WBC champion Shakur Stevenson’s decrease attendance on the Prudential Heart is because of an alternate rely methodology.
That’s in keeping with revered boxing author Keith Idec, who introduced the official figures however was amongst these reporters who confronted opposition from Stevenson through social media.
“I’m wondering how a lot they paid them to depart on the similar precise time so ESPN may present it on digicam,” mentioned the previous High Rank star. “The upper powers [Top Rank] despatched pretend reporters who write pretend information for them to cap to social media concerning the attendance, No matter they’ll to try to down me!
“Pretend numbers. When the upper powers are towards you, they’ve received to attempt their greatest to place you down.”
On the time, Idec introduced the official figures through the aftermath. He mentioned, “The official attendance tonight at Prudential Heart is 8.412. It was a smaller crowd than Shakur Stevenson’s final two appearances in his hometown of Newark, however a good determine for a vacation weekend and a low-profile opponent.”
Idec added, “The stay gate for the Shakur Stevenson vs Artem Harutyunyan card on July sixth at Prudential Heart in Newark was $905K, in keeping with what High Rank reported to New Jersey’s State Athletic Management Board. The introduced attendance was 8,412, which incorporates all tickets bought and comped.”
In response to followers backing Stevenson, Idec acknowledged, “I’m not criticizing Shakur. You’ll be able to rely on one hand American boxers able to drawing between 8,000 and 10,000 followers commonly to a venue. However tickets weren’t bought for the highest tier of Prudential Heart. It was not bought out prime to backside. I used to be there, too.”
World Boxing Information then contacted the Prudential Heart for clarification however confronted a brick wall in return. The Prudential Heart’s Visitor Providers Supervisor relayed to WBN that they can not verify that type of info to the general public.
Idec has since acknowledged that the determine was decrease as a result of the counting methodology didn’t embody beforehand counted attendees.
“Introduced attendance for the 2 prior playing cards Stevenson headlined in Newark, wins towards Conceicao [10,107] and Yoshino [10,408]. Per Prudential Heart’s coverage, they included all in attendance [employees, media, etc.]. The Harutyunyan determine solely included tickets bought and comped,” he defined.
Stevenson was appropriate in complaining concerning the numbers, which ought to have been increased based mostly on the counting methodology for his earlier bouts.
Learn all articles and unique interviews by Phil Jay. Study extra concerning the writer, skilled boxing author, and World Boxing Information Editor since 2010. Comply with on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
