Shortly after his new deal with Zuffa Boxing was announced, pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson and former NFL player-turned-media figurehead Shannon Sharpe got into a heated exchange on Sharpe’s podcast, "Nightcap.” What began as a debate over boxing style quickly spiraled into a personal back-and-forth about credibility, respect, and even a hypothetical fight between the two.
With Stevenson’s new promotional signing and his quest to climb the pound-for-pound rankings becoming more visible, his media appearances are becoming a bigger draw than ever. Sharpe, however, believes that his boxing style is less than stellar, and that his defensive approach may not make him as much of a draw as he wants to become.
Watch the full episode here (via Nightcap on YouTube):
Shannon Sharpe Criticizes Shakur
"I'm not saying that you're not a great fighter, or that you're not a champion... You do a great job of hitting and not getting hit," Sharpe prefaced. “But sometimes people want to see you put yourself in harm's way and get down.”
Stevenson responded, however, explaining that his cautious style comes from a real understanding of the risks involved every time he steps into the ring.
“Unc, you just not in tune, man, you got to get in tune. Go do your homework. You got F’s on your homework, man,” Shakur joked.
Arguments Get Personal
The interview got tense as co-host Chad Ochocinco directly challenged Sharpe and Stevenson to meet in the ring.
“He too small,” Sharpe quipped, regarding the massive weight difference between himself and the boxer.
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Stevenson, however, questioned Sharpe’s toughness on camera.
“You've never thrown a punch in your life. You ever got into a fight?” Stevenson said, laughing. “I will whoop your a—,"
"How old are you? I bet when I get your age, I have more money than you,” Stevenson also quipped later in the podcast.
Sharpe, however, stood by his argument, making clear he was judging Shakur from the perspective of a casual boxing fan.
“You got upset because I don’t fall and praise you. Your style is boring to me,” Sharpe stated.
Despite the heated nature of their argument, it was clear that neither man had any real venom for the other. Both, however, are clearly passionate about defending their respective opinions.
The two continued the debate on X:
Stevenson also believes Sharpe is judging his boxing style on a small sample size, and believes Sharpe would not have his opinion if he actually watched boxing.
“When you say the style is boring, you're giving an opinion on something that, to me, I feel is very ignorant, especially when you say Teofimo was my most entertaining fight, after I just fought William Zepeda,” Sharkur noted.
You can watch the full fight here and judge for yourself (via Ring Magazine on YouTube):
The full exchange has already drawn significant attention online for how personal it became. Sharpe and Ochocinco are known for provocative debates with athletes and guests, but this particular sit-down with Stevenson stood out for its intensity.
