Shakur Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) has arrived as one of boxing’s best.
The 2016 Olympic silver medalist entered Saturday’s Top Rank Boxing main event against Oscar Valdez (30-1, 23 KOs) as the WBO junior lightweight champion. With his thorough outclassing of Valdez, he now owns the WBC title as well.
Stevenson scored a knockdown and was otherwise in full control against the Mexican in what was a pro-Valdez crowd inside Las Vegas’ MGM Grand. His speed, precision, shot selection, ring generalship, and defense all blended together to make a world-class opponent look ordinary. Valdez never quit and he kept searching for punishing shots to knock Stevenson down and out, but it never materialized.