“I’d rather get a big check and go spend it on a property or something,” Stevenson said. “The bands are nice, they’re good to put in your office and put up to look good for people who come to see them.”
The situation is familiar. His mentor, Terence Crawford, took a similar stance during a dispute with the WBC after failing to pay a penalty fee after defeating Canelo Alvarez. The bond became secondary. The argument was about money.
Stevenson’s recent career choices follow the same logic. He vacated his WBC lightweight title and moved up to 140 pounds to pursue a fight with Teofimo Lopez for the WBO belt. The top is obvious. Big money. Lots of shows.
Staying at 135 means protecting against fighters like Andy Cruz or Jadier Herrera. Those fights bring danger. They offer a small financial reward. Stevenson did not explain that. He said enough.
When asked about Lopez’s claim that he can throw punches while blindfolded, Stevenson responded without humor.
“Depends on who I’m in front of,” he said. “There are some fighters out there who are defenseless.”
Nothing is hidden. Stevenson reveals what he values and how he applies it. When the champions do this, the referees slip and the contestants wait. The structure is bent on leverage rather than sequence.
Stevenson is doing what the current structure allows. As long as the big checks come in without legal interference, the fighters will still make the same decision.