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Shakur Stevenson signs with James Prince and Andre Ward

Photo courtesy of Shakur Stevenson's Twitter account
Fighters Network
06
Dec

Shakur Stevenson was wined and dined by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Rio at the Olympic Games this summer, leading to speculation he would sign with the recently retired fighter.

That could still happen. However, Tuesday’s news suggested he may go in a different direction. Stevenson, who captured silver in Rio, announced he has signed a managerial deal with James Prince, attorney Josh Dubin and light heavyweight champion Andre Ward, whom he is close with. While Ward is signed with Roc Nation Sports and is guided in his career by Dubin and Prince, a spokesperson for Stevenson said he has yet to sign with a promoter or plan a date for when he intends to turn pro in 2017. He expects to campaign as a featherweight.

“I know I have a great team behind me with J. Prince as the head of it, working with Josh Dubin and Andre Ward,” Stevenson said in a prepared statement. He is the most accomplished U.S. male boxer since Ward won gold in 2004. “I know that these guys can get me where I want to be and I feel very comfortable with them behind me,” he went on. “I’m so focused and I promise to put 110 percent into making sure we become great as a team and I plan on becoming one of the best boxers on the planet — which is my main goal. Now, it’s on me to prove to the world that I can be just as great as the legends before me and trust me, I’m up to the task!”

Dubin is a longtime boxing attorney, who has worked with the likes of Paulie Malignaggi, Lennox Lewis, Bryant Jennings, and Kermit Cintron, among others. He is a frequent collaborator with Prince, a Houston rap mogul who once guided Mayweather Jr. Stevenson has spoken of turning pro in early 2017 and of fighting in his home city of Newark, New Jersey at the Prudential Center. Stevenson has been courted by many of the sport’s biggest promoters, such as Golden Boy, Top Rank, Roc Nation Sports and Mayweather Promotions.



“It is an honor and a privilege to represent this young man,” Prince said in a statement. “Andre, Josh and I know we have the next superstar in the sport. Shakur is not only a gifted fighter, but someone that has the ability to be an icon. Our first goal is to sign him with the right promoter.  Then, we will be with him every step of the journey toward greatness.”

 

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