Most avoided? Why (almost) nobody wants to face Shakur Stevenson - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — Shakur Stevenson wasn't in your typical run-down, sweaty boxing gym.

Staring at a black ring with ZUFFA BOXING emblazoned on the mat, he had a familiar thought run through his head prior to his sparring session. On a massage table at the UFC Apex, the training facility home to the UFC's roster, he contemplated his place in the combat sports world.

Stevenson is without question one of the biggest names in boxing, but on that Saturday in late September, observing all of the big screens on the Strip with promotion for Canelo Alvarez's fight that night against Jermell Charlo, his thoughts surely ran through all of the excuses he has heard that have prevented him from being featured in such an event.

«Not enough money on the table.»

«More time needed to be ready.»

«Other side of the street.»

Stevenson has proved to be boxing's most evasive target both inside and outside the ring. Inside the ropes, he's rated by CompuBox as the hardest to hit in the sport.

Outside the ropes, Stevenson has earned the moniker of arguably the sport's most-avoided fighter from former boxers, managers and promoters alike. Despite his growing star power and main event status on ESPN — with strong TV ratings to match — Stevenson hasn't been able to secure top-flight opponents, even when it means title opportunities and career-high paydays.

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Thursday, Nov. 16, 6:10 p.m. ET on ESPN+: Shakur Stevenson vs. Edwin De Los Santos undercard

Thursday, Nov. 16, 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+: Shakur Stevenson vs. Edwin De Los Santos, 12 rounds, for the vacant WBC lightweight title

Stevenson (20-0, 10 KOs) was set to fight Frank Martin