NEWARK, N.J. — Heading into the ultimate battle of his Prime Rank promotional contract, Shakur Stevenson needed to flip in a efficiency that erased the unhealthy style that the Edwin De Los Santos snoozer had left in boxing followers’ mouth. An exhilarating victory over a sturdy veteran would solely assist to spice up his marketability as he approached free company.
Artem Harutyunyan wasn’t keen to play the foil, nonetheless.
Stevenson retained the WBC light-weight title by unanimous determination, defeating Harutyunyan by unanimous determination at Prudential Middle in Newark, N.J. by the scores of 119-109, 118-110, 116-112. Although there was by no means any doubt in regards to the consequence, it was removed from the efficiency some would have hoped for.
Stevenson, 27, is leaving together with his belt, however not the momentum that may spark discuss of huge cash fights with the likes of Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
After a quiet begin that even noticed the hometown followers boo in spherical three, Stevenson (22-0, 10 knockouts) turned on the jets in spherical 4, ripping Harutyunyan to the physique with left palms that started to supply purple marks on Harutyunyan’s midsection. Stevenson turned it up one other notch within the sixth and seventh, strolling Harutyunyan (12-2, 7 KOs) down and rocking him with left hand counters that threatened to interrupt his face, if not his will.
By the eighth spherical, the followers had been as soon as once more booing, solely this time they had been booing Harutyunyan’s unwillingness to have interaction, because the left palms to the physique started taking their toll. By the tenth spherical, the spite had left Stevenson’s left, and his proper hook, which he had used sparingly earlier the battle, turned extra of a scoring choice.
The group booed once more in spherical eleven, and droves of followers started making their method to the exits earlier than the twelfth spherical started. Stevenson gave one final burst of offense with one minute remaining within the twelfth, however each events appeared to just accept that this was heading to the scorecards.
Stevenson, who turned professional beneath the Prime Rank banner in 2017 after incomes silver on the Rio Olympics the earlier yr, had referred to as for fights towards Davis or his no. 1 contender William Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs), who scored a 3rd spherical knockout towards Giovanni Cabrera earlier within the night time in Ontario, Calif.
These fights could also be simpler to make now that Stevenson can deal straight with the aforementioned boxers’ promoters. Stevenson, who’s managed by James Prince, appeared unsure when requested what he deliberate to do subsequent, aside from remaining resolute that he needs the very best challenges out there.
“I wish to battle the very best fighters in boxing. That’s the way you’re gonna get to see the very best model of me, whenever you put me in there with anyone else who fights again,” mentioned Stevenson.
