WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson is anticipated to look good in opposition to Artem Harutyunyan tonight in the primary occasion on ESPN on the Prudential Middle in Newark.
(Credit score: Mikey Williams/High Rank)
A Calculated Matchup
High Rank has given Shakur (21-0, 10 KOs) the best opponent. He’ll look good in opposition to Harutyunyan, who’s suited to Stevenson in each means.
– No energy
– Misplaced his final battle
– Inactive for one yr
– Not younger
It’s believed that the one purpose High Rank picked Harutyunyan for Shakur is to encourage him to re-sign as a result of his contract ends tonight with this battle.
Shakur isn’t anticipated to re-up with High Rank, which suggests they made this battle for nothing; they’d have been higher off matching Shakur robust in opposition to one of many killers at 135, like Andy Cruz or Raymond Muratalla, as a result of not less than it could usher in good scores.
Porter’s Prediction: Straightforward Win for Shakur
“I believe it’s time. I do know that Shakur goes to look previous this man [Artem Harutyunyan]. He has all the things it takes to beat Artem, and I anticipate him to, and I anticipate him to look good in doing it as a result of this man has the proper of fashion that makes Shakur look good,” stated Shawn Porter to Probox TV about tonight’s battle between Shakur Stevenson and Artem Harutyunyan.
Shakur will dominate Harutyunyan as he did Oscar Valdez and Shuichiro Yoshino. It’ll make him look good, which he wouldn’t have accomplished if High Rank had been robust by placing him again in with Edwin De Los Santos for a rematch.
That’s the battle Shakur ought to be taking as a result of he seemed terrible in opposition to him final November and arguably misplaced the battle. If De Los Santos had been fashionable, the judges would probably have given him the choice as a result of he had landed the higher pictures throughout your entire battle.
The Good Time for a Tremendous Battle
“After that, I believe Shakur will say, ‘If it ain’t Tank, I don’t need something on the market.’ Whether or not that occurs, we’ll see, however I believe it’s subsequent for him,” stated Porter, believing that Shakur will get a battle in opposition to Gervonta Davis subsequent.
Tank Davis is the subsequent battle Shakur desires, however realistically, it’s not going to occur. When you watched Tank angrily brush off the media when requested about him preventing Shakur, it’s apparent that he’s not interested by that battle. Followers who wish to see that battle should wait longer.
“That ought to be the purpose for anyone in any weight class. You wish to tackle the perfect,” stated boxing knowledgeable Paulie Malignaggi about Tank Davis being Shakur’s finish purpose. “All these different guys haven’t been chasing Shakur Stevenson, who’s the largest menace within the weight class.”
I believe Shakur to get the Tank Davis battle, he’s received to show that he’s turned over a brand new leaf and adjusted his preventing model from being defensive-oriented to standing within the pocket.
Tank isn’t going to wish to chase Shakur across the ring in a sport of tag for twelve rounds. That model is a most cancers for the eyes, and Tank doesn’t wish to battle a man who doesn’t interact.
“I might like to see that battle. I believe the time for it [Shakur vs. Tank] is correct now. It’s marinated completely proper now,” stated Malignaggi. “They’re at their finest proper now. I hope that we get to see it quickly. I don’t thoughts Shakur mentioning Davis’ identify.”
In fact, Malignaggi desires to see Tank vs. Shakur as a result of Stevenson fights like he did. Boxing followers would quite see Tank battle entertaining fighters like Vasily Lomachenko, William Zepeda, and Abdullah Mason.
“He [Tank] doesn’t point out Shakur Stevenson in any respect. I’d love for Shakur and Davis to battle. That’s the actually the one to make for the load, however we’ll see in the event that they’re going to do it,” stated Malignaggi.
