Shakur Stevenson is set for a controversial title defense on October 12, where he will face Joe

Cordina on the undercard of the Beterbiev vs. Bivol showdown. This bout will see Stevenson defending his WBC lightweight title. The announcement, made by Eddie Hearn, sparked backlash among fans who were critical of Cordina being given such an opportunity. Cordina, a former IBF super featherweight champion, was knocked out in the 8th round by Anthony Cacace in May.

Cordina, currently ranked 13th by the WBC, is new to the lightweight division and this will be his debut in the weight class. Despite criticism, Hearn remains unfazed by the backlash, stating that Cordina’s inclusion is justified.

Shakur Stevenson, on the other hand, is facing scrutiny for his recent opponents. His last bout was against Artem Harutyunyan, who had also been knocked out by Frank Martin prior to facing Stevenson. Fans expressed their desire to see Stevenson face tougher competitors like Andy Cruz or Edwin De Los Santos instead of fighters coming off losses.