Shakur Stevenson rolls past Artem Harutyunyan, retains WBC title

Shakur Stevenson retained his WBC light-weight title with a unanimous determination victory over Artem Harutyunyan on Saturday within the last combat of his promotional cope with High Rank.

For the third time in 4 fights, Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) boxed in his native Newark, New Jersey. He managed the combat from the opening bell, displaying off the talents that earned him recognition as ESPN’s No. 8 pound-for-pound boxer.

And for the second consecutive combat, Stevenson cruised down the stretch in opposition to a significant underdog. In November, Stevenson scored a lackluster determination victory over Edwin de Los Santos, a combat by which neither boxer landed double-digit punches in any spherical.

Stevenson was decided to ship much more leisure this time round, however the stoppage did not materialize. Considered one of boxing’s finest defensive fighters, Stevenson was a -3500 favourite in opposition to Harutyunyan, in accordance with ESPN BET.

“It is sort of onerous to show [you’re the best] if you do not have a fighter attempting to combat again; he is simply attempting to outlive,” mentioned Stevenson, 27. “… I’d have wished him to strive a little bit more durable so it could possibly be a extra enjoyable combat.

“I did all the things I might to get him out of there, too. I acquired to chop off the ring a little bit bit extra. … I am going to return to the health club and work on chopping off the ring.”

There have been boos through the last two rounds of what was largely an uneventful combat. Stevenson mentioned the jeers had been geared toward Harutyunyan as a result of “he ain’t actually attempt to make the combat.” Harutyunyan landed double-digit punches in just one spherical, the ninth.

Stevenson, in the meantime, surprised Harutyunyan to the physique a number of occasions, touchdown 66 such pictures. The champion outlanded the challenger 170-74 total. Stevenson managed vary along with his jab, was in a position to fend off Harutyunyan’s assaults and counter with sharp mixtures of his personal.

Harutyunyan (12-2, 7 KOs) was combating in his first world-title bout. He entered the ring on the heels of a spirited determination loss to light-weight contender Frank Martin in July, a combat by which he was dropped within the twelfth spherical.

The Armenian suffered cuts underneath each eyes and emerged with bruises scattered round his face. Harutyunyan, 33, represented Germany within the 2016 Olympics and received a bronze medal. At those self same Video games in Rio De Janeiro, Stevenson captured a silver medal two weight courses beneath at bantamweight.

Stevenson went on to win titles at 126, 130 and 135 kilos, the place he at present reigns. All of his 22 professional fights have been promoted by High Rank, however Stevenson now enters free company. He rejected a five-fight extension supply that might have assured him $3 million per bout, sources advised ESPN.

“I wish to combat one of the best fighters in boxing,” Stevenson mentioned. “That is how you are going to get to see one of the best model of me, while you put me within the ring with another person that desires to combat again and compete.”

Such a marquee combat has to this point eluded Stevenson. He is rated No. 3 by ESPN at light-weight. The division’s prime two boxers, Gervonta Davis and Vasiliy Lomachenko, are in negotiations to combat later this 12 months.

“If they do not combat me, they do not combat me,” Stevenson mentioned. “I am simply going to remain within the health club and be prepared.”

Conceicao ends Foster’s title reign

Robson Conceicao received his first world title in his fourth bid with a cut up determination victory over O’Shaquie Foster within the 130-pound title co-feature.

Brazil’s Conceicao, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, prevailed by scores of 115-113 and 116-112, whereas the third choose scored it 116-112 in favor of Foster, who was making the third protection of his WBC title. The choice was an unpopular one: Conceicao landed simply 11% of his punches.

“I assumed it was a shutout,” mentioned Foster, a 30-year-old combating out of Houston. “… I assumed it was a simple combat. I did not get touched besides with a headbutt. … I need the rematch. They stole this from me.”

Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) received the title with a call victory over Rey Vargas in March 2022. Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) beforehand misplaced to Stevenson and Oscar Valdez in title challenges, although neither combat was contested on an excellent enjoying area. Stevenson was stripped of the title after he didn’t make weight in opposition to Conceicao, and Valdez examined optimistic for a performance-enhancing drug weeks earlier than their combat.

Conceicao’s third title problem was a draw with Emanuel Navarrete in November, one other co-feature to a Stevenson title combat.

“I do suppose I received the combat,” Conceicao, 35, mentioned by way of an interpreter. “… He did not come to combat. He was operating and operating. I used to be the winner.”