By: Sean Crose
WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson put his title, in addition to his undefeated 21-0 report, on the road Saturday evening in his native Newark, New Jersey as he took on the 12-1 Artem Harutyunyan. The combat was a scheduled 12 rounder and was the primary occasion of an ESPN High Rank card.
The 2 males felt one another out early on. By the later a part of the primary, Harutyunyan was working to get in on the southpaw Shakur whereas Shakur saved his man at bay with a crisp proper hand jab. Issues remained slightly gradual paced within the second as Stevenson determined to play it cool towards his twitchy foe. The third remained gradual, although Stevenson was capable of nail his man to the physique on the bell. Stevenson subtly utilized strain within the fourth, which resulted in Harutyunyan now not controlling the motion.
Whereas Stevenson was capable of land clear photographs within the fifth, the tempo of the combat remained gradual sufficient that it took a eager eye to see what Stevenson was as much as. It was a profitable technique, although not an entertaining one. With that being mentioned, Harutyunyan seemed to be low on gasoline within the sixth. Stevenson, free to throw laborious photographs, was in full management.
By the seventh, it was clear Stevenson was just too robust and expert for his recreation opponent. Harutyunyan was giving all of it he might, but it surely clearly wasn’t sufficient. As for Stevenson, he banged away at Harutyunyan, however by no means appeared to be going full blast as some fighters in his place would. Subsequently, some followers could possibly be heard booing within the eighth.
Issues remained slow-paced within the ninth. Harutyunyan, nevertheless, was capable of land in quantity at occasions. “For those who do your job you’ll knock this motherfucker out,” Stevenson’s coach advised him in between rounds. The tenth was uneventful, although Stevenson argued together with his nook after the spherical. The eleventh performed out on the similar tempo because the overwhelming majority of the combat had.
The twelfth and last spherical was a quiet affair, very similar to the earlier eleven rounds. Stevenson continued to largely dominate, and left the ring with a choice victory beneath his belt. He was masterful – however not notably pleasurable to observe. Certainly, Stevenson’s lack of a “killer intuition” or uncooked energy could sadly preserve him from changing into a fan favourite – a pity for thus expert a fighter.
*Pictures: High Rank
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