Coming off one of the vital disappointing performances of his profession, it seems like Shakur Stevenson, regardless that he’s one of the vital gifted pure boxers within the sport, has some amends to make on Saturday night time. That may not be honest. He’s undefeated, and he has confirmed over the past a number of years that he’s prepared to make thrilling fights. However you’re solely pretty much as good as your final efficiency, and we’ll see if Stevenson can take out his aggressions on an opponent in Artem Harutyunyan who’s a big underdog. Right here’s all the pieces you have to find out about Shakur Stevenson vs. Artem Harutyunyan, together with the percentages, their information and a prediction on who will win.
After beating Edwin De Los Santos final November, Stevenson, who can be defending his light-weight world title for the primary time, really apologized on TV to Floyd Mayweather, Andre Ward and Terrance Crawford. “They got here out to see an excellent efficiency, and I put out a foul one,” Stevenson mentioned.
It wasn’t essentially Stevenson’s fault. De Los Santos was abysmal, touchdown solely 40 punches (the fewest for a 12-round proper within the 38-year historical past of CompuBox (for comparability’s sake: on the undercard Emanuel Navarrete landed 23 energy punches in a single spherical)).
Nonetheless, Stevenson has continued taking warmth for the combat within the eight months since. Not that he’s feeling any added stress for Saturday.
“I ain’t trying to show nothing to no person,” Stevenson mentioned, by way of Boxing Scene. “I’m trying to show issues to myself. I simply wish to present what a 100% of myself may give. I am prepared for the massive stage. Because the lights get brighter, I get higher and shine. I am prepared for anybody. It is the damaging model of me proper now. Hopefully, we’ll get one in all these huge fighters to present me a possibility.”
Stevenson additionally is probably going motivated to have an enormous night time vs. Harutyunyan as a result of, after Saturday night time, he’ll be a promotional free agent. He hasn’t had many good issues to say these days about his present promoter, High Rank, and it’ll be fascinating to see the place Stevenson lands subsequent. Fellow 135-pound titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko can be with High Rank, however Gervonta “Tank” Davis is affiliated with PBC, so maybe it makes extra sense for Stevenson to attempt to land an enormous payday vs. Davis by signing with Al Haymon’s promotional outfit.
Stevenson is also miffed as a result of he feels that Lomachenko has been afforded higher alternatives from High Rank than he has. Nonetheless, there’s not a lot he can do about his promotional scenario till after Saturday’s combat.
“I’m going to take him to a stage he’s by no means been on,” Stevenson mentioned. “I’m simply going to be myself. I’m going to return out and present my expertise and present my ranges. I feel I’m probably the greatest within the sport of boxing at hit-and-don’t-get-hit. There’s a sure approach of doing that, and I wish to present the followers that each one that transferring round is one thing I don’t actually need to do. I can sit within the pocket and beat you up, too.”
Right here’s extra data on the Shakur Stevenson vs. Artem Harutyunyan showdown that U.S. viewers can watch on ESPN and ESPN+ starting at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Shakur Stevenson vs. Artem Harutyunyan odds
Stevenson, at -3500 (guess $3,500 to win $100), is a gigantic favourite, whereas Harutyunyan is the +1300 underdog (win $1,300 on a $100 wager). There’s not a lot worth in both cash line, and I wouldn’t trouble betting on Stevenson to win by resolution at -2800 both. However I do just like the +110 prop guess of the combat going all 12 rounds. There’s a superb probability that would occur.
Should you have been in search of a enjoyable parlay for this weekend’s motion of boxing (and that is just for leisure functions), I would take the Stevenson-Harutyunyan combat to go the gap at +110, Daniel Jacobs to beat Shane Mosley Jr. at +110 and William Zepeda to cease Giovanni Cabrera at -225. If all these hit, you’d win $537 on a $100 guess.
Shakur Stevenson vs. Artem Harutyunyan information
Regardless of his yawner of a victory vs. De Los Santos, Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs) put collectively a formidable 2021-22 by beating Jamel Herring, Oscar Valdez and Robson Conceicao in back-to-back-to-back fights. Stevenson solely has two stoppages in his final seven fights, and although Harutyunyan took a knee within the 12th spherical in his final combat, I’d nonetheless anticipate this bout to go the gap.
Within the greatest combat of his life a 12 months in the past, Harutyunyan (12-1, 7 KOs), an Armenia native who fights out of Germany, fell in an in depth resolution loss in opposition to Frank Martin, who was only recently knocked out by Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Harutyunyan’s final three opponents have a mixed document of 47-1-1.
Shakur Stevenson vs. Artem Harutyunyan prediction
Stevenson goes to make this appear to be a straightforward combat. It doesn’t appear doubtless that Stevenson goes to showcase his knockout energy extra now that he’s moved up in weight to 135 kilos, however his boxing abilities are excellent. He’ll win a choice, someplace within the 118-110 vary.