Boxing
Shakur Stevenson, one step away from free agency, has one last dance with Top Rank
Shakur Stevenson smiles during a press conference after his fight with Artem Harutyunyan. Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank
NEWARK, N.J. — As an American boxer coming off an Olympic lightweight title, comparisons to Floyd Mayweather Jr. were inevitable for Shakur Stevenson. As he approaches what could be his final fight with Top Rank, those comparisons have never been more apt.
Like Mayweather 20 years earlier, Stevenson signed with Top Rank after winning a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, having won world titles in three different divisions. And like Mayweather, Stevenson seems ready to test the free agent market after the final fight on his current promotional deal, which takes place this Saturday against Artem Harutyunyan at the Prudential Center in his hometown of Newark, N.J.
“I see a lot of similarities between me and Floyd,” WBC lightweight titleholder Stevenson (21-0, 10 knockouts) said at a news conference Wednesday before stopping to talk about what he called “this situation.”
“I’m not even going to try to talk about it. It is what it is, but Saturday night, tune in. I’m going to put on an amazing show.”
It’s no secret that Stevenson, 27, was furious about the way his marketability had been portrayed. Top Rank founder Bob Arum told boxing journalist Lance Pugmire that he encouraged Stevenson to try the free-agent market, saying he would welcome him back if he couldn’t get a better deal. Arum suggested that his lack of knockouts — just two in his last seven fights — had hindered his development as a boxing star.
Stevenson, for his part, told reporter Manouk Akopyan that he felt his career slowed down when he moved up to 135 pounds and that he should be matched up with lightweight stars George Kambosos Jr. or Vasiliy Lomachenko.
“Bob Arum is basically trying to say ‘Top Rank or nothing’ and basically trying to say I have no other options but Top Rank,” Stevenson told Akopyan.
While there have been criticisms of Stevenson’s approach to the safety-first sport since he turned pro, those whispers turned to deafening screams after his last fight, a 12-round battle last November against Edwin De Los Santos in which the two boxers combined for 105 punches. Stevenson admits he could have done better, but he doesn’t feel the fight should define him.
“I appreciate the fans that really pay attention and really understand the sport of boxing. The ones that don’t, I don’t give a damn. Just like they say ‘fuck me,’ I say ‘fuck them.’ I appreciate the ones that come out and support and understand that the art of boxing is to hit and not get hit. And understand that my last fight wasn’t every night. I don’t do this every night. There are nights when I’m asking for a crowd, I’m hitting people, I’m in the pocket. I’m one of the best pocket fighters, so that’s frigid, but they’ve got to stand their ground,” Stevenson said.
While Stevenson admits he dreams of bigger fights with the likes of Gervonta “Tank” Davis, Lomachenko and even his number one favorite William Zepeda, he knows he first has to beat Harutyunyan (12-1, 7 KOs), a 33-year-old Armenian based in Germany who is best known for his tough challenge to Frank Martin in his last fight, a unanimous decision loss almost a year ago.
Stevenson suggested the possibility of a more aggressive stance towards Harutyunyan, advising him on the podium to “run for your life”, to which Harutyunyan joked “so I should put on running shoes?”, referring to allegations that Stevenson is a “runner”.
However, he added that he is not looking to fight in a way that would draw a larger audience in order to boost his value on the free agent market.
Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank
“It would just be putting pressure on myself, like I said, I keep the pressure off myself. My main goal is to have fun, have a good time, put on the show I want to put on. Show the art of boxing, I think that’s my main goal. Hit and don’t get hit, that’s what I want to see on Saturday night,” said Stevenson, whose manager is James Prince.
Wali Moses, Stevenson’s grandfather/trainer, says the fight gives Stevenson a chance to outshine Martin before he sees what offers are available as a free agent. Moses says it’s just clever business.
“It’s a business. Most fighters are trying to do what’s best for themselves in terms of the business, the things that are going to be most profitable and beneficial for them in their career. You throw yourself out there, see what’s out there, and when you get back in, you come to Top Rank and see what they want to do. Then you negotiate which way you’re going to go. You don’t want to just jump into anything right now, at this point in his career,” Moses said.
“I’m sure he wants to do what’s best for himself and his family.”
If Stevenson is distracted by the winds of change in his life and career, he didn’t show it during the pre-fight scuffle, as he clutched his championship belt and glared fiercely at the hefty underdog. Then, as the two exchanged words, Stevenson burst out laughing before Harutyunyan sniffed his arm.
“He’s like, ‘What cologne are you wearing? That shit smells good,'” Stevenson recalled of the interaction.
Stevenson is hoping, for his own good, that Saturday’s performance will prove just as attractive to potential promotional partners.
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