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Shakur Stevenson’s next fight has been confirmed against Artem Harutyunyan for July 6 in Newark, New Jersey.
Shakir will put his WBC Lightweight Title on the line in what could be his final fight under Top Rank. Stevenson has one fight left, with plenty of pressure. His last fight was heavily criticized based on his defensive style. He foot on the back foot to beat Edwin De Los Santos and secure the WBC belt. However, he was booed through the fight, with many being annoyed by the dour spectacle.
Shakur’s Return
Shakur then decided to retire in a massive announcement. But the boxer reversed his retirement, as he vowed to bounce back. He clarified that he had a hand injury coming into the De Los Santos fight. If he can perform impressively against Artem, he will be back in the conversation for the big fights with Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney.
Artem is not the biggest name out there. His record stands at 12-1-0 with seven KOs. His only defeat came in his last fight against Frank Martin. He pushed the southpaw until the final round. However, he took a knee in the last round, which was enough for Martin to take the decision.
In the co-main event, O’Shaquie Foster takes on Robson Conceicao. Foster is the WBC Junior Lightweight Champion. He overcame major adversity in his last fight, only to pull off a split decision win against Abraham Nova when he put his opponent on the canvas in the final round. Conceicao performed much better in his last fight, stopping Jose Ivan Guardado Ortiz in the seventh round. To round things off, Keyshawn Davis will come up against Miguel Madueno.
Announcement
“There is a unique connection between Shakur and the City of Newark, and we are thrilled he’s returning for another hometown appearance against a tough opponent in Artem Harutyunyan. O’Shaquie Foster does not shy away from the best opposition, and I know Robson Conceição is motivated to pull off the upset. And with Keyshawn Davis on the card against a rugged contender in Madueño, this is quite the tripleheader we have in store in Brick City,” Bob Arum
“It feels good to be going back home to Newark, where they appreciate a young legend, and to make my first title defense at 135. On July 6, Down Goes Artem,” Stevenson
“I respect Shakur Stevenson as a champion, but I’m coming to shock his hometown fans and win the WBC lightweight championship. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I will take full advantage of it. This will be my second fight in the U.S. I’ve learned and progressed since my loss to Frank Martin,” Harutyunyan
Should Stevenson come out on top, he could target some big unification fights at 135. Tank Davis, the WBA Lightweight Champion, will face Frank Martin on June 15. Davis has already said his 6-7 fight deal includes Stevenson. There is also the chance to face the winner of Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr., who face off on May 11 for the vacant IBF Lightweight Title. But before Shakur considers those options, he must get past Artem.
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