The recent title defense by WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson left fans less than impressed at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Despite holding onto his title with a twelve-round unanimous decision over Artem Harutyunyan, Shakur’s fans remained surprisingly quiet throughout the fight. The lack of enthusiasm and support from the audience reflected their disappointment in the underwhelming performance delivered by Stevenson. Fans were visibly upset and rarely cheered during the fight, signaling their dissatisfaction with what they were witnessing in the ring.
Stevenson, who entered the fight with a pristine record of 22-0, struggled to deliver the knockout victory he had hoped for against Harutyunyan. Despite being on the attack for the entirety of the second half of the fight, Stevenson could not muster enough power in his shots to visibly hurt or slow down his opponent. The punches that did seem to have an impact were the body shots delivered by Shakur, causing Harutyunyan to shift his tactics and be more evasive. While Harutyunyan initially dominated in the first three rounds, he began to tire out as the fight progressed, ultimately falling behind on the scorecards and needing a knockout to turn the tide.
Unexpected Upsets and Lackluster Performances
The undercard fights also failed to deliver excitement, with the talented Robson Conceição upsetting O’Shaquie Foster in a twelve-round split decision. Conceição’s busy fighting style earned him the victory, ending Foster’s hopes for a successful outing. In another lackluster contest, undefeated lightweight contender Keyshawn Davis struggled to secure a win over Miguel Madueno, resorting to holding and roughhouse tactics to survive the pressure and power of his opponent. The uneventful match left fans questioning Davis’ capabilities, especially considering his silver medal win in the 2020 Olympics.
Amidst the lackluster performances and unexpected upsets, Abdullah Mason emerged as the standout performer of the night with a third-round knockout over Luis Lebron. Mason’s impressive display of skill and power overshadowed the other fights on the card, with fans and analysts alike praising his potential for greatness. Mason’s dominant victory sparked discussions of potential matchups against top contenders like Shakur Stevenson and Keyshawn Davis, positioning him as a fighter to watch in the lightweight division.
While Stevenson managed to retain his title in a less than convincing manner, the overall event left much to be desired for fans and spectators. The lack of excitement, unexpected upsets, and underwhelming performances underscored the need for fighters to consistently deliver thrilling and engaging bouts to maintain interest and support from the boxing community. As Abdullah Mason’s star continues to rise, the landscape of the lightweight division may see a shift towards new contenders and potential champions who can captivate audiences and elevate the sport to new heights.