Shakur Stevenson must look good tonight live on ESPN+ in his fight against Artem Harutyunyan for many reasons, starting with his looming free agency. Shakur, the WBC lightweight champion, is seeking to secure a lucrative deal with a major promoter like Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom. To achieve this, he needs to impress in his performance against Harutyunyan, a fighter known for his awkward and difficult style. If Stevenson struggles to look dominant, his market value could suffer.
At the weigh-in on Friday, Shakur indicated his strategy by highlighting Harutyunyan’s weakness in the midsection, an area where Frank Martin found success last year. Stevenson aims to exploit this vulnerability, hoping to not just win but to do so in a way that excites fans and potential promoters. He also has his sights set on a unification bout with WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis, believing a win there could catapult him to PPV stardom. However, to secure such a high-profile fight, Stevenson needs to deliver a statement victory tonight.
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Chris Algieri, a boxing expert, emphasized the importance of Stevenson’s performance, noting that while everyone expects Shakur to win, it’s crucial how he achieves it. Unfortunately for Stevenson, a fight against Gervonta Davis isn’t likely to happen next, as Davis’s management is eyeing a unification fight with IBF champion Vasily Lomachenko in November, followed potentially by a rematch with Ryan Garcia. Given Shakur’s current popularity compared to Garcia, he might have to wait until 2026 for a shot at Davis, assuming he doesn’t slip up against other contenders.
Stevenson’s need for a knockout tonight is driven by his desire to erase memories of his last underwhelming performance against Edwin De Los Santos. Algieri pointed out that Stevenson must make a statement by stopping Harutyunyan, something Frank Martin couldn’t do. This would help prove that his last fight was just a fluke and showcase his ability to deliver exciting, dominant victories.
Signing with Matchroom could limit Stevenson’s options, as they have no control over Gervonta Davis. The best they could offer would be fights against Andy Cruz or other less popular fighters in the 140-pound division. To avoid this scenario and secure the big fights he desires, Stevenson must demonstrate that he’s not just a defensive tactician but also a crowd-pleaser capable of spectacular performances.
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