WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs) returns to his hometown of Newark, New Jersey, on July 6 to make his inaugural defense of the title against German Olympian Artem Harutyunyan (12-1, 7 KOs) at the Prudential Center. Stevenson’s last match was a 12-round unanimous decision over Edwin De Los Santos last November in Las Vegas.
The co-feature will see WBC junior lightweight champion O’Shaquie Foster (22-2, 12 KOs) defend his title versus Brazilian Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição (18-2-1, 9 KOs). The opening fight of the card, which will be televised on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+, has Keyshawn Davis (10-0, 7 KOs) facing Mexican veteran Miguel Madueño (31-2, 28 KOs).
“It feels good to be going back home to Newark, where they appreciate a young legend, and to make my first title defense at 135,” Stevenson said. “On July 6, Down Goes Artem!”
Stevenson spoke exclusively with the Amsterdam News regarding media assessments that he is the world’s best boxer at and around 135 lbs, as well as his mentors in the sport.
“Honestly, it comes with the territory,” Stevenson said. “I’m really not too big on what people have to say because one day they may say something good, one day they may say something bad, and opinions change overnight.”
Stevenson, who turns 27 on June 28, said what matters most to him is how he sees himself and his place in the sport rather than the judgments of others, positive or negative.“Am I the best? I feel that I am the best and I believe that I’m the best,” he expressed. “I think that’s really all that matters and I think all that just comes with the territory.”
For years, Stevenson has been mentored by boxing great Andre Ward, who retired in 2017 at the young age of with a 32-0 record after defeating Sergey Kovalev a second time to retain his WBA IBF, and WBO light heavyweight championships. Stevenson is also mentored by Terence Crawford, widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport after dominating Errol Spence in their bout last July. Crawford will move up to junior middleweight to face WBA champion Israil Madrimov on Aug. 2 in Los Angeles after becoming undisputed in both the junior welterweight and welterweight divisions.
“Them dudes are like family to me, like it is deeper than boxing with them,” Stevenson said. “They’ve been around me my whole career. With Bud (Crawford’s nickname), he’s been around me before I even was a pro. Even Andre was, he was around me before I was even pro. So, honestly, it is deeper than boxing. I appreciate them guys.When I need something I call them,” Stevenson continued. “And when I say when I need something, I’m talking about game and all that kind of stuff. They always got good answers for me, so I appreciate them guys.”
On Saturday, Brooklyn’s Teofimo Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs) will defend his WBO junior lightweight championship against Steve Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KOs) in Miami on ESPN.
Also on Saturday, Juan Francisco Estrada (44-3, 28 KOs) will defend his WBC junior bantamweight title against Jesse Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs) at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, and live worldwide on DAZN.