Sparring partner Kevin Johnson says Shakur Stevenson will be in trouble if his surgically repaired right hand breaks in his fight against Floyd ‘Kid Austin’ Schofield on February 22 in Riyadh.
Johnson predicts a win for Stevenson if he is healthy, but could lose if he injures his right hand during the fight against the 22-year-old Schofield. He says Floyd will hook Shakur on one arm and “overpower” him with punches. Shakur’s fragile hands are the key to this fight. If they keep up, they win. A failure in this area leaves him easy prey for the tiger tiger, “Kid Austin”.
The Peck & Run problem
Unlike Edwin De Los Santos, “Kid Austin” would be relentless against an injured Shakur. It will be like this anyway, but it will be much worse.
Stevenson could not peck and run his way to a victory like he did against De Los Santos because Floyd had him out and punishing him with power shots. He doesn’t hit as hard as De Los Santos, but he hits close enough to do damage. Shakur should have lost this fight if Edwin had cut the ring better and shown more guts to throw when he trapped him.
WBC lightweight champion Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) has not fought since injuring his hand training for a fight against Joe Cordina on October 12. He had hand surgery, and started training last week for his defense against Schofield (18-0, 12 KO).
“I feel like with a healthy hand, Shakur has it just because ‘Kid Austin’ shows up. He’s going to give you a fight, but it’s going to be a sloppy fight,” Kevin Johnson told Fighthypepicking a healthy WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson over Floyd ‘Kid’ Austin’ Schofield on February 22, if Shakur’s surgically repaired right hand doesn’t fall out.
“He (Schofield) doesn’t know what he’s up to. He’s orthodox and left-handed all at once. Not only that. He throws wide punches. It’s a style that’s made for Shakur Stevenson. He’s like, ‘I’m going to tag your ** * with all these wild punches and missing pieces you’re doing now.”
“Open your body with your change. I feel that Shakur is going to win this hand. Now, his hand injury. If his hand gives up on him and he has a hand, it will be tough. Although his defense is good, you only have one hand,” Johnson said of Stevenson.
If Shakur is healthy, he will win a boring 12-round decision using his hit-and-run stylebut it won’t be easy. Kid Austin will beat them hard and attack non-stop. It’s going to make Stevenson look bad anyway.
Austin’s aggression
It is good for him that the fight is in Riyadh rather than in the United States because he would be drowned out of any place. Shakur is not built physically or mentally for the lightweight division. She is shy and fragile in both areas. Facing a fearless young fighter with power will be tough for Stevenson.
“You can lose that hand to the body and hooks or whatever. Kid Austin is going to come forward to punch. So, you’re going to survive with all these punches while you’re trying to get out there and try to hit him with a good shot. You can’t use your other hand. So you’re limited,” Johnson said.