Season VI’s busy second-week schedule of World Series of Boxing action saw some outstanding performances in the ring, but it was USA Knockouts’ gifted bantamweight Shakur Stevenson who really caught the eye against British Lionhearts’ Peter McGrail. The comprehensive manner of his victory in Miami earns Stevenson this week’s Boxer of the Week honor.
Born in 1997, Stevenson first donned the gloves at the age of five, and a decade later he had won his first international title, taking the 2013 AIBA Junior World gold in Kiev. He followed that success with the AIBA Youth World and Youth Olympic titles a year later, and was thrust into his debut WSB season following a remarkable bantamweight win over US National Champion Ruben Villa at the National Olympic Trials in late 2015.
The Group B opener saw him up against another first-class bantamweight talent in the form of British Lionhearts’ Peter McGrail. A series of pinpoint left hooks and uppercuts put Stevenson in control of the match, his speed keeping McGrail at bay and eventually giving the Knockouts a precious win that tied the contest 1-1.
The Lionhearts may have gone on to edge a thrilling encounter 3-2 by the end of the night, but in Shakur Stevenson, USA Knockouts have unearthed an exciting talent around who could be the key to their success in Season VI.
Team of the Week
Uzbekistan Tigers got their first World Series of Boxing campaign off to a flying start as they subjected Puerto Rico Hurricanes to a 5-0 whitewash in San Juan on Saturday night.
Punch of the Week
Caciques Venezuela bantamweight talent Jose Diaz landed a lethal right jab late in the second round of WSB Week 2 match to put the Hussars Poland newcomer D’Andrea on the canvas, forcing the referee to end the match.
