Josh Warrington’s dream unification clash at Elland Road in May with Shakur Stevenson could be jeopardised by the American’s plans to fight in March.
WBO featherweight champ Stevenson and his promoter Top Rank want a tune-up fight before he faces IBF king Warrington in Leeds.
Stevenson, 22, is understood to find it increasingly hard to make the nine-stone limit and is due to fight Miguel Marriaga at the Theater at Madison Square Garden on March 14 to help him get down in weight.
Stevenson’s tactic puts his lucrative clash with Warrington at risk if he suffers an injury and there would only be two months between the fights.
The two camps have yet to agree terms and a unification clash between them could sell out Elland Road.
However the gate would be hit significantly if the unbeaten Stevenson had too pull out, leaving Leeds’ Warrington to defend his IBF crown against a lesser name.
Promoter Frank Warren is working hard to bring Stevenson, who won silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics, over to the UK.
Warren is talking to Top Rank chief Bob Arum and the two kingpins are very close.
Warren would be happier if Stevenson did not fight Marriaga and he is keen to deliver the unification clash Warrington so desperately wants at the home of his beloved Leeds.
Warrington, 30, who is 30–0, won his IBF title at Elland Road against Lee Selby in May 2018 and a showdown with rising star Stevenson would be even bigger box office.
