Shakur Stevenson Says Floyd Mayweather Beats Sugar Ray Robinson ‘Not Even Close’

WBC lightweight champion argues Mayweather’s defense, adaptability and ring IQ would overwhelm Robinson in a fantasy matchup

Shakur Stevenson believes Floyd Mayweather would comfortably defeat Sugar Ray Robinson in a hypothetical showdown between two of boxing’s most celebrated names. Speaking on The Art of Ward, Stevenson argued that Mayweather’s defensive skill set and adaptability were on a different level.

“Floyd Mayweather [would have won], no question. Floyd Mayweaher, no question, not even close, nothing to even think about.

“I don’t think that it would be a competitive fight,” Stevenson said on The Art of Ward.

Shakur explained that he believes Mayweather’s defensive versatility and adaptability would have given him a decisive advantage.

“Floyd Mayweather had different looks. So Floyd would have his hands up [high guard], he would have his hands right here [in front of his chest] sometimes, he would have it here [Philly Shell], he had different looks. I feel like his game was way more evolved than Sugar Ray Robinson’s,” said Shakur.

“A lot of the times, if you watch Sugar Ray Robinson, his hands was always right here [left hand low, right hand on chin]. From an offensive standpoint, Sugar Ray Robinson would be harder to deal with than Floyd Mayweather.

“But, from a defensive standpoint and who could do more, who got better boxing, IQ, skills; to me, Floyd Mayweather was way ahead of Sugar Ray Robinson.”

This isn’t the first time Shakur has spoken negatively about Robinson. In 2025, he dismissed the all-time great’s skills during an appearance on Cigar Talk.

“Boxing has evolved, bro. Sugar Ray Robinson didn’t even know how to pick his hands up. Go watch him fight Jake LaMotta, he was hitting him with nonstop hooks. Over and over.”

“I YouTubed him, it was buns. He was buns. Sugar Ray Robinson is buns.”

Robinson retired with a record of 173-19-6 with 108 knockouts and is widely credited with inspiring the creation of the pound-for-pound concept. He compiled a 43-0 record as a welterweight before moving up to capture the middleweight title, stopping Jake LaMotta in their sixth meeting to claim the crown.

Standing 5-foot-11 with a 72½-inch reach, Robinson was considered large for a welterweight during his era and successfully carried his power into higher weight classes. His undefeated run at welterweight remains a key part of his legacy and often features prominently in debates comparing him with elite fighters from different generations.

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