Shakur Stevenson received the vacant WBC light-weight title to grow to be a three-division world champion when he unanimously outpointed Edwin De Los Santos in Las Vegas.
But it surely was a hesitant, slow-paced efficiency on the T-Cellular Enviornment that contrasted with Emanuel Navarrete’s action-packed majority draw with Robson Conceicao on the undercard.
Stevenson made his ringwalk flanked by nice fighters, Andre Ward and Terence Crawford. He’s clearly a world-class expertise however he didn’t dazzle, as he has carried out earlier than, in opposition to De Los Santos.
A southpaw, Stevenson relied on utilizing footwork and single punches, predominantly his lead proper. He landed jabs that scored, hinting at his capabilities. However he was far too sparing with any energy punches from his backhand.
The kinds of the 2 southpaws didn’t mesh however De Los Santos struggled too to place the American underneath stress.
Stevenson received a unanimous determination, 115-113 and 116-112 twice on the judges’ scorecards.
It left De Los Santos annoyed. He condemned Stevenson afterwards.
“I came to fight, he came for a track meet,” he mentioned. “He was gifted a title but I am the champion of the people.”
Stevenson received the belt, however didn’t permit himself a lot in the way in which of celebration.
“I had a bad performance tonight,” he admitted. “I wasn’t feeling too good.”
That prompt he did have some kind of ailment within the contest. However Stevenson offered no additional particulars.
“I don’t make no excuses,” he mentioned. ” I came here, got the victory, that’s all I wanted to do.
“I obtained to return to the drafting board and work on plenty of issues and are available again.”
Navarrete got here via one other thrilling battle. He wanted two knockdowns to carry Robson Conceicao to a majority draw and retain the WBO super-featherweight title.
Brazil’s Conceicao, an Olympic gold medallist in 2016, was an energetic and decided challenger. He outworked Navarrete, a uncommon feat.
However Navarrete responded, ramping up the motion and clubbing Conceicao off his toes twice.
The Mexican looped lengthy punches to the physique, and directed his assault to the pinnacle, together with his efforts taking a toll. Conceicao was on unsure legs on the finish of the eleventh spherical. However that didn’t cease them from participating furiously within the final.
One choose scored 114-112 for Navarrete, however the different two marked it 113-113, leaving the competition a majority draw.
“I’m happy to come away with the belt,” Navarrete mentioned afterwards. “I give a lot of credit to Robson Conceicao. We both did what we said we were going to do. We came out here and we gave the fans a wonderful fight.
“He is an incredible fighter, his approach is subsequent degree and that is what made it so arduous,” he added.
“I might undoubtedly give Robson a rematch, as a result of he deserves it.”