very fighters he is often compared to.<\/p>\n