A month after mixed martial arts dove back into the live sports pool, boxing dipped its toe. Bob Arum's Top Rank became the first promotional company to produce a significant domestic ...
Top Rank Boxing 2020: Stevenson vs. Caraballo Card Odds, Schedule, Live Stream
Jun 8, 2020
Shakur Stevenson fights Carlos Suarez, of Argentina, during the first round of a featherweight boxing match Saturday, May 20, 2017, in New York. Stevenson stopped Suarez in the first round. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
At just 22 years old, Shakur Stevenson is on the precipice of setting himself up as the next face of United States boxing.
The WBC featherweight champion will help lead boxing back into homes across the nation Tuesday when he takes on Felix Caraballo in a Top Rank showcase on ESPN.
Stevenson, a 2016 Olympic silver medalist, will carry a 13-0 professional record into the bout and comes in as a -10000 favorite.
Shakur Stevenson (-10000, bet $100 to win $1) vs. Felix Caraballo (+1600, bet $100 to win $1,6000
Mikaela Mayer (-2000) vs. Helen Joseph (+900)
Jared Anderson (-10000) vs. Johnnie Langston (+1600)
Guido Vianello (-5000) vs. Donald Haynesworth (+1400)
Robeisy Ramirez (-1800) vs. YeuriAndujar (+850)
Calvin Metcalf vs. Quatavious Cash
Date: Tuesday, June 9
Time:7 p.m. ET
Watch: ESPN
Stream: WatchESPN
Stevenson hasn't fought since his unanimous decision win over Joet Gonzalez in October, the longest layoff of his professional career. Caraballo is seen as such an underdog that Stevens is already looking ahead to his next fight, potentially against Josh Warrington.
"I don't know nothing about [Caraballo], I don't know not one thing," Stevenson said, per Cameron Wolfe of ESPN. "I watched one, maybe two rounds of the guy. ... [I'm going to] go in there and get him out of there."
Caraballo is coming off a TKO of Sergio Lopez in January and has reeled off five straight victories.
He is a little bit more bullish on the potential of giving Stevenson a run for his money, per Boxing Scene's Keith Idec:
"I can see all of his fights. I've seen all of his videos. But if he thinks I'm an easy fight, well, I'll let him know the day of the fight I'm going for it. I'm gonna give it my all. I'm gonna leave my heart in that ring. I hope he don't think I'm an easy one. If he does, it'll work out in our favor. Some people say that he could be overlooking me, that he thinks I'm not a good fighter or I'm not dangerous for him.
"But this is my big opportunity. If he's not prepared like he usually is and he thinks I'm easy, I know it's gonna be a long night for him. Just like I always say to everyone, nothing is guaranteed in boxing. He's human, just like me. He has two hands, just like me, and anything can happen."
The other top matchup on the card will see heavy favorite Mikaela Mayer attempt to stay undefeated against Helen Joseph. Mayer is fighting for the first time since defeating Alejandra Soledad Zamora in October.
Shakur Stevenson vs. Felix Caraballo Fight, More Set for Top Rank Boxing in June
May 30, 2020
Shakur Stevenson celebrates after defeating Oscar Mendoza during a featherweight boxing match Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Top Rank will return to the boxing ring beginning June 9 with an event highlighted by a non-title featherweight bout between WBO champion Shakur Stevenson and Felix Caraballo, per ESPN's Steve Kim.
Six events will take place between June 9 and 23. Most of them will be held in Las Vegas' MGM Grand Conference Center and televised on ESPN.
"The goal was to start out with really good, competitive fights, with names that people are familiar with, who have been on ESPN shows," Top Rank head Bob Arum told Kim.
Stevenson was originally set to face Miguel Marriaga on March 14 in New York, but that event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The June 9 event marks Top Rank's first since Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder's rematch highlighted a Feb. 22 card.
Arum said the scheduled events will be held without fans as Top Rank increases safety protocols surrounding the events.
"This is a sensible way to push ahead. Hopefully the fights will be good—I know they will be—but you've got to make sure all the procedures are safe and so forth. Hopefully what we're doing will serve as a template for other promoters to put on shows."
He added: "Hopefully, we will have demonstrated to the authorities, based on these Nevada protocols, that they work."
Stevenson highlights the June fights thanks to his resume, which includes a 13-0 record and seven victories by way of knockout.
Other fights include a June 11 bout between ex-WBO 122-pound champion Jessie Magdaleno and Yenifel Vicente and 20-year-old Gabe Flores Jr. (17-0) facing Josec Ruiz on June 18.
