A lot for Shakur Stevenson’s retirement.
Stevenson, rated at No. 4 by The Ring at 135 kilos, will try to make the protection of his WBC light-weight belt towards Armenian-born German Olympian Artem Harutyunyan on Saturday, July 6, at Prudential Middle in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey.
Within the co-feature, O’Shaquie Foster will defend his WBC junior light-weight belt towards Brazilian Olympic gold medalist and three-time world title challenger Robson Conceição.
Within the 10-round light-weight televised opener, Keyshawn Davis will tackle Mexican veteran Miguel Madueño.
Stevenson-Harutyunyan, Foster-Conceição, and Davis-Madueño can be broadcast stay on ESPN, ESPN, Deportes and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs) has gained world titles in three weight lessons throughout his seven-year run. After securing a silver medal on the 2016 Olympics, he made his professional debut in 2017 and swiftly moved up the ranks. He captured his first world title by defeating Joet Gonzalez for the WBO featherweight strap in October 2019. Two years later, he stopped Jamel Herring in 10 rounds to earn the WBO title at 130 kilos. The 26-year-old southpaw unified world titles by handing then-WBC champion Oscar Valdez his first loss in April 2022. Stevenson then claimed two consecutive victories at Prudential Middle by defeating Conceição that September and stopping Japanese contender Shuichiro Yoshino in six final April. Hee outpointed Dominican puncher Edwin De Los Santos final November to change into the WBC light-weight world champion.
Stevenson mentioned, “It feels good to be going again house to Newark, the place they admire a younger legend, and to make my first title protection at 135. On July 6, Down Goes Artem!”
Harutyunyan (12-1, 7 KOs) captured an Olympic bronze medal for Germany in 2016. He began his professional profession the next yr and went 12-0 in his adopted nation with triumphs over Samuel Molina in September 2021 and Humberto Galindo in June 2022. Final July, he made his U.S. debut in a aggressive showdown towards Frank Martin. The 33-year-old had success along with his aggression and proper hand, although Martin rallied late to win a slender unanimous choice. Harutyunyan could have his first world title shot towards his second consecutive southpaw rival.
Junior light-weight O’Shaquie Foster (proper) in a earlier struggle vs. Jon Fernandez. Picture by Dave Mandel/Showtime
Harutyunyan mentioned, “I respect Shakur Stevenson as a champion, however I’m coming to shock his hometown followers and win the WBC light-weight championship. That is the chance of a lifetime, and I’ll take full benefit of it. This can be my second struggle within the U.S. I’ve realized and progressed since my loss to Frank Martin.”
Foster (22-2, 12 KOs), rated at No. 2 by The Ring at junior light-weight, had a distinguished beginner profession with greater than 100 fights and an alternate spot within the 2012 U.S. Olympic staff earlier than coming into the paid ranks later that yr. He encountered two early-career setbacks, together with a break up choice defeat to Rolando Chinea in July 2016. He returned greater than a yr later with famend coach Bobby Benton and has since gone 12-0. Final February, he gained the WBC world title with a factors verdict over two-division world champion Rey Vargas earlier than a dramatic Twelfth-round knockout win towards Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez in October. The next month, Foster signed a long-term promotional cope with Prime Rank. He returns after securing a well-earned break up choice over Abraham Nova in February.
Foster mentioned, “I’m excited to be again for my third title protection. Conceição is a good opponent who has been within the ring with a variety of high fighters, however come July 6, we can be prepared. I’ll maintain proving that I’m top-of-the-line fighters on the earth.”
Conceição (18-2-1, 9 KOs), rated at No. 7 by The Ring at junior light-weight and Brazil’s inaugural Olympic boxing gold medalist, turned professional in November 2016. His solely losses have come towards unbeaten world champions, together with an in depth choice towards then-WBC champ Valdez in September 2021. Following the setback to Stevenson, Conceição’s June 2022 showdown towards Nicolas Polanco led to a no contest. He adopted up by difficult three-weight world champion Emanuel Navarrete final November, rising twice from the canvas and battling to a majority draw. In April, he registered a seventh-round TKO towards Jose Guardado in April.
Conceição mentioned, “I’m actually trying ahead to this struggle towards O’Shaquie Foster. This title is one thing I’ve been aiming for a very long time, and I’m not going to let this chance slip away. I can assure that I’ll give my greatest; I’ll go away all the pieces within the ring. Blood, sweat, and dedication—all the pieces can be invested on this title bout. I’m able to face any problem that comes my approach. Let’s go all in in the direction of victory! Brazil!”
Davis (10-0, 7 KOs), from Norfolk, Virginia, made a fast transition from prospect to contender. After going 3-0 as a professional, he earned a silver medal on the Tokyo Olympics. In November 2021, he inked a long-term promotional pact with Prime Rank and has amassed seven wins since. In 2023, he stopped Anthony Yigit in 9 rounds in April and vanquished Francesco Patera by way of 10-round choice in July. After his October win over Nahir Albright was overturned to a no contest resulting from a constructive marijuana take a look at, Davis returned with renewed vigor in February to dispatch former two-weight world champion Jose Pedraza in six. Madueño (31-2, 28 KOs) tallied a three-fight successful spree after a choice defeat to Jezreel Corrales in March 2022. The streak was halted by a factors setback towards Canadian contender Steve Claggett final November, however he bounced again shortly by decisioning Justin Pauldo in February.
Davis mentioned, “Madueño is a tricky fighter with greater than 30 professional fights, and I’ve a variety of respect for what he brings to the desk. I really like preventing in Newark. The followers there are particular, and I’m going to feed off their power and placed on a present.”
Undercard motion — streaming stay and completely on ESPN+ — consists of the return of 20-year-old light-weight prodigy Abdullah Mason and unbeaten heavyweight prospect Damian “Polish Hussar” Knyba.
Mason (13-0, 11 KOs) will make his third 2024 look in an eight-rounder towards Puerto Rican veteran Luis Lebron. The Cleveland native went 5-0 with 4 knockouts final yr earlier than stopping Benjamin Gurment in two in February. He’s coming off a fourth-round TKO win over Ronal Ron in April. Lebron (20-5-1, 13 KOs) has given stiff assessments to Duke Ragan and Henry Lebron and stopped Giovanni Gutierrez in February.
Knyba (13-0, 7 KOs), a 6-foot-7 behemoth with an 86-inch attain, returns in an eight-rounder versus Richard Lartey (16-6, 13 KOs). He joined the Prime Rank steady in January 2023 and scored a TKO win over Curtis Harper that April adopted by selections over Helaman Olguin in June and Michael Coffie in December.
A press launch by Prime Rank was used on this article.