Shakur Stevenson shares same Olympic heartache as Floyd Mayweather… but uses it to replicate legend's unbeaten career
Mayweather was infamously robbed of his chance to win gold at the 1996 Games after losing a controversial decision in the semi-finals.
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He sobbed in his post-bout interview after settling for bronze - but vowed to never again taste the pain of defeat.
And true to his word, Mayweather ended his career with a 50-0 record with world titles in FIVE divisions.
Stevenson suffered similar heartbreak in Rio in 2016, losing in the bantamweight final to leave Brazil with only silver.
In dejavu to Mayweather's emotional interview 20 years earlier - Stevenson wept in front of the cameras.
And just like his idol, Stevenson has carved out an undefeated career and tipped by many as maybe the heir to Mayweather's throne.
Stevenson, 27, told SunSport: "I think that's the reason I am where I'm at today and I think that made me who I am.
'That Olympics, I know that I should have been an Olympic gold medalist had I did everything that I was supposed to do to become it.
'But I didn't do everything I was supposed to do to become an Olympic gold medalist.
"So, I think that was the best thing that actually happened to me.
'It kinda put that motivation in me and that little bug in my back when I went pro to make sure that I make sure all bases are covered.
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'And now that I'm here, I'm a hard motherf***er to beat.'
Stevenson is indeed a hard motherf***er to beat - not only that, he is hard to even hit thanks to his impeccable southpaw defense.
He is 23-0 with belts in three different divisions - an achievement he does not think would have been possible had he won Olympic gold.
Stevenson said: 'I think I probably would have got big headed and let my guard down a little bit and I think once I went pro, I didn't let my guard down at all.
'I kinda just stayed on the right path and I did everything I was supposed to do to make sure that on fight night I came in 100 per cent.'
Stevenson returns on Saturday night in New York against Mexican William Zepeda, 29, defending his WBC lightweight title.
It is a fight Stevenson has wanted for years and one he expects to be a coming out party of sorts after a series of one-sided beatdowns.
He said: "I think it is just because of the style, you got a guy that's coming in there, he's coming to bring the fight to me.
'And you back somebody up like me against the wall, you won't like what's coming back, so it's gonna be tremendous."
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