floyd Mayweather Jr. recently commended his former fighter, Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, as the “biggest puncher” in the lightweight division while calling Shakur Stevenson the “most skillful.”

However, fans and critics have different views on Stevenson‘s fighting st

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any of them perceive WBC 135-lb champion Shakur Stevenson as overly defensive, accusing him of avoiding direct engagement in the ring.

Mayweather Jr. hails Stevenson’s skillset

Critics argue that aside from his contentious victory over Edwin De Los Santos last November-a fight some believe Stevenson lost-he hasn’t faced top-tier competition.

“The biggest puncher at 135 will probably be Gervonta Davis, but the most skillful fighter at 135 will be hands down Shakur Stevenson,” Mayweather Jr. told the Come and Talk 2 Me YouTube channel.

“Well it’s all really about skills. Pernell Whitaker wasn’t a huge puncher but he was very exciting, very tough and he fought everybody and Shakur is trying to do the same thing, he’s trying to fight the best out there, he’s asking to fight the best.”

On the other hand, Vasily Lomachenko is often regarded as the most skilled lightweight, praised for his willingness to engage and his well-rounded abilities.

Fans believe Stevenson‘s primary asset is his movement, which they feel limits his overall effectiveness since he rarely stands his ground.

Critics argue that a fighter must engage more directly, something they believe Stevenson avoids.

His reliance on evasive tactics and a step-back approach has led some to label him one of the least exciting fighters in the 135-lb division