Shakur Stevenson makes the first defence of his WBC lightweight title at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey this Saturday, as the talented home fighter faces Artem Harutyunyan.
Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. promote Stevenson vs Harutyunyan and the card is on Sky Sports in the UK, and ESPN+ in the USA.
Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs) is already a three-weight world champion, and after taking the vacant WBO featherweight title in 2019 with a landslide points win over Joet Gonzalez, he took the same belt at super featherweight in October 2021, securing a masterful tenth round stoppage win against Jamel Herring in Atlanta.
After adding the WBC belt in an excellent win on the cards over Oscar Valdez, the 27-year-old southpaw would lose his titles on the scales ahead of a wide points win against Robson Conceicao.
Following his debut at lightweight with a stoppage of Shuichiro Yoshino last April, the 2016 Olympic silver medallist took the vacant WBC crown at lightweight, outscoring the spirited Edwin De Los Santos in Las Vegas last November.
Harutyunyan (12-1, 7 KOs) is a decent technical boxer, and won his first 11 contests in his native Germany before crossing the pond to take on Frank Martin in Las Vegas last July.
There, the 33-year-old suffered his first career defeat, dropped in the final round on the way to a close loss on the cards.
‘The Original’ competed at the same 2016 Olympics as Stevenson, winning bronze for Germany in the light welterweight category.
Prediction: This could well be a technical affair, but Stevenson is a top-level operator that few have found a solution to, and I expect him to win handsomely on the scorecards.
Foster defends world title against Conceicao
Another WBC world title is on the line, as O’Shaquie Foster defends his super featherweight gold against the aforementioned Robson Conceicao.
Foster (22-2, 12 KOs) won the vacant title last February with an excellent points win over Rey Vargas, but then had to produce a final round stoppage against Eduardo Hernandez in his first defence when way behind on the cards.
The Texan was last out in February, taking a close split decision win over Abraham Nova.
Brazil’s Conceicao (18-2-1, 9 KOs) has challenged for world honours on three occasions, and has come up short each time.
In just over a year, he dropped decisions to Oscar Valdez and Stevenson, and his last effort saw him come close, but he was held to a majority draw by Emanuel Navarrete in a bid for the WBO title.
Two knockdowns cost the 35-year-old, who would have won the title without them.
Prediction: I think Foster will have to box smart here, with Conceicao a technician that can drag him into a chess match. I think Foster will retain, but it could be a scrappy one on points.
Davis returns
In ten round action on the undercard, Keyshawn Davis (10-0, 7 KOs) is fresh off an impressive stoppage of former two-weight world champion, Jose Pedraza, and the undefeated lightweight should come through on points against Miguel Madueno (31-2, 28 KOs).
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Remaining Undercard
At super featherweight, William Foster III (17-1, 11 KOs) can also bank a points win in his meeting with Eridson Garcia (18-1, 12 KOs).
At eight round level, Kelvin Davis (12-0, 7 KOs) can take his welterweight contest against Kevin Johnson (12-3, 8 KOs) on points.
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At lightweight, Abdullah Mason (13-0, 11 KOs) can secure an early win against Luis Lebron (20-5-1, 13 KOs).
Four rounders round off the bill. Heavyweight prospect Ali Feliz (2-0, 2 KOs) can get the better of Robinson Perez (2-0) via stoppage, and featherweight debutant Keith Colon can win on the cards against Hunter Turbyfill (4-1, 1 KO).
