{"id":123319,"date":"2024-07-03T07:07:37","date_gmt":"2024-07-03T13:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/?p=123319"},"modified":"2024-07-03T09:12:12","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T15:12:12","slug":"wbc-special-preview-stvenson-vs-harutyunyan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wbc-special-preview-stvenson-vs-harutyunyan\/","title":{"rendered":"WBC Special Preview: Stevenson vs Harutyunyan"},"content":{"rendered":"

WBC Special Preview: Stevenson vs Harutyunyan<\/strong><\/h2>\n

WBC STATISTICS<\/b><\/p>\n

WBC Lightweight World Championship<\/p>\n

& WBC Super Featherweight World Championship<\/p>\n

July 6, 2024 \/ Newark, New Jersey \/ Prudential Center<\/p>\n

TOP RANK PRESENTS:<\/b><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/b><\/p>\n

SHAKUR STEVENSON<\/b> (USA)<\/p>\n

WBC Lightweight World Champion<\/p>\n

Former WBC Super Featherweight World Champion<\/p>\n

Age: 27 \/ Date of birth: June 28, 1997<\/p>\n

Residence: Houston, Texas \/ Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey<\/p>\n

Record: 21-0, 10 KOs \/ Total rounds: 145 \/ World championship fights: 5-0, 1 KO<\/p>\n

Height: 5\u20197\u201d \u2013 170cm \/ Reach: 68\u201d \u2013 172cm \/ Stance: Left-handed<\/p>\n

Managers: James Prince, Josh Dubin \/ Trainer: Wali Moses<\/p>\n

ARTEM \u201cThe Original\u201d HARUTYUNYAN<\/b> (Germany)<\/p>\n

Ranked WBC No. 7 at Lightweight<\/p>\n

Former WBC International Lightweight Champion, 1 Defense<\/p>\n

Age: 32 \/ Date of birth: August 13, 1990<\/p>\n

Residence: Hamburg, Germany \/ Birthplace: Yerevan, Armenia<\/p>\n

Record: 12-1, 7 KOs \/ Total rounds: 83<\/p>\n

Height: 5\u20197.5\u201d \u2013 71cm \/ Reach: 68\u201d \u2013 172cm \/ Stance: Right-handed<\/p>\n

Manager: Marlon Esteban \/ Trainer: Artur Grigorian<\/p>\n

WBC LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Carlos Ortiz (P. Rico)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01963 \u2013 1965<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ismael Laguna (Pan)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01965<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Carlos Ortiz (P. Rico) *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01965 \u2013 1968<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Carlos Teo Cruz (Dom. Rep.)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01968 \u2013 1969<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mando Ramos (USA)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01969 \u2013 1970<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ismael Laguna (Pan)* \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1970<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pedro Carrasco (Spain)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01971 \u2013 1972<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mando Ramos (USA) *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01972<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Erubey Carmona (Mex)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01972<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Rodolfo Gonzalez (Mex)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01972 \u2013 1974<\/p>\n

11.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ishimatsu Suzuki (Japan)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1974 \u2013 1976<\/p>\n

12.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Esteban De Jesus (P. Rico)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01976 \u2013 1978<\/p>\n

13.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Roberto Duran (Pan)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1978<\/p>\n

14.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jim Watt (GB)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1979 \u2013 1981<\/p>\n

15.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Alexis Arguello (Nic)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1981 \u2013 1983<\/p>\n

16.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Edwin Rosario (P. Rico)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1983 \u2013 1984<\/p>\n

17.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jose Luis Ramirez (M\u00e9x)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01984 \u2013 1985<\/p>\n

18.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hector Camacho (P. Rico)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1985 \u2013 1987<\/p>\n

19.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jose Luis Ram\u00edrez (M\u00e9x) *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1987 \u2013 1988<\/p>\n

20.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Julio Cesar Chavez (M\u00e9x)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1988<\/p>\n

21.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pernell Whitaker (USA)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1989 \u2013 1991<\/p>\n

22.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Miguel Angel Gonzalez (Mex)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01992 \u2013 1995<\/p>\n

23.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jean Baptiste Mendy (Fra)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1996 \u2013 1997<\/p>\n

24.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Stevie Johnston (USA)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1997 \u2013 1998<\/p>\n

25.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cesar Bazan (Mex)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1998 \u2013 1999<\/p>\n

26.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Steve Johnston (USA) *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1999 \u2013 2000<\/p>\n

27.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jose Luis Castillo (Mex)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2000 \u2013 2002<\/p>\n

28.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Floyd Mayweather Jr. (USA)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02002 \u2013 2003<\/p>\n

29.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jose Luis Castillo (Mex) *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02004 \u2013 2005<\/p>\n

30.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Diego Corrales (USA)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2005<\/p>\n

31.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jose A. Santa Cruz (USA) Interim<\/i> 2006<\/p>\n

32.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0David Diaz (USA) Interim\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02006 \u2013 2008<\/p>\n

33.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Joel Casamayor (Cuba)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02007<\/p>\n

34.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Manny Pacquiao (Phil)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02008<\/p>\n

35.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Edwin Valero (Venezuela)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02009 \u2013 2010<\/p>\n

36.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Antonio De Marco (Mex) Interim<\/i>\u00a0\u00a02009 \u2013 2010<\/p>\n

37.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Humberto Soto (Mexico)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2010 \u2013 2011<\/p>\n

38.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Antonio De Marco (Mexico) *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02011 \u2013 2012<\/p>\n

39.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Adrien Broner (USA)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2012 \u2013 2013<\/p>\n

40.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Omar Figueroa (USA)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2014<\/p>\n

41.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jorge Linares (Venezuela)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02014 \u2013 2016<\/p>\n

42.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dejan Zlaticanin (Montenegro)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02016 \u2013 2017<\/p>\n

43.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mikey Garcia (USA)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2018 \u2013 2019<\/p>\n

44.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Vasiliy Lomachenko (Ukraine)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Franchise Champion 2019 \u2013 2020<\/p>\n

45.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Devin Haney (USA)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2019 \u2013 2023<\/p>\n

46.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Teofimo Lopez (Honduras\/USA) Franchise Champion 2020 \u2013 2021<\/p>\n

47.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ryan Garcia (USA) Interim<\/i>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02021<\/p>\n

48. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0George Kambosos Jr. (Aust)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Franchise Champion 2021 \u2013 2022<\/p>\n

49.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Shakur Stevenson (USA)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2023 \u2013<\/p>\n

* Regained<\/p>\n

WBC TOP 10 LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US)<\/p>\n

2. Julio Cesar Chavez (Mexico)<\/p>\n

3. Roberto Duran (Panama)<\/p>\n

4. Carlos Ortiz (Puerto Rico)<\/p>\n

5. Pernell Whitaker (US)<\/p>\n

6. Alexis Arguello (Nicaragua)<\/p>\n

7. Hector Camacho (Puerto Rico)<\/p>\n

8. Ismael Laguna (Panama)<\/p>\n

9. Esteban De Jesus (Puerto Rico)<\/p>\n

10. Edwin Rosario (Puerto Rico)<\/p>\n

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY<\/strong><\/p>\n

42 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, seven of whom have regained the title:<\/p>\n

Carlos Ortiz (Puerto Rico), Ismael Laguna (Panama), Mando Ramos (US), Jose Luis Ramirez (Mexico), Stevie Johnston (US), Jose Luis Castillo (Mexico), Antonio DeMarco (Mexico).<\/p>\n

131 lightweight world championship fights have been held in WBC history.<\/p>\n

WBC LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

May 20, 2023\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Devin Haney W12 Vasiliy Lomachenko \u2013 Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

Oct. 16, 2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Devin Haney W12 George Kambosos Jr. \u2013 Melbourne, Australia<\/p>\n

June 5, 2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Devin Haney W12 George Kambosos Jr. \u2013 Melbourne, Australia<\/p>\n

Nov. 27 2021\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0George Kambosos Jr. W12 Teofimo Lopez (Franchise) \u2013 New York, New York<\/p>\n

May 29, 2021\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Devin Haney W12 Jorge Linares \u2013 Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

Oct. 17, 2020\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Teofimo Lopez W12 Vasiliy Lomachenko (Franchise) \u2013 Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

Nov. 9, 2019\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Devin Haney W12 Alfredo Santiago \u2013 Los Angeles, California<\/p>\n

Aug. 31, 2019\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Vasiliy Lomachenko W12 Luke Campbell \u2013 London, England<\/p>\n

July 28, 2018\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mikey Garcia W12 Robert Easter Jr. \u2013 Los Angeles, California<\/p>\n

Jan. 28, 2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mikey Garcia KO3 Dejan Zlaticanin \u2013 Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

May 30, 2015\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jorge Linares TKO10 Kevin Mitchell \u2013 London, England<\/p>\n

July 27, 2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Omar Figueroa Jr. W12 Nihito Arakawa \u2013 San Antonio, Texas<\/p>\n

Nov. 17, 2012\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Adrien Broner TKO8 Antonio DeMarco \u2013 Atlantic City, New Jersey<\/p>\n

Oct. 15, 2011\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Antonio DeMarco TKO11 Jorge Linares \u2013 Los Angeles, California<\/p>\n

Dec. 4, 2010\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Humberto Soto W12 Urbano Antillon \u2013 Anaheim, California<\/p>\n

Feb. 6, 2010\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Edwin Valero TKO9 Antonio DeMarco \u2013 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon<\/p>\n

June 28, 2008\u00a0\u00a0Manny Pacquiao TKO9 David Diaz \u2013 Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

Oct. 7, 2006\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Joel Casamayor W12 Diego Corrales \u2013 Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

May 7, 2005\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Diego Corrales TKO10 Jos\u00e9 Luis Castillo \u2013 Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

Dec. 4, 2004\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jos\u00e9 Luis Castillo W12 Joel Casamayor \u2013 Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

Apr. 20, 2002\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Floyd Mayweather Jr. W12 Jos\u00e9 Luis Castillo \u2013 Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

Feb. 27, 1999\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Stevie Johnston W12 Cesar Bazan \u2013 Miami, Florida<\/p>\n

Nov. 27, 1993\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Miguel Angel Gonzalez TKO11 Wilfrido Rocha \u2013 Mexico City, Distrito Federal<\/p>\n

May 19, 1990\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pernell Whitaker W12 Azumah Nelson \u2013 Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

Aug. 20, 1989\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pernell Whitaker W12 Jos\u00e9 Luis Ramirez \u2013 Norfolk, Virginia<\/p>\n

Oct. 9, 1988\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Julio Cesar Chavez TW11 Jos\u00e9 Luis Ramirez \u2013 Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

Oct. 10, 1987\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jos\u00e9 Luis Ramirez KO5 Cornelius Boza-Edwards \u2013 Paris, France<\/p>\n

June 13, 1986\u00a0\u00a0Hector Camacho W12 Edwin Rosario \u2013 New York, New York<\/p>\n

May 1, 1983\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Edwin Rosario W12 Jos\u00e9 Luis Ramirez \u2013 San Juan, Puerto Rico<\/p>\n

Oct. 3, 1981\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Alexis Arguello TKO14 Ray Mancini \u2013 Atlantic City, New Jersey<\/p>\n

Apr. 17, 1979\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jim Watt TKO12 Antonio Pitalua \u2013 Glasgow, Scotland<\/p>\n

Feb. 27, 1975\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Guts Ishimatsu W15 Ken Buchanan \u2013 Tokyo, Japan<\/p>\n

Jan. 21, 1978\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Roberto Duran TKO12 Esteban DeJesus \u2013 Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

June 28, 1972\u00a0\u00a0Mando Ramos W15 Pedro Carrasco \u2013 Madrid, Spain<\/p>\n

Apr. 7, 1963\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Carlos Ortiz TKO13 Doug Vaillant \u2013 San Juan, Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n

\"\"Stevenson\u2019s Rocket?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By James Blears<\/p>\n

Shakur Stevenson is defending his WBC lightweight title for the first time, and it\u2019s on home turf at the Prudential Center, Newark New Jersey against Artem Harutyunyan of Germany by way of Armenia, on July 6th.<\/p>\n

Also on the same bill O\u2019Shaquie Foster defends his WBC super-featherweight title against Robson Concieicao and there\u2019s a top lightweight bout between Keyshawn Davis and Miguel Madueno.<\/p>\n

Shakur is a magnificent maestro boxer. His defence is impeccable, his hand speed is slick and quick. His jabs can paw, range find, or snap with jolting precision and his southpaw left carries laser guided pep, invariably finding the target. He doesn\u2019t waste punches, yet his percentage of connects is spot on. When opponents pursue him, he moves laterally or steps back one pace out or range and then brilliantly counters them.<\/p>\n

Often as not he commands the center of the ring, and with an undefeated record of 21-0, 10 KO\u2019s he is ruthless and superb…when the mood takes him? He can blister opponents with cascades of punches from diverse angles, while simultaneously being very hard to hit cleanly in retaliation. But… he can also coast, relying on his deft, left craftsmanship to keep him out of trouble and ease to a points victory. The latter strategy can be frustrating to watch for fans, who don\u2019t have the patience, perception and appreciation of purists. Those fans went action, excitement and KO\u2019s!<\/p>\n

In his most recent fight against Edwin De Los Santos to win the vacant WBC lightweight title, the two of them only landed forty punches. That\u2019s an unenviable all time low ratio on CompuBOX records for a twelve round championship bout. Neither reached double digits impacts in any round. At the end there was hardly a bead of sweat shed by Shakur. Frankly, it was boring and pedestrian. After that Shakur briefly retired. But now he\u2019s back and is vowing to up the tempo in this fight against Artem. Shakur is determined to impress at home.<\/p>\n

Shakur has boldly stated: ”It feels good to be going home to Newark, where they appreciate a young legend and to make my first defence at one hundred and thirty five. On July 6th, down goes Artem! It\u2019s spooky. I\u2019ve got the future of the sport on my card and I promise you that I\u2019m going to close the show!”<\/p>\n

Hamburg based Artem, 12-1, 7 KO\u2019S, is matter of fact saying: ”This will be my second fight in the US, and I\u2019ve learned and progressed since my loss to Frank Martin. I respect Shakur as a champion, but I\u2019m coming to shock his hometown fans. This is the opportunity of a lifetime and I will take full advantage of it.”<\/p>\n

In that fight against Frank, Artem started brightly. He was aggressive and landed well, being ahead on points at the half way point. But then, southpaw Frank, who was also undefeated at this point, started to ratchet up the pressure. He landed body punches and snapped Artem\u2019s head back with clusters of left hooks. Frank went all out in round ten and repeatedly drove back Artem. The fight was still close and if Artem had won the twelfth and final round, it would have been a draw. But Artem took a knee, following a flurry of punches and this made the significant difference. By this stage he looked very tired. Had he expended too much energy early on or is his stamina suspect. We\u2019re soon going to find out.<\/p>\n

Artem is a skilled boxer. He won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics in the super-lightweight category. Shakur went one better winning silver in the bantamweight division, losing in the final to Cuban Robeisy Ramirez.<\/p>\n

As a professional Shakur has already excelled, winning world titles in three different weight categories. He\u2019s still only twenty seven, while Artem is seven years older. Shakur won the WBO featherweight title against Joet Gonzalez by a county mile on points by 119-109 on all three scorecards, relinqushing it soon thereafter, with no defence of that championship. He was aiming for Jermel Herring\u2019s WBO super-featherweight title and won it via tenth round stoppage. He excelled with a virtuoso performance. From the first bell he was the aggressor, often as not standing his ground, but instead of slugging and trading, he picked off Jermel with the razor sharp precision of an eagle\u2019s talons.<\/p>\n

Time and again he jolted and peppered fellow southpaw Jermel with cracking right jabs and plastered him with thudding lefts. This badly swelled Jermel\u2019s left eye and then Shakur focused upon the other, cutting it badly. By the end, Jermel wasn\u2019t seeing the punches coming and after a cascade of unanswered blows and backed up against the ropes Referee Mark Nelson mercifully moved in to save him.<\/p>\n

Then on to the unification bout against WBC champion Oscar Valdez. Another masterful night for Shakur, who countered beautifully. Oscar had trouble in reaching him and as so often, Oscar\u2019s face marked up badly. In round six, Oscar over extended, flailed and lunged forward. In an instant, Shukur dropped him with a left hook. Oscar suffered a cut over his right eye and was never able to resolve the distance issue, which Shakur controlled, to comprehensively outbox and outpunch him on his way to a UD victory.<\/p>\n

Next up was Robson Conceicao, who had won a gold medal in the Rio Olympics in the lightweight division. By this time Shakur who was physically developing, couldn\u2019t make the super-featherweight limit any more. Coming in 1.6 pounds overweight, he was stripped of the WBC and WBO Titles, but dominated throughout winning a UD by 117-109 on two cards and 118-108 on the other. Moving up to lightweight he comprehensively outfought brave but outclassed Shuichiro Yoshino, stopping him in six overwhelming rounds, before the De Los Santos snoozefest.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a year since Artem last fought, so he might have to shake off some ring rust. To shine in a burnished fashion, he\u2019ll have to take the fight to Shakur and go for a stoppage win. Even considering his Olympic heritage, it\u2019s most unlikely he\u2019ll be able to outbox Shakur, who is also keen to impress on his own doorstep.<\/p>\n

Shakur has ten KO wins on his record. He\u2019s not a chilling puncher, but a cumulative one. When he sets his mind to the task at hand and he is faced with an aggressive come forward opponent, it brings out his best. This is likely to happen with Artem who isn\u2019t coming to engage in a pugilistic chess match. Shakur has declared: ”I want to be a superstar and I\u2019m here to last.”<\/p>\n

To achieve this he must clobber as well as finesse. Robert Stephenson designed and built an innovative steam locomotive in 1829. It was a major factor and driving force in the Industrial Revolution. Night Train was the favorite song of the formidable Sonny Liston, who used to skip to it. Shakur is an entirely different fighter. But to be great… he\u2019s got to step it up and stop who is in front of him in the ring, appreciably more often.<\/p>\n

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WBC Special Preview: Stevenson vs Harutyunyan WBC STATISTICS WBC Lightweight World Championship & WBC Super Featherweight World Championship July 6, 2024 \/ Newark, New Jersey \/ [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n

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