The 27-year-old from Newark won the vacant WBC Lightweight World Title against Edwin De Los Santos last November – his second fight in the division after success at feather and super-featherweight – before making his first successful defence against Artem Harutyunyan just two months ago.

That win was the final bout in a longterm contract with Top Rank, and the three-weight world champion decided to look elsewhere promotionally. He settled on signing with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom for his next two fights, the first being former super-featherweight world champion Joe Cordina on the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol card next month.

It will now not take place due to a hand injury on Shakur’s part – something he has struggled with in the past. A statement from Matchroom read:

“Due to a hand injury sustained by Shakur Stevenson, he is unable to compete against Joe Cordina on the Bivol-Beterbiev undercard at the upcoming Riyadh Season event on October 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The WBC World Lightweight Champion has undergone immediate surgery. After a successful period of recovery, Stevenson is set to return to the ring in early 2025.”

Hearn revealed that Stevenson tore a tendon in his knuckle during sparring. He has previously injured both hands in the Harutyunyan win.

Stevenson and the promoter set out a hit list of Cordina, number one contender William Zepeda and then the fight fans want to see – a unification against Gervonta Davis. Whether or not the bout against the Welshman still stays as first target and will. be rescheduled remains to be seen.

Shakur, 27, is one of the most impressive talents in the sport and, by the numbers, one of the least hittable fighters on the planet. His style has drawn criticism though for a safety-first approach. He has assured fans that he will shine brighter against the top competition.