Shakur Stevenson, the WBC lightweight champion, is set to showcase his skills against Artem Harutyunyan in the main event on ESPN at the Prudential Center in Newark. Top Rank has carefully selected Harutyunyan as the opponent, considering factors such as lack of power, recent losses, inactivity, and age. It is speculated that this matchup was designed to motivate Stevenson to re-sign with Top Rank, as his contract is set to expire after this fight. Despite expectations of an easy win for Stevenson, there are mixed opinions on whether this fight will truly challenge and showcase his abilities to the fullest extent.
Former boxer Shawn Porter anticipates a dominant performance from Stevenson against Harutyunyan, drawing parallels to his previous victories over Oscar Valdez and Shuichiro Yoshino. Porter expresses confidence in Stevenson’s skill set and stylistic advantage over Harutyunyan. However, there are contrasting views on whether this fight truly reflects Stevenson’s capabilities as a fighter. Some argue that a more challenging opponent, such as Edwin De Los Santos, would provide a better opportunity for Stevenson to demonstrate growth and improvement in the ring.
Porter speculates that Stevenson’s next potential opponent could be Gervonta Davis, a highly anticipated matchup in the boxing world. While fans eagerly await the possibility of this super fight, there are doubts about whether Davis is interested in facing Stevenson. Davis’ dismissive attitude towards questions about a potential fight with Stevenson raises questions about the feasibility of this matchup. Experts suggest that Stevenson may need to adapt his fighting style to attract top-tier opponents like Davis, who prefer engaging fighters over defensive tacticians.
Boxing analyst Paulie Malignaggi emphasizes the importance of fighters seeking out the best competition in their weight class. While Stevenson has expressed interest in facing Davis, it remains to be seen whether Davis shares the same enthusiasm for the matchup. Malignaggi believes that the time for a Stevenson-Davis showdown is ripe, given the current status and skill level of both fighters. However, there are differing opinions within the boxing community regarding the appeal and viability of this potential clash.
Overall, the future trajectory of Shakur Stevenson’s career in boxing is a topic of much speculation and debate. While his upcoming fight against Artem Harutyunyan is expected to result in a convincing win for Stevenson, questions remain about the caliber of opponents he will face moving forward. As the boxing landscape continues to evolve, Stevenson will need to navigate a competitive field of challengers and solidify his position as a top contender in the sport. The anticipation surrounding potential matchups with fighters like Gervonta Davis adds an exciting element to Stevenson’s journey towards establishing himself as a dominant force in the ring.