Shakur Stevenson is set to fight Robson Conceição on Friday night, but he won't be doing it as a world champion.
Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) was stripped of the WBC and WBO super featherweight titles after failing to make the 130-pound weight limit Thursday. He weighed in at 131.6 pounds, while Conceição (17-1, 8 KOs) tipped the scales at 129.6 pounds.
Despite the prospect of losing his titles and also potentially having the fight called off, Stevenson declined to make another attempt at getting under the weight limit.
The 25-year-old explained his decision on Twitter, citing his health and a planned move to the lightweight division:
The two sides were able to come to a purse agreement to keep the fight alive, per ESPN's Mike Coppinger. For Stevenson, Friday's contest is simply a chance to showcase his skills against a tough veteran opponent. He cannot regain the titles with a win.
Conceição, 33, is still eligible to claim the belts if he scores an upset.
Stevenson vs. Conceição Fight Info
When: Friday, Sept. 23 at 10 p.m. ET (main card)
Where: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
TV: ESPN (US), Sky Sports (UK)
Live stream: ESPN+
Odds: Stevenson -1700 (bet $1,700 to win $100), Conceição + 900 (bet $100 to win $900)
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Preview, Predictions
As expected, Stevenson is a heavy favorite to win on Friday. The inability to make weight would be cause for alarm in many cases, but he has been teasing a move to 135 pounds for months now. This failure on the scales might not signal a lack of preparation like it does in so many other cases.
Even so, the New Jersey native can't afford to be overconfident. He still has an undefeated record to protect, and he'll want to impress against Conceição so that he can send a message to the star-studded lightweight division, which includes Devin Haney, Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia, Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr., among others.
If Stevenson's last fight is any indication, he should be able to handle whatever Conceição throws at him.
In April, the southpaw dominated Oscar Valdez over 12 rounds to retain his unified titles. His defense was excellent against the aggressive Mexican, as he snuffed out attacks with ease and lined up his countershots.
He also did well on offense, scoring a knockdown in the sixth round and using his length and speed to pick apart Valdez. For the methodical, risk-averse Stevenson, it was one of his more entertaining outings.
Conceição fought Valdez in September 2019, losing a controversial decision. While some felt the Brazilian deserved a win, it wasn't a dominant, wire-to-wire display like the one Stevenson put together. He started off the match brightly, but the later rounds were muddied.
It seems Stevenson has done his homework, as he's expecting a similar pattern on Friday.
“I think his weakness is he has more of an amateur style, where he’s a front-runner," he told Anson Wainwright of The Ring. "I think he starts off fast, but as the fight goes on, he slows down and then I’ll take over. I don’t think he can do anything to stop me. I think it’s a great fight, but I’m on a whole different level."
Conceição, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist, believes Stevenson isn't fully aware of his capabilities and is looking past him.
“Shakur is definitely underestimating me,” he said through a translator, per Keith Idec of Boxing Scene. “That’s gonna be the biggest mistake of his career, underestimating a man like me, who’s really willing and hungry to win. He never really faced anyone like me, an athlete of this caliber, and that’s gonna be his downfall.”
There is indeed a chance Stevenson isn't completely focused on this fight given the failure to make weight and his focus on transitioning to lightweight. But as long as he's at least close to his peak, he should be able to win this fight, even if he has to slow things down and make it boring.
Conceição is a tough, smart boxer, but he lacks the kind of power that might give other fighters an edge against the American.
With the backing of a hometown crowd and a spotless record to protect, look for Stevenson to safely navigate a tough first few rounds before taking control and winning the fight handily on the cards.
Prediction: Stevenson by unanimous decision
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It's a battle of undefeated champions as Shakur Stevenson (17-0, nine KOs) and Oscar Valdez (30-0, 23 KOs) are set to face off in a junior lightweight unification bout Saturday night at the Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Stevenson, the WBO world champion, is a rising star in boxing. The 24-year-old is coming off an impressive stoppage win over Jamel Herring in October. He's looking to up the ante and truly establish himself as a force with his first title defense and a win over perhaps his toughest opponent to date.
Valdez is the WBC world titleholder and a proven veteran champion. He previously held the WBO world featherweight title from 2016 to 2019, making six successful defenses. He hasn't been fighting at 130 pounds for long, but he's yet to lose and has a chance to score an upset on Saturday night.
Stevenson vs. Valdez Fight Info
When: Saturday, April 30, at 9 p.m. ET (main card start)
Where: Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
TV: ESPN (US), Sky Sports (UK)
Live stream: ESPN+
Odds: Stevenson -600 (bet $600 to win $100), Valdez +425 (bet $100 to win $425)
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Preview, Predictions
Stevenson has been tipped as a star for some time now thanks to his strong amateur career (2016 Olympic silver medalist at bantamweight) and succession of lopsided wins as a pro. But it's his last fight that really got people talking, as he dominated Herring en route to a 10th-round technical knockout win in Atlanta.
What was supposed to be a major test turned out to be another day at the office for Stevenson, who had previously earned lopsided victories over Jeremia Nakathila, Toka Kahn Clary and Felix Caraballo at 130 pounds. The southpaw's fast hands and powerful, accurate combinations had Herring's face badly swollen by the middle rounds. Even though Herring—who was coming off an impressive win over Carl Frampton—never hit the canvas, the stoppage did him a favor. The judges had scored the bout 90-81, 90-81, 89-82 in favor of Stevenson up to that point, per BoxRec.
The Herring bout was an impressive showcase, but Stevenson's next challenge could really set him apart.
"I feel like [my star] is skyrocketing," he said, per the Washington Post's Glynn A. Hill. "I feel like after this fight I should be making big paydays; I should be getting The Ring magazine belt, letting it be known that I'm the best fighter at 130 pounds. So, I definitely could see myself skyrocketing, but we gotta handle business first; the job's not done yet."
Even though he's a heavy favorite, Stevenson really can't underestimate Valdez. The 31-year-old Mexican has overcome every obstacle in his career and isn't far removed from his own career-best win, a stunning knockout against Miguel Berchelt in Feb. 2021. Valdez was a heavy underdog coming into that one, but proved the doubters wrong with one of the best punches of the year.
A few months after that win, Valdez tested positive for a banned central-nervous stimulant, per ESPN.com's Mike Coppinger. He was allowed to keep his title and successfully defended it with a decision win over Robson Conceicao in September. Even though Valdez wasn't quite as sharp in that contest as he was against Berchelt, he still figures to pose a threat to Stevenson.
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, who shares a trainer with Valdez in Eddy Reynoso, believes Valdez shouldn't be counted out.
"I'm surprised about that because Oscar can do many things in the ring," Alvarez said, per BoxingScene.com's Keith Idec. Alvarez is also aware of the danger posed by the multi-faceted Stevenson, as Idec reports he's told his stablemate "you need to keep focus and win the fight, not to put on a show for the people. Because [Stevenson is] a really good, skilled fighter, moves around. So, if you go forward, he's gonna do his fight."
Fans can expect to see plenty of action at the MGM Grand. Stevenson can throw punches in bunches, but he's also a defensive wizard. Valdez will be looking to disrupt his rhythm early on and can do so with his aggression and physicality. Whichever fighter gets the first good read on the other is likely to win the fight. The other will still likely make it tough on them.
Ring Magazine's Anson Wainwright asked 20 experts and insiders to make their picks: 19 are backing Stevenson, while just one picked Valdez.
We could be in store for another surprise on Saturday night as Valdez has proved once his power translates to 130 pounds, but look for Stevenson to be the sharper fighter over 12 rounds and continue his path to superstardom.
Prediction: Stevenson by unanimous decision
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Gervonta "Tank" Davis (24-0, 23 KOs) earned the biggest win of his young career in spectacular fashion on Saturday night, knocking out Leo Santa Cruz (37-2-1, 19 KOs) with a left uppercut in the sixth round of their title fight at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Here's a look at the punch, per Showtime Boxing:
DAZN's Andreas Hale and Magic Johnson reacted to the hit:
The Ring's Douglass Fischer called it a candidate for Knockout of the Year:
The fight had been an entertaining back-and-forth affair up to that point. Santa Cruz showed no fear, going right at Davis and trying to get him on the defensive early on. His aggressive approach turned out to be his downfall, as Davis stayed calm, grew into the bout and found an opportunity to show off the prodigious power that has made the 25-year-old Baltimore native a fan favorite.
While the fight was held at 130 pounds, Davis retained his WBA world lightweight title and won the WBA super featherweight world title from Santa Cruz. This was the first knockout loss for the 32-year-old Santa Cruz. Davis said he's ready to take on anyone after the win.
"Line them up, I'll knock them down one by one," he said, per the Showtime pay-per-view broadcast.
Santa Cruz was in fine form early on, applying constant pressure to Davis and forcing him to fight off his back foot. In spots where many fighters might be tentative against a hard hitter like Davis, Santa Cruz instead stuck to his typical game plan and forced the action. Boxing writer Dan Rafael praised Santa Cruz's strategy early on:
Davis appeared frustrated, at one point even pushing Santa Cruz to the ground in the second round. He weathered the early storm and grew into the bout in the third, rocking Santa Cruz with a left hook. To the Mexican fighter's credit, he hung in there and managed to unleash some rapid-fire combinations.
The fourth saw Davis get into a bit of a rhythm with his power punches. A right hook followed by a left uppercut to the head was a particular bright spot, but Santa Cruz refused to retreat. Here's a look at one of the better exchanges, per Showtime Boxing:
Santa Cruz's willingness to go toe-to-toe with Davis would eventually be his undoing. Davis found the timing on his power punches and was able to start landing them in between the bursts of action from Santa Cruz. There might have been opportunities for Santa Cruz to deliver a stunner of his own, but he's lacked serious power at 130 pounds. He was brilliant and brave, but there wasn't enough to keep Davis honest.
The explosiveness from the young champion is going to make him a big draw for years to come. Davis' next opponent is going to have to either respect his power or have enough strength of his own in order to keep Davis on the back foot.
Rising star Gervonta Davis (23-0, 22 KOs) will get one of the toughest tests of his career Saturday when he takes on Leo Santa Cruz (37-1-1, 19 KOs) in a pay-per-view bout at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Davis is an undefeated southpaw who has won all but one of his 23 fights by stoppage. Still just 25, he's looking to establish himself as a bankable fighter who can dismantle top-level competition. Santa Cruz is a four-division world champion known for his stamina, chin and willingness to throw punches from the first round to the last. He's an underdog in this bout but should force Davis to work hard if he can avoid an early knockout.
The weight limit for the fight is 130 pounds. It's being promoted as a clash for the WBA lightweight and the WBA super featherweight world titles. A limited number of fans will be allowed to attend.
Here's how to watch from home.
Davis vs. Santa Cruz Fight Info
When: Saturday, Oct. 31 at 9 p.m. ET
Where: Alamodome in San Antonio
TV: Showtime pay-per-view ($74.99)
Live stream: Showtime.com or Showtime App pay-per-view ($74.99)
Odds (via Draftkings Sportsbook): Davis -770 (bet $770 to win $100), Santa Cruz +450 (bet $100 to win $450)
When we last saw Davis in December, he was busy pummeling a nails-tough Yuriorkis Gamboa to win the vacant WBA lightweight title in his first bout at 135 pounds. Davis scored three knockdowns in the bout and got a 12th-round stoppage, but those stats are a bit less impressive when you consider the 38-year-old Gamboa suffered an Achilles tear early on in the fight. Davis was never really in danger, but even he was a bit disappointed with his performance.
Despite the mixed showing, Tank is staying the course and taking on another tough veteran in Santa Cruz, who should provide an even greater technical challenge than Gamboa. Santa Cruz is 32 and coming off a decision win over Miguel Flores in November in his first fight at 130 pounds.
The Mexican native dominated at featherweight for years before moving up, losing just one fight to Carl Frampton, a result he immediately avenged. Santa Cruz is known for throwing punches in bunches and his seemingly bottomless reserve of energy, but he also feels that moving up to 130 pounds will help his power as well.
"For this training camp, I've weighed 148, 149," he said, per BoxingScene.com's Jake Donovan. "This is the biggest I've ever been. My body is growing, and I'm feeling much stronger at this new weight."
Santa Cruz will need to give Davis a reason to back off and not go right for the kill shot. He's taller and has a longer reach, so he can fight on the outside for long stretches if necessary, but the jab is going to have to be solid in order to deter Davis.
This match could be an opportunity for Davis to show some new wrinkles in his game. A protege of Floyd Mayweather Jr., the hard-hitting Baltimore native recently revealed he's looking to show he can not only dish out punishment but avoid it as well as he moves along in his career.
"As I step up there will be more defence, as defence wins championships, going out there and doing what I have to do," he told The Independent's Jack Rathborn. "It depends on the fighter too. Against a stronger opponent, I'd have to use more defensive skills."
Defense will come in handy if Santa Cruz tries to apply pressure and string together combinations. Davis' prodigious power is the main reason he's a strong favorite in this bout, but it could be his other abilities that get him a win against an opponent adept at going the distance.
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It's homecoming for Gervonta "Tank" Davis (21-0, 21 KOs) on Saturday night. The undefeated WBA world super featherweight champion will put his title on the line against unheralded challenger Ricardo Nunez (21-2, 19 KOs) at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore.
Davis, 24, will be stepping into a hometown ring for the first time in six years. The last time he did, he was a fresh-faced pro with little recognition. Now he's one of boxing's rising stars and a favorite son of Baltimore, with a key to the city to prove it, per Sporting News Fights:
All signs point to a resounding victory for Tank, who has 20 knockouts in 21 professional fights. He's a heavy favorite over Nunez, a 25-year-old from La Chorrera, Panama, who will make his U.S. debut on Saturday night. Look for him to put on a show as he lays the groundwork for bigger fights.
Davis vs. Nunez Fight Info
When: Saturday, July 27 at 9 p.m. ET
Where: Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore
TV: Showtime
Live stream: ShowtimeAnytime.com
Odds: Davis -2,500 (bet $2,500 to win $100), Nunez +1,800 (bet $100 to win $1,800)
Odds according to Oddschecker and updated as of Thursday, July 25 at 7 a.m. ET.
Saturday will be Davis' second defense of his WBA title, which he earned by beating Jesus Cuellar in April 2018. Davis wasted no time cementing his hold on the belt in his initial title defense, knocking out replacement fighter Hugo Ruiz in the first round of their bout in February. Davis was supposed to take on former world titleholder Abner Mares, but the latter had to pull out of the fight with a detached retina, per ESPN's Dan Rafael.
Davis is itching to prove himself against top competition again—he's already done a bit of that with wins over Cuellar and Jose Pedraza—but Nunez is not that caliber of fighter. He's a space-filler, someone Davis can get work in while he lines up a superfight. According to Sporting News' Mark Lelinwalla, targets include Ryan Garcia, Tevin Farmer and the pound-for-pound king, Vasiliy Lomachenko.
"Their shots are coming quick," Davis said, per Lelinwalla. "It's coming. It will definitely be here. They just got to be ready when it comes."
Everything good coming Davis' way hangs by a thread, however. He has faced multiple assault allegations over the years. A warrant was issued for his arrest as recently as May.
Already a two-time world champion at 24, Davis has the potential to be one of the sport's big-name draws, a pay-per-view regular. His inspiring backstory—escaping a turbulent, violent upbringing in Baltimore thanks to the sweet science—can endear him to millions, but he has to make better choices outside the ring.
His commitment to his hometown is part of that journey. According to the Baltimore Sun's Giana Han, Davis works with foster children—he was once in foster care himself—and has plans to help open a boxing center to give kids a safe place to go.
"Just having a boxing facility that can have kids somewhere off the streets will help a lot," Davis said, per Han.
And when it comes to his work in boxing, specifically inside the ring, Davis does seem to make all the right moves. He can string together combinations with eye-catching fluidity. Opponents have trouble getting out of the line of fire, and the punishment often piles up fast. Nunez does have a strong knockout record of his own, with 19 stoppages in 23 fights, but he's in trouble if he tries to stand and trade with Davis.
With two heavy-hitters trading blows, an early, perhaps even premature, stoppage could be in order. The boxing world is reeling from Tuesday's death of 28-year-old Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev as a result of brain injuries suffered in a one-sided bout against Subriel Matias on Friday.
That fight took place in Oxon Hill, Maryland, roughly 45 miles from where Davis and Nunez will fight on Saturday. According to the Washington Post's Gene Wang, The Maryland State Athletic Commission is investigating the match and the handling of Dadashev.
It wouldn't be surprising if the referee steps in or a fighter's corner throws in the towel to prevent any unnecessary damage Saturday. This goes for all the fights on the card, including the potential slugfest between veteran boxers Yuriorkis Gamboa and Roman "Rocky" Martinez.
Davis might want to box around and bank some rounds considering his previous fight was so brief, but with a cloud hanging over the sport and Davis clearly the superior talent, Saturday's fight could be a short one.
