According to eminent boxing figure Regis Prograis, it’s time for Shakur Stevenson to embrace a new tact and keep the judgments of fans at bay. Sporting a new attitude, Prograis tells Stevenson to ‘tell fans to KISS HIS A**’. Adopting a villain role seems to be his proposed remedy to handle rampant criticism.
Regis Prograis, former super lightweight champion, is fast becoming known for his straight to the point, frank advice and comments. From implying that Jake Paul will outrun Tommy Fury in their upcoming match, to advising Shakur Stevenson to shrug off his critics in a quite explicit way, Prograis is certainly not shy about expressing his thoughts.
“Tell them they can kiss your a** if they’re talking bad about you,” the former super lightweight champion said on his recent podcast, ‘Million Dollaz Worth Of Game’. He also suggested that the unbeaten featherweight champion embrace the ‘villain’ role and vocalizes his bold attitude.
Prograis’ comments came after Stevenson faced some severe criticism for his performance against Jamel Herring. Despite dominating the match and achieving a phenomenal victory, the New Jersey native was attacked for adopting a ‘safe’ approach and not providing an ‘exciting’ fight.
However, according to Regis Prograis, such concerns shouldn’t bother the young champion. He claims that winning is what matters in this brutal sport and stresses that Stevenson should ignore the criticisms and proudly say ‘KISS MY A**’ to the critics.
In a classic villain-esque style, Prograis suggests that ignoring the critics and embracing the persona they attribute to you, could be the best way to handle such situations. This controversial take can certainly shake up the dynamics of the boxing community, and in a sport that thrives on flamboyant characters, creating a villain persona might just do the trick.
Shakur Stevenson could indeed benefit from adopting this audacious and seemingly disrespectful approach. By championing the ‘villain role’, he may become more intimidating and challenging to his opponents, adding another dimension to his overall persona.
Applying lessons from his advice to Stevenson, Prograis has been famously ruthlessly honest about his performances. Despite a few losses in his career, he remains cocksure about securing victories, especially in his upcoming fight against Tyrone McKenna. His raw confidence and rebellious attitude can serve as an extended handbook for Stevenson to manage his critics and stay focused on his main objective of winning.
However, the question remains, should Shakur Stevenson heed this advice? Is embracing a ‘villain role’ the correct path to shun criticism? The views would certainly vary, but one thing is sure, boxing, much like any sport, is as much about the psychology as it is the physicality.
While Prograis’ advice to Stevenson to say ‘KISS MY A**’ to the critics may ruffle a few feathers, it could also bear rewards. The boxing world enjoys a good villain character, often creating an electrifying atmosphere during matches that engage spectators as well as sponsors financially and psychologically.
To conclude, the perceived notion that the crowd’s adulation validates a fighter’s performance might not stand true universally. Perhaps, the true acclamation lies in the undisputed legacy left in the ring by the champion, and Stevenson has every tool to construct a remarkable one, irrespective of the challenges mirrored by popular sentiment and fan critics.
