Shakur Stevenson’s final title battle in his hometown ended along with his shedding his belt on the scales.
This time, it might be his present promoter that’s in the end left behind.
Stevenson weighed 134.1 kilos, nicely beneath the restrict this time round for the primary protection of his WBC light-weight title. The 2016 Olympic Silver medalist and three-division titleholder faces Artem Harutyunyan (12-1, 7 KOs), who was 134.8 kilos.
Their scheduled 12-round bout headlines an ESPN quadrupleheader from Pruduential Middle in Stevenson’s hometown of Newark, New Jersey.
Stevenson (21-0, 10 knockouts), No. 4 at 135 by The Ring, fights for the fourth time at this location. His most up-to-date journey got here final April, when he stopped unbeaten Shuichiro Yoshino (16-0 on the time) within the sixth spherical of their WBC title eliminator.
It was an evening of redemption for Stevenson, who missed weight forward of a Sept. 2022 win over Robson Conceicao. He was pressured to vacate his RING, lineal, WBC and WBO junior light-weight titles in consequence.
Saturday marks the ultimate battle of Stevenson’s promotional contract with Prime Rank. The 27-year-old southpaw signed with the Las Vegas-based powerhouse upon turning professional from the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Title reigns in three divisions have adopted. Nevertheless, he’s but to expertise the kind of blockbuster occasions loved by his elite-level friends in and across the weight.
Stevenson has been vocal about his need to check the free agent market after Saturday.
Harutyunyan has not fought since a slender 12-round defeat to then-unbeaten Frank Martin final July 15 in Las Vegas. The Hamburg-based Armenian pushed Martin to the restrict however pale late in his U.S. debut. He was pressured to take a knee within the 12th and last spherical, and misplaced on all three scorecards.
O’Shaquie Foster places his WBC 130-pound belt at stake versus 2016 Olympic Gold medalist Robson Conceicao.
Foster (22-2, 12 KOs), The Ring’s No. 2- rated junior light-weight, weighed 129.9 kilos forward of his second title protection. Brazil’s Conceicao (18-2-1, 9 KOs), No. 9 at 130, was 129 ½ kilos for his fourth try at a serious title.
2020 Olympic Silver medalist Keyshawn Davis, No. 8 at 135, and veteran puncher Miguel Madueno meet in a ten-round light-weight bout. Davis (10-0, 7 KOs)—a stablemate of three-division champ Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford—weighed 134.8 kilos. Mexico’s Madueno (31-2, 28 KOs) weighed 134.7 kilos.
Opening the telecast, red-hot light-weight prospect Abdullah Mason meets Luis Lebron in a scheduled eight-round contest. Cleveland’s Mason (13-0, 11 KOs) weighed 134.8 kilos. Puerto Rico’s Lebron (20-5-1, 13 KOs) was 135.8 kilos.
Under are the weights for the ESPN+ preliminary undercard.
10 rounds, junior light-weight
William Foster III (17-1, 11 KOs), New Haven, Connecticut, 130.4 kilos
Eridson Garcia (18-1, 12 KOs), Houston by way of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 130.7 kilos
4 rounds, featherweight
Keith Colon (professional debut, Newark), 125.3 kilos
Hunter Turbyfill (4-1, 1 KO), Memphis, Tennessee, 124.1 kilos
8 rounds, junior welterweight
Kelvin Davis (12-0, 7 KOs), Norfolk, Virginia, 142.9 kilos
Kevin Johnson (12-3, 8 KOs), Las Vegas, 142 ½ kilos
4 rounds, heavyweight
Ali Feliz (2-0, 2 KOs), Danbury, Connecticut, 219 ½ kilos
Robinson Perez (2-0, 0 KOs), Southbridge, Massachusetts, 245.1 kilos
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