Is it the past catching up with the present, or just a bunch of fans trying hard to make Shakur Stevenson realize the landscape he’s stepping into? Either way, plenty of fans had a gala time when they stumbled upon an old tweet from Lou DiBella sharing his thoughts on Stevenson’s fighting style. What’s the twist? Well, DiBella is now set to promote Stevenson in his upcoming bout against William Zepeda!

The news has sent shockwaves through the boxing world. Fresh off a single fight under Eddie Hearn‘s Matchroom Boxing, a win against Josh Padley, Stevenson has already decided to part ways. The exact reasons behind the split remain under wraps. However, reports suggest the lightweight champ is shifting toward a fight-by-fight promotional approach. And for the July showdown with Zepeda, it looks like he’s enlisted veteran promoter Lou DiBella. But here’s the kicker: DiBella’s past remarks have fans in stitches.

Laughing out loud, @BoxingEnthusiast tweeted, “This is what Shakur Stevenson’s new promoter, Lou DiBella, had to say about him less than a year ago 😲🤣.” The post featured a July 2024 tweet from DiBella. For context, Stevenson had just defended his lightweight title against Artem Harutyunyan on July 6.

And what did DiBella write? “As good as he is, I just don’t enjoy watching Shakur fights. Goodnight.” The Harutyunyan fight followed Shakur Stevenson’s much-discussed title bout against Edwin De Los Santos. It brought him under fresh scrutiny, especially for how he fought rather than the outcome itself.

So, when Stevenson aligned with veteran promoter Lou DiBella for his upcoming fight against William Zepeda, the reactions were mixed. One user questioned the decision outright. Why settle for DiBella when there were other alternatives? Dan Rafael highlighted that DiBella has good relations with Stevenson’s long-time manager, James Prince, and “knows the NY commission inside and out and the business overall and has a ton of experience.”

Still, even such solid endorsements didn’t shield the move from criticism.

Flashback tweet and fresh takes

One commenter disagreed plainly. “People are going off the Edwin fights; of course, they will say that, but all his other fights was good fights,” they said. Fair point. While the De Los Santos performance drew heat, Stevenson’s previous outings were often praised for their precision and ring IQ.

But the next comment cut deeper. “Short memories these promoters and fans,” this fan said. Indeed, for many, it felt odd. Perhaps even hypocritical. A promoter publicly criticizes a fighter, only to later team up with him.

Still, one user took a more contextual stance: “Oscar Valdez and Herring was his last exciting fights.” There’s truth in that. Stevenson’s victories over Valdez and Jamel Herring were career-defining moments. But let’s not forget. After the Valdez fight, he moved up in weight and claimed his third world title. New levels often demand new approaches.

Amid the debate, one fan offered a pragmatic view: “It’s business.” And that perhaps sums it up best. DiBella might not be enamored with Stevenson’s style, but that doesn’t mean he won’t promote him with full commitment.

Another echoed a similar thought, this time from the fighter’s perspective. They said, “Dunno why it’s funny. You didn’t know fighters can’t be good and boring at the same time? Being good doesn’t automatically mean fun to watch, and being fun to watch doesn’t automatically mean good 🤷🏾‍♂️.” And that’s so close to the truth. Very few boxers strike the perfect balance between being technically brilliant and wildly entertaining. There’s a reason there’s only one Muhammad Ali and one Roy Jones Jr.

And let’s not forget. This partnership isn’t for the long haul. As Rick Glaser highlighted, it’s just a ‘fight by fight deal.’ Even Glaser himself couldn’t resist chuckling at the pairing. “Boxing makes very some very strange bedfellows. And this is definitely one of them. 😆😁😂,” said the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYBHOF) inductee.

So what’s your take? Do you find Shakur Stevenson’s style dull? Or do you appreciate the finesse, even if it’s not flashy?