Shakur Stevenson withdraws from title fight due to hand injury

By Moses Ochieng

WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson has suffered a hand injury that requires immediate surgery, forcing him to cancel his planned title defense against Joe Cordina. The fight was scheduled to be the main event of the support card for the Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev fight at the Riyadh Season event on October 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

This fight was supposed to be an exhibition for the 27-year-old Stevenson in his first fight under a two-fight contract with Matchroom, and fans who were keen to see him in action despite the pay-per-view cost are understandably disappointed.

Shakur Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) has been under pressure to deliver a more exciting performance. He has been seen working on boxing gloves with Terence Crawford over the past two weeks. It's unclear if he may have pushed himself over the limit and put too much power into his punches in an attempt to impress the boxing superstar.

“Unfortunately my hand failed, but in 2025 we want to get back on our feet and take over boxing,” Stevenson told X.

This fight would have been a valuable challenge for Stevenson in preparation for his fight against Zepeda, which may not take place due to the injury. Stevenson needs these encounters to improve his status and establish himself as a top contender in the lightweight division.

Cordina (17-1, 9 KOs) was preparing for a bold move to lightweight following his first career loss. The 32-year-old's winning streak and IBF super-featherweight title ended in May when he was defeated by Northern Ireland's Anthony Cacace. He was set to be one of three British fighters challenging for a world title next month.

“God's ways are unfathomable. Through all the ups and downs, I am hungry and more motivated than ever. 2025 will be my best year yet. The surgery went well, it's a small setback for a big comeback,” Shakur continued on his Instagram page.

If Hearn goes through with his plan to pit Shakur against Zepeda, this is another difficult fight that Stevenson could potentially lose. However, if Shakur wins both fights, Hearn will likely face stiff competition if he wants to sign him as a free agent, as Stevenson will be at the top of the sport and would be a lucrative deal for any promoter he signs with.