Shakur Stevenson has defeated Jamel Herring in a technical knockout in the 10th round to become the new WBO junior lightweight champion.
In a one-sided showing at the State Farm Arena fight in Atlanta, the rising star stood up in his biggest challenge yet and improved to 17-0 (9 KO‘s).
Stevenson came out with more intensity and his superior hand speed was evident from the first round, laying multiple-punch combinations.
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In what fast became a dominant showing, Stevenson had total control of the tentative champion, who was unable to land any early shots.
“This is looking like Gatti-Floyd right now. It’s looking like Floyd Mayweather-Arturo Gatti right now where you thought the bigger guy was going to back the smaller guy up, but the smaller guys has a lot more physical strength, a lot more prowess and a lot more punching power than you thought,” commentator Andrew Ward said.
‘Fearless’’ agility was clearly a major issue for 35-year old Herring, who tried to keep distance and focus on undercuts.
Stevenson targeted Herring’s body and wore the veteran down, laying a massive beating in the third round with a bevy of powerful combinations. At one stage it even looked like the 24-year old would finish Herring early with a TKO.
Herring applied some pressure in the fourth round, but just as it looked like momentum was swinging, Stevenson raised the intensity and landed more shots.
Stevenson was again seemingly pushing for the knockout in the fifth and sixth rounds, landing a massive right hook that turned Herring’s head.
The champion landed some good punches in the seventh round in his best of the fight, but the aggressive Stevenson still dominated the period.
By the ninth round Stevenson’s swollen face was cut and the veteran was bleeding from a gash to his eyelid.
Stevenson landed several more shots in the 10th round, prompting the referee to call the match. And with that, Stevenson had delivered an emphatic performance.
“An absolute A-plus performance from Shakur,” ESPN broadcaster Joe Tessitore said.
In claiming the junior lightweight title, Stevenson is now a two-division champion.
In other results on the night, Nico Ali Walsh (2-0), grandson of Muhammad Ali, defeated James Wesley II (1-1) to remain undefeated.
Evan Holyfield (8-0), son of hall of famer Evander Holyfield, KO’d Charles Stanford (6-4) in front of his hometown Atlanta crowd.
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