Shakur Stevenson successfully defended his WBC lightweight title with a unanimous decision win over Artem Harutyunyan on Saturday, marking the last bout of his promotional contract with Top Rank.
In his fourth fight at home in Newark, New Jersey, Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) dominated from the start, showcasing the prowess that has made him ESPN’s No. 8 pound-for-pound boxer.
For the second fight in a row, Stevenson effortlessly handled an underdog opponent. Previously in November, he claimed a tepid decision win against Edwin de Los Santos in a bout where neither fighter landed punches in the double digits in any round.
Eager to provide a more thrilling performance this time, Stevenson aimed for a knockout that ultimately did not come to pass. Renowned as one of the sport’s top defensive talents, Stevenson was listed as a -3500 favorite over Harutyunyan by ESPN BET.
“It’s kind of hard to prove [you’re the best] if you don’t have a fighter trying to fight back; he’s just trying to survive,” said Stevenson, 27. “… I would have wanted him to try a little harder so it could be a more fun fight.
“I did everything I could to get him out of there, too. I got to cut off the ring a little bit more. … I’m going to go back to the gym and work on cutting off the ring.”
There were boos during the final two rounds of what was mostly an uneventful fight. Stevenson said the jeers were aimed at Harutyunyan because “he ain’t really try to make the fight.” Harutyunyan landed double-digit punches in only one round, the ninth.
Stevenson repeatedly stunned Harutyunyan with body shots, landing a total of 66. The champion outperformed the challenger with a 170-74 lead in overall hits. Stevenson maintained control with his jab, effectively repelling Harutyunyan’s assaults and responding with precise combinations.
Harutyunyan, with a record of 12-2 and 7 KOs, faced his first world-title fight. Coming off a hard-fought decision loss to lightweight contender Frank Martin in July, where he was knocked down in the 12th round, he stepped into the ring with determination.
The Armenian boxer sustained cuts under both eyes and bruises across his face. At 33, Harutyunyan, who represented Germany, earned a bronze medal in the 2016 Olympics. In the same Rio De Janeiro Games, Stevenson secured a silver medal in the bantamweight category, two weight classes lower.
Stevenson has claimed titles at 126, 130, and 135 pounds and continues to dominate the 135-pound class. His 22 professional fights have all been under Top Rank’s promotion. However, Stevenson is now exploring free agency, having turned down a five-fight extension offer that would have secured him $3 million per fight, according to sources from ESPN.
“I want to fight the best fighters in boxing,” Stevenson said. “That’s how you’re going to get to see the best version of me, when you put me in the ring with someone else that wants to fight back and compete.”
Such a marquee fight has thus far eluded Stevenson. He’s rated No. 3 by ESPN at lightweight. The division’s top two boxers, Gervonta Davis and Vasiliy Lomachenko, are in negotiations to fight later this year.
“If they don’t fight me, they don’t fight me,” Stevenson said. “I’m just going to stay in the gym and be ready.”
Conceicao ends Foster’s title reign
Robson Conceicao won his first world title in his fourth bid with a split decision victory over O’Shaquie Foster in the 130-pound title co-feature.
Brazil’s Conceicao, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, prevailed by scores of 115-113 and 116-112, while the third judge scored it 116-112 in favor of Foster, who was making the third defense of his WBC title. The decision was an unpopular one: Conceicao landed just 11% of his punches.
“I thought it was a shutout,” said Foster, a 30-year-old fighting out of Houston. “… I thought it was an easy fight. I didn’t get touched except with a headbutt. … I want the rematch. They stole this from me.”
Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) won the title with a decision victory over Rey Vargas in March 2022. Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) previously lost to Stevenson and Oscar Valdez in title challenges, though neither fight was contested on an even playing field. Stevenson was stripped of the title after he failed to make weight against Conceicao, and Valdez tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug weeks before their fight.
Conceicao’s third title challenge was a draw with Emanuel Navarrete in November, another co-feature to a Stevenson title fight.
“I do think I won the fight,” Conceicao, 35, said through an interpreter. “… He didn’t come to fight. He was running and running. I was the winner.”
