Failing to Deliver Any Knockdowns, Shakur Stevenson Becomes Lightweight Champion in a Low Action Fight

Published 11/17/2023, 1:27 AM EST

On Thursday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the highly talented Shakur Stevenson made history by snatching the vacant WBC lightweight title in only his second fight in the 135-pound weight class. Known for his strategic offense and impeccable defense, Stevenson has emerged as one of boxing’s brightest young stars. His consistent training and expertise in controlling the distance and pace of the match has paid off again.

His opponent, the formidable Edwin De Los Santos with a 16-1 record and 14 wins by knockout barely managed to break through the solid defense of the seasoned 26-year-old. De Los Santos is recognized for his potent power and assertive fighting style that has proven successful in the ring, but apparently, not this one.

Shakur Stevenson adds another title to his name

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In a decisive victory, the judges’ scorecards read 115-113, 116-112, and 116-112. All in favor of the new WBC lightweight world champion, Shakur Stevenson. Despite not landing double-digit punches in any round, the Newark native showcased his masterful grasp of the sweet science. Unfortunately, for De Los Santos, he was left severely diminished and ineffective.

Stevenson dominated from the first round on with a compact hook to the temple. With a greater number of punches and an impenetrable defense, ‘Sugar’ won most rounds. By round 8, it became evident that De Los Santos would need to up his game if he wanted to clinch the title. Unfortunately, he missed most of the punches he threw at his opponent and he failed to pick up pace.

The fight was much slower than fans had expected, with a hesitant De Los Santos struggling to find an opening to land his punches. Stevenson, despite emerging victorious, is being criticized for his performance. “I had a bad performance. I wasn’t feeling too good. I’ll live with it, it’s OK.” said Stevenson post his match.

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What is next for the Lightweight Champion?

Looking ahead, Stevenson envisions Vasyl Lomachenko as his next potential adversary. Stevenson believes that with the championship in hand, Lomachenko will have a compelling reason to step into the ring for what promises to be a major showdown. Despite this, Stevenson is also receptive to a matchup with Gervonta Davis. He acknowledged Davis as the current boxing superstar with pay-per-view allure. He is more than ready for a clash whenever the call comes.

However, in the event that Lomachenko declines the challenge, Stevenson has alternative opponents on his radar. The list includes Raymond Muratalla and Frank Martin. Open to various possibilities, Stevenson remains poised for a dynamic and impactful journey ahead.

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Stevenson’s triumph marks an extraordinary achievement, propelling him to the status of a three-division world champion. All in an astonishingly brief span of just nine fights. Who would you want to see the pugilist battle it out with next? Let us know in the comments below.

Watch This Story: Shakur Stevenson Reacts To Deen The Great’s Callout

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Written by:

Prachi Senapati is a Boxing Writer at EssentiallySports. She has been a part of content creation and is using her expertise in the sport of Boxing. Her fascination with the combat sport stemmed from her early years when she witnessed the Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield fight.

Edited by:

Arijit Saha

Failing to Deliver Any Knockdowns, Shakur Stevenson Becomes Lightweight Champion in a Low Action Fight

Shakur Stevenson adds another title to his name

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What is next for the Lightweight Champion?