Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington successfully defended his WBC featherweight title on Saturday night, outboxing previously unbeaten Rene Palacios over 12 rounds to earn a unanimous decision in the co-feature of the Abdullah Mason-Albert Bell card at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

The judges scored the bout 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112, giving Carrington the first successful defense of the title he captured earlier this year.

Carrington, 18-0 (10 KOs), took command from the opening bell, using his southpaw jab, sharp footwork and accurate combinations to keep the aggressive Palacios from establishing a consistent rhythm. The Brooklyn native repeatedly controlled the distance and forced the Mexican challenger to chase him around the ring.

Palacios, 19-1-1 (10 KOs), enjoyed his best stretch in the middle rounds as he increased the pressure and attempted to turn the fight into a close-range battle. The biggest talking point came in the eighth round when a right hand behind the ear sent Carrington off balance and to the canvas. Referee Harvey Dock declined to score it a knockdown, ruling the sequence a slip or the result of an illegal punch.

Carrington responded by taking control of the closing rounds. Working behind his jab, he mixed body shots with combinations and used his movement to keep Palacios from mounting another sustained rally.

The unanimous decision improved Carrington to 18-0 (10 KOs) and completed the first defense of his WBC featherweight title. Palacios fell to 19-1-1 (10 KOs), suffering the first defeat of his professional career after going the full 12-round distance with the unbeaten champion

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Last Updated on 2026/07/05 at 1:24 AM

Jones believes Stevenson’s footwork and ring IQ would force Gervonta out of his comfort zone.

“I think Tank’s is going to have to give up a lot to beat Shakur, because Shakur is going to keep them feet on him,” said Jones to FightHype.

“You’ve got to gamble against them feet; you can’t just go out there and box and think you’re going to beat him, as Teofimo found out.”

Roy Jr. said opponents who refuse to chase Shakur aggressively are likely to spend the entire fight trying to catch him.

“If you don’t gamble with them feet, he’s going to beat you all night. He’s comfortable being on that back leg and being smart about it,” said Jones Jr.

Roy Jr’s view mirrors what happened when Shakur outboxed Teofimo. Rather than trading in the pocket, Shakur controlled the distance with his movement, picked his shots, and neutralized Teofimo’s offense over 12 rounds.

For Tank, that would present a different challenge than most of his previous opponents. His patience and knockout power have carried him to world titles in multiple weight classes, but Jones Jr. believes a fight with Shakur would require him to sacrifice some of his defensive caution to create openings against one of boxing’s most elusive technicians.

If the long-awaited matchup is eventually made, Jones Jr. sees Gervonta’s willingness to take calculated risks as the key factor that could determine whether he can land the fight-changing punch he’s built his career around.

Roy Jones Jr believes Gervonta Davis would need to take significant risks to have any chance at defeating American rival Shakur Stevenson.

The two stars have been on a collision course since their early professional days, with many still eagerly awaiting their potential showdown.

In order for their matchup to finally materialise, though, Davis would need to return to action after having not fought since March 2025.

Back then, ‘Tank’ retained his WBA lightweight title with a controversial draw against Lamont Roachwho many felt was unfortunate not to emerge victorious.

But despite talks of an immediate rematch, Davis instead turned his attention towards an exhibition match with Jake Paul, only for the November event to be cancelled on account of him facing domestic violence allegations.

Since then, the 31-year-old has been made WBA ‘champion in recess’ and seems likely to make a ring return later this year, perhaps with an openness to pursue the Stevenson fight.

While considering the physical and technical advantages of both combatants, Jones has told FightHype that ‘Tank’, essentially, would need to be assertive but not reckless, so as to disrupt the tidy footwork of Steveson.

“I think Tank’s is going to have to give up a lot to beat Shakur, because Shakur is going to keep them feet on him.

“You’ve got to gamble against them feet; you can’t just go out there and box and think you’re going to beat him – as Teofimo [Lopez] found out.

“If you don’t gamble with them feet, he’s going to beat you all night. [Stevenson’s] comfortable being on that back leg and being smart about it.”

Given Stevenson’s masterclass against Lopez in January, many would favour his technical prowess and consistency over the explosive power of Davis.