Olympic Silver Medalist and current 3-division and current WBC World Lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson returned home to Newark and defeated 2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist Artem ‘The Original’ Harutyunyan over twelve rounds at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
In the co-Main Event WBC World Junior Lightweight champion O’Shaquie ‘Ice Water’ Foster lll lost by split decision to 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Robson ‘Nino’ Conceicao in a close if not controversial decision.
In the Main Event 3-division and current WBC World Lightweight champion southpaw Shakur Stevenson, 22-0 (10), defeated Artem ‘The Original’ Harutyunyan, 12-2 (7), over 12 rounds.
In the first round, Harutyunyan, coming off his first defeat, surprisingly gets a title shot. Both boxers appeared in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil in different weight divisions, gaining medals.
In the first round the awkward style of Harutyunyan who kept coming forward gave Stevenson some problems as he countered him. In the third round Stevenson stood his ground on occasions doing well. In the final seconds he stung Harutyunyan with a left on the chin.
In the fourth round, Stevenson started coming forward, landing well against Harutyunyan mostly. In the fifth round, Stevenson again kept coming forward, outscoring and taking another round, showing Harutyunyan cannot fight as well backing up as coming forward.
In the sixth round, at the halfway point of the round, a Stevenson right on the chin got Harutyunyan’s attention. In the final minute, Stevenson hurt him with a good body shot. His hand speed is proving too much for Harutyunyan out-landing him for the sixth straight round.
At the seventh round, the halfway point, Stevenson hurt Harutyunyan with a left uppercut to the body. In the ninth round, Harutyunyan started to circle the ring, and Stevenson chased him down with body shots.
Referee Allen Huggins warned Stevenson in the final thirty seconds for a low blow.
In the eleventh round, with a minute remaining, Stevenson hurt Harutyunyan with a body shot. In the twelfth and final round, Stevenson was looking for a strong finish in front of his hometown fans, but the tough Harutyunyan wouldn’t oblige.
When the final bell sounded, Stevenson simply went to his corner. Seconds later, Harutyunyan went to Stevenson’s corner, who had his back toward him, not acknowledging him there.
It was a clear win for Stevenson, but I’m possibly disappointed he didn’t score a stoppage.
Scores 119-109, 118-110 and 116-112.
In the Co-Main Event WBC World Junior Lightweight champion O’Shaquie ‘Ice Water’ Foster, 22-3 (12), lost by split decision to Olympic Gold Medalist Robson ‘El Bravo’ Conceicao, 19-2-1 (9), over 12 rounds.
In the first round, Conceicao followed Foster around the ring, getting out jabbed the entire round. In the second round’s final minute, Conceicao landed a counter left to the chin of Foster, his best punch up to that point.
From the fourth through the seventh round, it went back and forth, with Foster having a slight edge. In the eighth round, Conceicao landed overhand rights, mostly stopping the aggressive Foster’s advancement.
In the ninth round Foster continued countering well as Conceicao kept coming forward out working him.
In the tenth and eleventh rounds, Conceicao matched Foster punch for punch. In the twelfth and final round, Conceicao was cut on the left eyebrow as Foster out-landed him overall.
Referee David Fields. Scores were 116-112 each and 115-113 for Conceicao.
Super Feather William ‘The Silent Assassin’ Foster lll, 17-2 (11), #129.9, of New Haven, CT, lost by decision to southpaw Eridson Garcia, 19-1 (12), over 10 rounds.
In the first three rounds, Garcia dominated and was hit at the low end of the third, with Referee Shady Murtaugh warning Foster. In the ninth, Foster landed a low blow to Garcia, causing Referee Murtaugh to give him a short rest, waring Garcia.
In the tenth and final round, it was close, with Garcia having an edge.
Scores 99-91, 98-92 twice.
Welterweight southpaw Kelvin ‘Night Night’ Davis, 13-0 (7), won a majority, if not unpopular, decision over Kevin Johnson, 12-4 (8), over 8 rounds.
In the first round, southpaw Davis almost scored a knockdown with his jab as Johnson returned several steps. In the second and third rounds, Johnson fought back well enough to keep the fight close.
In the fourth through sixth rounds, Johnson kept coming forward, holding his own in close rounds. In the eighth round, John chased Davis around the ring, easily winning the round.
Referee Mary Glover. Scores 76-76, 78-74 twice.
Lightweight southpaw Abdullah Mason, 14-0 (12), impressed in stopping Luis ‘Popeye’ Lebron, 20-6-1 (13), at 1:18 of the third round of a scheduled eight rounds.
In the second round, Mason had Lebron’s face all busted up and bleeding as he dropped him with two rights to the chin for an 8-count from Referee Mary Glover.
In the third round, a left from Mason to the right ear of Lebron dropped him for an 8-count from Referee Glover. Mason delivered half a dozen unanswered punches, causing Referee Glover to call a halt as the corner of Lebron threw in the towel.
Gold Medalist at Olympic trials Heavyweight 20-year-old Ali Feliz, 2-0 (2), Robinson Perez, 2-0 (0), four rounds.
In the first three rounds, Feliz had Perez hurt several times, causing much swelling of Perez’s face. Perez is a former bare-knuckle fighter.
In the fourth and final round, Feliz continued beating on game Perez, winning another round.
Referee Mary Glover. Scores 40-36
Featherweight Keith Colon, 1-0 (1), stopped southpaw Hunter Turbyfill, 4-2 (1), at 2:03 of the second round of a scheduled 4 rounds.
In the second round Colon dropped Turbyfill with a chopping right to the head for an 8-count from Referee Shada Murtaugh. Upon rising, Colon went right at him, having him defenseless when Referee Murtaugh waved it off.
Lightweight 2021 Olympic Silver Medalist Keyshawn ‘The Businessman’ Davis, 11-0 (7), defeated Miguel ‘Explosivo’ Madueno, 31-3 (28), ten rounds.
In the first round, Madueno was running after Davis, running into combinations from Davis out-landing him. In the third round Davis was landing uppercuts to the chin of Madueno.
Madueno later had Davis up against the ropes landing several punches to the chin.
In the fourth round, Davis rocked Madueno with a right on the chin in the first minute of the round. Madueno came back with a pair of rights to the chin of Davis.
In the fifth round, Davis rocked Madueno with a right uppercut on the chin. The awkward Madueno continues running into punches from Davis at the bell.
In the sixth round, a chopping right from Davis a minute into the round shook Madueno. After the bell, both had words, with Davis pushing the face of Madueno with a jab.
Madueno countered with a right that hit Referee Franciosi in the eye. He was warned between rounds by Commissioner Larry Hazzard for it. Davis continued dishing out punishment in the eighth round, taking another round.
In the ninth round, not able to handle Davis’s hand speed, Madueno started using rough tactics and got a warning from Referee Franciosi.
In the closing seconds, Davis rocked Madueno with a loud sounding right to the head.
In the tenth and final round Madueno started using his head coming inside against Davis. In the final seconds like a ‘matador’ Davis side stepped Madueno landing a right on the chin.
Scores were all 99-91 by the judges.
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