Shakur Stevenson talked up his intentions for weeks ahead of his title opportunity against Jamel Herring. He spoke about his goals to showcase his ability to be aggressive and do more than offer a second consecutive lackluster performance.
On Saturday night, Stevenson backed up all of his talk and won the WBO junior lightweight title in convincing fashion. It was a standout performance that puts Stevenson in a new category of stardom in the sport.
Before Stevenson’s victory there were also a few others on the card who tried to make a similar statement. Nico Ali Walsh, Muhammad Ali’s grandson, scored another knockout win, but he failed to shine. Meanwhile, Evan Holyfield, Evander Holyfield’s son, scored a highlight reel knockout and as was his goal, made a name for himself.
Mike Coppinger, Ben Baby and Michael Rothstein react to the fights and what may be ahead for the headliners.
The biggest fights are ahead for Shakur Stevenson
Stevenson has always been talented — that was never in doubt. During his Olympic run and again in the pros, he showed the kind of hand speed and boxing IQ necessary to reach the sport’s heights.
But the power? That was in doubt. So, too, was the aggression requisite to not just defeat the best, but star in a sport that rewards the most ruthless competitors.
Against Jamel Herring, his toughest opponent (on paper), and on his biggest stage yet, Stevenson shined.
From the opening bell, Stevenson displayed the type of fight that the boxing world wanted to see. It was a brilliant display of aggression — he marched Herring down, he battered him, he showed no mercy.
Stevenson wasn’t content to go the distance this time. The criticism surely got to him, he acknowledged as much in his interviews after the fight. Apparently, that made him better, too.
Now Stevenson is a two division…
Source : espn
