Shakur Stevenson is the new Ring Magazine Junior Lightweight Champion. Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images
One of the best young fighters in world boxing returns on Friday.
Shakur Stevenson will put the Ring, WBC and WBO junior lightweight titles on the line against 2016 Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceicao at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
“He’s a solid fighter, you can’t take anything away from him,” Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) told The Ring. “You know he is going to give his best on fight night. I’m ready to put on a show.
“I think it’s a win-win situation all around. I think I’m about to go in and do my thing.”
The 25-year-old southpaw is respectful of his opponent but ultimately feels his superior skills will be decisive.
“I think his strength is that he is an Olympic gold medalist; he has a solid boxing IQ; he’s not just rushing off and being silly, I’ll give him that,” Stevenson explained.
“I think his weakness is that he has a more amateur style, where he is the favourite. I think he starts fast, but as the fight goes on he slows down and then I take over. I don’t think he can do anything to stop me. I think it’s a great fight, but I’m on a whole different level.”
This will be the first time Stevenson has fought in his hometown since he knocked out Albert Guevara in three rounds in July 2019. Since then, his star has risen to new heights and become a two-weight world champion.
“The last time I fought in Newark, I wasn’t the person I am now,” he said. “I think I’m a much better fighter.
“I’m really not too focused on [fighting at home.] I think I’ll let my team worry about tickets and stuff. I’m more focused on fighting and putting on a show.”
Stevenson is coming off arguably the best performance of his career: a virtuoso 12-round unanimous decision win over Oscar Valdez to capture the WBC title.
“It was a beautiful display of boxing,” Stevenson said. “I think I showed a lot of skill in that fight. I disarmed it.
“That was the biggest fight of my career and I did everything I was supposed to do. I did everything I said I was going to do. He is a great fighter, but he had better opposition.”
In addition to collecting Valdez’s WBC laurels, Stevenson also added the vacant Ring championship to his growing collection. He became the first post champion at 130 pounds since Manny Pacquiao in 2008.
“I think The Ring Magazine is my favorite belt,” Stevenson said. “You don’t have to pay anything for that belt and all the greats had that belt. It’s not like an invented belt, it’s one of the most respected belts in boxing.”
Valdez was no match for Stevenson’s talent, size and ring knowledge. Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images
Provided he emerges victorious, the next step in Stevenson’s career could be unification fights with his IBF counterpart Joe Cordina (provided the Welshman gets past Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov) or WBA leader Hector Garcia. However, Stevenson isn’t sure how much longer he’ll be able to gain 130 pounds.
“I can’t give you an answer on that, I’ll have to see when I finish my weight reduction,” he said. “I don’t know how difficult the weight cut will be.
“I would love to go uncontested grabbing every belt, one by one. But if I can’t make the weight, I won’t force myself to lose weight when I really don’t have to. I’m taking every fight as it comes.”
The lightweight division is teeming with talent and that will likely be Stevenson’s new home within the next year, but for now, he’s not getting ahead of himself.
“We have Robson Conceicao and he is not far behind, so I have to take him very seriously,” said the champion. “I’m not too focused on 135. Once he gets there, we’ll focus on that.
“At the end of the day, I don’t know how big I’m going to be. I don’t know what weight class I’m going to fall into, but wherever I am, I’m going to dominate. I have to keep doing what I’ve been doing, and I think I’m going to become one of the best fighters to ever do it.”
Conceicao (17-1, 8 KOs) fought at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics before winning gold at the 2016 Rio Games. The Brazilian worked his way through the ranks as a professional and gave attacks to then champion of the WBC Oscar Valdez before losing a controversial 12-round unanimous decision. He has come back strong, taking Xavier Martinez’s undefeated record by lopsided decision over 10 rounds.
Stevenson-Conceicao, more undercard fights, will be shown on ESPN. The broadcast begins at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT.
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected] and you can follow him on Twitter @AnsonWainwright
