Two-division world champion Paulie Malignaggi has highlighted a fighter whom he believes can be considered as this generation\u2019s \u2018Floyd Mayweather.\u2019<\/p>\n
Mayweather famously hung up the gloves with a record of 50-0 and was named as the BWAA\u2019s \u2018Fighter of the Decade\u2019 for the 2010\u2019s after overcoming the likes of Shane Mosley, Oscar De La Hoya, Canelo Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cemented as one the greatest defensive fighters of all time, \u2018TBE\u2019 continues to be linked to a return to professional boxing at the age of 48, but Malignaggi told talkSPORT<\/a> that there is already a Mayweather-esque talent present in Shakur Stevenson.<\/p>\n \u201cShakur [Stevenson] for me is a fighter I\u2019d always look at to be the best fighter in the sport. He is like this generation\u2019s Floyd Mayweather. He hasn\u2019t been given the opportunities, they\u2019ve avoided him.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a world class fighter, and I think this is fight is between two world class fighters in their prime. I look at Stevenson, I say this guy is the future of boxing and he will carry the sport.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the plaudits, Malignaggi then went on to refuse to write off a Teofimo Lopez victory this weekend, where he and Stevenson collide for the WBO super-lightweight world title in New York \u2013 Stevenson\u2019s first fight at 140lbs after already winning titles at featherweight, super-featherweight and lightweight.<\/p>\n \u201cHe beat Vasyl Lomachenko for real, on his night he is almost unbeatable. I think Teofimo brings his own attributes to the table.<\/p>\n \u201cI think if there is somebody on a certain night who can do it, it would be Lopez. But if you count him out, he\u2019s surprised a lot of people.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe in Stevenson, but on his night Teofimo can beat anyone in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n