By: Sean Crose
WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson put his title, in addition to his undefeated 21-0 document, on the road Saturday evening in his native Newark, New Jersey as he took on the 12-1 Artem Harutyunyan. The struggle was a scheduled 12 rounder and was the principle occasion of an ESPN High Rank card.
Whereas Stevenson was capable of land clear photographs within the fifth, the tempo of the struggle remained gradual sufficient that it took a eager eye to see what Stevenson was as much as. It was a profitable technique, although not an entertaining one. With that being stated, Harutyunyan low on gasoline within the sixth. Stevenson, free to throw exhausting photographs, was in full management.
By the seventh, it was clear Stevenson was just too sturdy and expert for his sport opponent. Harutyunyan was giving all of it he may, nevertheless it clearly wasn’t sufficient. As for Stevenson, he banged away at Harutyunyan, however by no means appeared to be going full blast as some fighters in his place would. Subsequently, some followers might be heard booing within the eighth.
Issues remained slow-paced within the ninth. Harutyunyan, nonetheless, was capable of land in quantity at occasions. “If you happen to do your job you’ll knock this motherfucker out,” Stevenson’s coach instructed him in between rounds. The tenth was uneventful, although Stevenson argued along with his nook after the spherical. The eleventh performed out on the similar tempo because the overwhelming majority of the struggle had.
The twelfth and remaining spherical was a quiet affair, very like the earlier eleven rounds. Stevenson continued to largely dominate, and left the ring with a call victory beneath his belt. He was masterful – however not significantly fulfilling to look at. Certainly, Stevenson’s lack of a “killer intuition” or uncooked energy could sadly maintain him from turning into a fan favourite – a pity for therefore expert a fighter.
*Pictures: High Rank
