Shakur Stevenson to let his talent make a statement to fans, promoters

WBC lightweight titleholder Shakur Stevenson says he is out to make a statement when he takes on Artem Harutyunyan on Saturday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs) and Harutyunyan (13-1, 7 KOs) headline a Top Rank on ESPN card that also includes O’Shaquie Foster defending his WBC junior lightweight strap against Robson Conceicao in the co-feature.

Stevenson is a significant favorite against Harutyunyan, yet much is on the line for the three-division titlist in his latest headlining event on ESPN. This is the last fight on his contract with Top Rank, so the athletic southpaw naturally wants to send a message to not only the other top 135-pounders but also other promoters by beating Harutyunyan in emphatic fashion.

“I’m going to take him to a level he’s never been on,” said Stevenson during Wednesday’s final press conference. “I’m just going to be myself. I’m going to come out and show my talent and show my levels.

“I think I’m one of the best in the sport of boxing at hit-and-don’t-get-hit. There’s a certain way of doing that, and I want to show the fans that all that moving around is something I don’t really have to do. I can sit in the pocket and beat you up, too.”

Stevenson will attempt to do so in front of his familiar hometown fans in Newark. The last time he fought here, 15 months ago, he delivered a sixth-round TKO over Japan’s Shuichiro Yoshino. Fight fans hope to see that version of the American talent, and not the one from his last bout – the boxer who stayed on his back foot for the distance on his way to a disappointing 12-round decision over the hard-hitting Edwin De Los Santos last September.

According to Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, Stevenson’s performance against De Los Santos can be attributed to a slew of injuries, including a bad shoulder.

“We had him visiting doctors in the weeks before the fight,” Arum told BoxingScene last November. “I think he therefore fought a very cautious fight. But it was a stinker.”

Stevenson would love nothing more than to wipe the memory of that bout out of the minds of fans with a strong display Saturday. Harutyunyan, who hung tough with Frank Martin in a decision loss in July 2023, was respectful of his American opponent during Wednesday’s presser.

“I was born in Armenia, and I grew up in Germany,” said Harutyunyan. “I’ve come all the way here to fight Shakur Stevenson in his hometown. It’s a big opportunity for me. I will do my best and give a great fight.”

“You’re trying to act real humble and butter me up and act like you’re not really coming here to win,” Stevenson responded. “No, you’re coming here to win, bro. I already know. He doesn’t sound as confident as I thought he would sound. Hopefully, he’s coming to fight.”

Fight fans hope Stevenson is as well.

Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist with a specialty in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column titled “From The Ringside” back in his native Ghana for years. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye and through email at [email protected].