Stephan “Big Shot” Shaw demands attention in the heavyweight division: he wants real opportunities and a shot at the world title, starting with Oleksandr Usyk.
The 33-year-old spoke to World Boxing News exclusively after a video of him working Amazon delivery shifts went viral two weeks ago, spotlighting a fighter many in the US feel has been overlooked.
Shaw on the Wilder collapse
Shaw confirmed that talks for a fight with Deontay Wilder fell apart in March.
“I’m not aligned with the people that make big fights happen,” Shaw told WBN. “He didn’t want to fight me. They went with someone safer in Tyrell Herndon.
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“I asked his team if he could give me an opportunity after the fight. They told me it would be a big fight and have to make financial sense for all of us, and I responded by saying that I couldn’t agree more.”
The fight never materialized, leaving Shaw sidelined despite his pedigree and proven skills.
Ambitions: Usyk, rematches, and top contenders
Asked to name some of the opponents he wants to target after the Wilder collapse, Shaw gave a surprisingly detailed list, showing how much attention he’s currently paying to the heavyweight climate.
“If I could choose? Oleksandr Usyk for the heavyweight championship of the world,” began Shaw, aiming at the very pinnacle of the sport.
“I have shown who I am, even to bounce back from my defeats. I would love a rematch with Joe Goodall and Efe Ajagba ASAP. They must be too afraid to get back in there with me.”
Giving his full wishlist, Shaw stated, “Joe Goodall, Efe Ajagba, Anthony Joshua, Jared Anderson, Jermaine Franklin, Brandon Moore, Andrii Novytskyi, Jarrell Miller, Michael Hunter, Andy Ruiz, Guido Vianello, Richard Torrez. To throw names out there.”
Frustration with US support
Despite US fans crying out for a new top-tier hero as Wilder prepares for retirement, Shaw admits he is disillusioned with the support.
“The American public doesn’t stick by their fighters like international fighters and their fans. A guy like Derek Chisora, who’s 40+ with 10+ losses (multiple KO losses), can still be beloved and appreciated from his country.”
Why Shaw shouldn’t be on the shelf
Shaw is 21-2 (16 KOs) with a 76% knockout rate, standing 6’4″ with an 81-inch reach. He has 88 professional rounds under his belt, and last fought April 12, 2025, stopping Raphael Akpejiori in the first round at Maryland Live Casino in Hanover.
Currently, Shaw is ranked 41 by BoxRec and number five in the US, and despite signing with ProBox on a three-fight deal, only one has come to fruition, leaving one of America’s most naturally talented heavyweights inactive at a critical stage of his career.
WBN believes Shaw is far too talented to remain inactive, especially given his elite amateur pedigree, professional record, and willingness to face the very best in the division.
With Shaw openly calling out Usyk, pressing for rematches, listing a dozen top contenders, and demanding activity, the message is simple:
He is ready. He wants big names. And the heavyweight division can no longer ignore him.
