Shakur Stevenson and Edwin De Los Santos successfully made weight on Wednesday for their upcoming 12-round, 135-pound title fight. Stevenson, a two-weight world champion from Newark, New Jersey, recorded a weight of 133.8 pounds, coming in comfortably under the lightweight limit. His opponent, Edwin De Los Santos from the Dominican Republic, who now resides in Brooklyn, tipped the scales at 134.3 pounds at T-Mobile Arena.
The fight between Stevenson and De Los Santos is set to headline an ESPN doubleheader at T-Mobile Arena. Both fighters are in their prime, with Stevenson aged 26 and De Los Santos at 24. They will be competing for the vacant WBC lightweight title, a championship previously held by Devin Haney. Haney, now the undisputed lightweight king and champion in recess, has moved up to the 140-pound division for a fight against WBC super lightweight champ Regis Prograis scheduled for December 9.
Stevenson, who is considered one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the sport, was initially slated to face Frank Martin on Thursday night. However, Martin, from Indianapolis, withdrew from their bout due to financial disagreements related to his purse percentage. De Los Santos stepped in to replace Martin, eagerly taking the opportunity for this high-profile fight.
The matchup is keenly anticipated, with Stevenson being a significant favorite, currently listed by BetMGM sportsbook as a 14-1 favorite. This contest is not just about the vacant title but also offers both fighters a chance to establish or elevate their status in the lightweight division.
Image Credit: Sky Sports