Looking like a well-dressed bank manager, challenger Artem Harutyunyan smothered WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson with compliments today during their final press conference for their main event twelve-round fight this Saturday, July 6th on ESPN at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Shakur’s Value on The Line
Harutyunyan (13-1, 7 KOs) buttered up Shakur (21-0, 10 KOs) in a sign of gratitude for being given this golden payday coming off a loss to Frank Martin last year in July 2023, and not deserving the title shot opportunity.
Top Rank picked out the 34-year-old Harutyunyan for Shakur’s final fight of his contract with them, which could be their way of luring him into re-signing. They could have given Shakur a tough opponent like William Zepeda, and he could have lost to him or, more likely, turned in another terrible performance like his last fight against Edwin De Los Santos.
That wouldn’t have helped Top Rank because it would have made Shakur not worth giving a new contract to. His value would sink even lower than it is now, and it’s about as bad as it can get for a world champion who began his career with a lot of hype.\
Top Rank has thrown Shakur a bone by choosing the light-hitting Harutyunyan as an opponent, with him coming off a loss to Frank Martin.
You can only imagine the running that Shakur would be doing if Bob Arum had chosen to give him a good kick in the rear with a fight against Zepeda, Abdullah Mason, or Raymond Muralla to send him out the door as a free agent.
Harutyunyan’s Oscar-Worthy Acting Performance
“We both fought in the Olympic games. He’s a silver medalist, and I’m a bronze medalist. Now, we fight for the world championship, the WBC,” said Artem Harutyunyan during today’s final press conference for his fight against WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson this Saturday night, July 6th, in Newark, New Jersey.
“I’m not falling for that. You’re trying to act real humble, trying to butter me up like you’re not coming here to win. Nah, you’re coming to win. I already know,” said Shakur Stevenson.
“Some people say I should wear running shoes in this fight, but it’s just a joke,” said Harutyunyan.
“That s*** was a**,” said Shakur.
“Shakur Stevenson, you have to give him respect. Many fighters don’t want to fight with him. Like Shakur once said, ‘They’re all ducking.’ I think that’s right, but I took that opportunity. I want to make this fight happen,” said Harutyunyan. “He’s a good fighter. Give him the credit and the respect he deserves, and, of course, this is going to be a great event, a great night.
“I want to show the fans a good boxing match,” said Harutyunyan.
“I’m just going to take him to a level he’s never been on,” said Shakur.
“You can’t compare Frank Martin to Shakur Stevenson. Every fighter is different,” said Harutyunyan.
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