Shakur Stevenson made a successful first defence of his WBC lightweight world title at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, as he took a clear decision win against Artem Harutyunyan.
Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) came into this one as a three-weight world champion, winning the vacant WBC crown in his last contest, outscoring the spirited Edwin De Los Santos in Las Vegas last November. Harutyunyan (12-2, 7 KOs) was coming off a close points loss to Frank Martin last July.
The bout was never going to be one to enhance Stevenson’s credentials, and so it proved, as he spent the first two rounds studying his opponent, while never looking in trouble.
The champion was using his hand speed to good effect, and gradually went through his repertoire as the fight went on, the sixth seeing the visitor walking into several head shots, and a body shot seemed to trouble the German.
By the eighth, the 27-year-old southpaw was in total control, pushing the challenger back, and he again worked to the body successfully in the ninth.
Harutyunyan sensed that the fight had slipped away from him and he started to belatedly go on the attack, and that negated Stevenson’s offence somewhat, but the home fighter remained in control until the final bell, where the result was a formality.
Scores of 119-109, 118-110 and 116-112 saw Stevenson keep hold of the title, with the Newark native becoming a promotional free agent following the bout.
“It’s kind of hard to prove it if you don’t have a fighter who wants to fight back,” Stevenson told ESPN post-fight.
“He’s just trying to make sure he survives.
“He’s a good fighter. He’s tough. He’s strong. I would’ve wanted him to try a little harder, so that way it could be a more fun fight.
“I have to cut off the ring a bit more. He’d go one way and then go the other way, so I gotta go back in the gym and work on cutting off the gym.”
Conceicao crowned world champion
Robson Conceicao became the new WBC super featherweight world champion in the chief support, as the Brazilian was on the right end of a split decision against O’Shaquie Foster.
Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) had failed in three previous attempts to win a world title, but seemed very fortunate to get the nod here in what was a forgettable affair.
Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) looked to have done enough to retain his belt in what little action there was, but the judges saw differently, and scores of 116-112 and 115-113 gave Conceicao the win, with a 116-112 tally for the American made redundant.
Davis eases past Madueno
Keyshawn Davis (11-0, 7 KOs) retained his WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Intercontinental lightweight baubles, as he took a wide points win over Miguel Madueno (31-3, 28 KOs).
Three scores of 99-91 won the contest for the man from Virginia.
View this post on Instagram
Remaining Undercard
At super featherweight, Eridson Garcia also took a handy win, as he outscored William Foster III (17-2, 11 KOs).
Two scores of 98-92 and a third at 99-91 gave Garcia (19-1, 12 KOs) the win.
View this post on Instagram
At eight round level, Kelvin Davis (13-0, 7 KOs) defeated Kevin Johnson (12-4, 8 KOs) via majority decision at welterweight, while rising lightweight prospect, Abdullah Mason (14-0, 12 kOs) took a third round stoppage win against Luis Lebron (20-6-1, 13 KOs).
Heavyweight prospect, Ali Feliz (3-0, 2 KOs) took all four rounds against Robinson Perez (2-1), and featherweight debutant Keith Colon (1-0, 1 KO) halted Hunter Turbyfill (4-2, 1 KO) in the second round of their contest.
