Shakur Stevenson isn’t what you would call an “old” fighter but his body, particularly his hands, have taken a beating over the years.

Defensively, Stevenson is one of, if not the best. But just because he rarely takes any physical damage, it doesn't mean that his body isn’t being put through wars. For years, The Ring’s No. 4 ranked lightweight and current WBC belt holder has struggled with hand injuries.

Due to their fragility, his trips to the ring have become far more infrequent. Although he would love to change that and get back to a more active routine, Stevenson doesn’t believe he’ll ever be able to.

“With the way that my hands are, two fights is like the most you will probably get out of me,” Stevenson told DAZN’s Ade Oladipo. “You probably won’t get three fights a year.”

Forget about three, at this point, fans are hoping that Stevenson’s health will allow him to keep his promise and step through those ropes at least twice a year. In 2024, the former Olympic silver medalist was unable to, making just one appearance, a unanimous decision victory over Artem Harutyunyan.

This Saturday night, at the Kingdom Arena, Stevenson’s 2025 will get rolling when he takes on late replacement, Josh Padley. Originally, he was scheduled to face Floyd Schofield Jr. but an unexpected illness sidelined him at the last minute.

If Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) does what many are predicting, the likes of Gervonta Davis, William Zepeda, and even Vasiliy Lomachenko become viable options.

No matter who’s ultimately picked, don’t expect a quick turnaround. Even if he has a relatively easy night at the pugilistic office, Stevenson will need time off to preserve his health going forward.

“I used to say that I want to (fight three times a year) but I also need to recover my body. I can’t just jump right back in the ring like I used to.”