So, it’s understandable why they have the Herrera vs. Nunez fight for the WBC interim lightweight belt. If Shakur chooses to fight a second consecutive time outside of the 135-lb division, the WBC will likely strip him and upgrade the winner of the Herrera-Nunez contest as the new champion. That’s a wise move. Who knows how long Stevenson will be busy in other weight classes?
The unbeaten 23-year-old Cuba-born Herrera has massive power in both hands, and good height at 5’9″. He’s younger and a bigger puncher than the 32-year-old Nunez, who is 5’7.” Before this fight was made, #3 WBC Jadier had repeatedly called Shakur earlier this year when his scheduled opponent, Floyd Schofield, had pulled out of their February 22nd fight in Riyadh.
Herrera asked Shakur to agree to use him as the replacement, saying in broken English, “Shakur, send me a contract. I’m here for no play; send me a contract. I no baby. Send me a contract. I will kill you. He wants to score points, but I hit I hit to knock out.”
Interestingly, Stevenson picked Josh Padley as his substitute over Jadier Herrera. The choice gave a little insight into how the Newark, New Jersey native thinks. The difference in power between Padley, with his 29.41% KO rate, and Jadier, with his 88.24% KO rate, is huge.
Nunez vs. Herrera will be held at the Rudolf Weber-Arena in Oberhausen, Germany. It’s part of the Agit Kabayel vs. Damian Knyba card. The event will be shown live on DAZN.
