The lightweight division is loaded with top-flight talent.

The prolific 135-pound weight class features undisputed champion Devin Haney, bona fide star Gervonta Davis, three-division titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko, as well as the likes of George Kambosos Jr., Isaac Cruz, and William Zepeda. 

Ryan Garcia also recently campaigned at 136 pounds in his loss against Davis, but he’s already declared that his future will unfold at 140 pounds. 

And then there is Shakur Stevenson, a former champion at 126 and 130 pounds who moved up 135 pounds for his division debut in April – a sixth-round TKO win against Shuichiro Yoshino. 

If you ask Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn, Stevenson is the brightest star of the division. 

“I think Shakur Stevenson is [the best fighter at 135 pounds]. Yeah, he's the best fighter. He beats them all. Because he's a fantastic fighter. His ring IQ,” Hearn said in an interview with Marcos Villegas on Fight Hub TV. “Listen, Devin is my friend. I think Devin against Shakur is a great fight, as is Tank, but I just don't think anyone beats Shakur Stevenson. I don't think he's not a massive star like Tank Davis is but I don't think anyone beats him. I would bet Shakur Stevenson every time.”

Hearn signed Haney to a promotional contract in April 2019 and the duo had a six-fight run together until Haney linked up with a co-promotional deal with Top Rank and Dibella Promotions in order to fight Kambosos – which he did so twice successfully in 2022. 

Haney is next set to defend his titles against Lomachenko on May 20.

Should the betting favorite Haney beat Lomachenko, a clash against his stablemate Stevenson could be a possibility if he ends up sticking around at lightweight. 

Haney has insisted that making the 135-pound weight limit is a tall task and he assesses his future in the division one fight at a time. 

The smaller Stevenson should have a several-fight run at lightweight over the next couple of years. 

“[Stevenson] may be the guy that gets beat when he moves up. He started at featherweight. Over time, the special guys get beat by moving up in divisions,” said Hearn. “I think 140 is the new glamour division coming over the next year. They are all going to move up ... there is a lot of talent there. I hope they all fight each other.” 

Some of the top fighters at 140 pounds include Josh Taylor, Regis Prograis, Teofimo Lopez Jr., Jose Ramirez, Subriel Matias, Jack Catterall, Gary Antuanne Russell, Arnold Barboza, and Jose Zepeda.

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer, and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com, or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.