LAS VEGAS — The outcome was never in doubt.
The summit meeting at 130 pounds turned out to be a total mismatch as Shakur Stevenson used a superb southpaw jab and ring smarts beyond his years to dominate Oscar Valdez in the title unification matchup on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
While Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) didn't answer questions about his chin, toughness, or ability to handle adversity, and it's unclear when he'll be forced to, through 18 pro fights, it's clear Stevenson is one of the 10 best boxers in the world, pound-for-pound.
The uncanny blend of precision punching, along with the ability to measure distance with his jab and effectively mix in shots to the body, will be a tall task for any opponent. At 130 pounds, he's clearly peerless.
Top Rank, Stevenson's promoter since his pro debut in 2017, strategically placed him on one of their biggest shows of the year, an event preceded by Day 3 of the NFL Draft. And he delivered with a performance that showed off his incredible jab and boxing acumen. Stevenson even scored a knockdown in Round 8 after a cuffing right hook sent Valdez stumbling into the ropes, before a second right hand knocked him to the canvas.
If Stevenson is going to find a challenge, he'll need to move up to 135 pounds and chase a third division title. One possible future opponent: Devin Haney, who was ringside. He meets George Kambosos Jr. for the undisputed lightweight championship on June 4 in Melbourne, Australia on ESPN.
«Devin is definitely a huge fight for me; Devin is a helluva fighter,» said Stevenson, a 24-year-old from Newark, New Jersey. «We can line it up in the future… I'm a superstar in this sport. You line 'em up, name 'em, I'm ready for whoever… I might go collect all the
Read more on espn.com
espn.com
