By: Sean Crose
Gervonta Davis. Vasyl Lomachenko. Devin Haney. Teofimo Lopez. These males are all within the common weight realm of WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson. With a document of twenty-one wins towards zero losses, the twenty-seven yr outdated Stevenson could be a excessive profile opponent for any of the aforementioned names. Stevenson is extra than simply an undefeated titlist, in any case. He’s thought to be one of the gifted fighters on the planet. Highly expert and at occasions enthralling, the product of Newark, New Jersey, is nice – superb – maybe too good for his personal good.
Stevenson, in any case, has been accused of being a boring fighter. Yet, despite the fact that he’s not a knockout artist, it was the person’s final battle – a twelve spherical snooze fest towards Edwin De Los Santos final November – that actually raised eyebrows. While there was little doubt Stevenson masterfully bested De Los Santos that evening, the query of why Stevenson didn’t step it up and cease De Los Santos throughout the distance, or no less than look really engaged, began making the rounds. Stevenson himself admitted he was sad together with his efficiency. Boxing, being a enterprise no less than as a lot as it’s a sport, doesn’t smile on fighters who don’t generate some sort of pleasure both in or out of the ring. Stevenson, greater than anybody, is aware of he has to on the very least entertain so as to earn the sort of fame and challenges he desires.
One approach for Stevenson to generate the sort of buzz that attracts in eyeballs and accolades is for the Top Rank promoted fighter to impress this weekend when he takes on Artem Harutyunyan Saturday evening in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey. Germany’s Harutyunan boasts a document of twelve and one, having solely tasted defeat for the primary time his final battle, the place he was decisioned by Frank Martin. In different phrases, Harutyunyan isn’t any tomato can. The thirty-three yr outdated picks his pictures effectively and possesses energy despite the very fact his document of getting simply seven knockout wins doesn’t point out as a lot.
Of course, a loss to Harutyunyan could be disastrous for Stevenson at this level in his profession. An spectacular win, nevertheless, will assist the multi division titlist be that a lot tougher for different high fighters to keep away from. It’s time the person is in a serious matchup. With each Lopez and Lomachenko preventing below the Top Rank banner, that main matchup may very well be nearer than it appears.
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