By: Hans Themistode
For the most part, Shakur Stevenson’s career is cruise control. The former 2016 Olympic silver medalist and two-division world champion has quickly and easily done 17 opponents in his career.
However, even as he gets a relatively easy win, the 24-year-old knows he will soon be in a dogfight. The WBO ultralightweight champion will face off against WBC belt holder Oscar Valdez on April 30, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For now, Stevenson finds himself a pretty big favorite with some sportsbooks listing him as tall as 4-1. With that said, whatever the betting world is pulling their carriages to his place, Stevenson won’t overlook his well-decorated opponent.
“He was a great fighter,” Stevenson said in an interview with Stamina For Sale. “He has never lost before. You have to respect Valdez. You are in it with a live dog. “
Of course, Valdez is no stranger to the current underdog situation. Just last year, the 31-year-old listened most closely by siding with Miguel Berchelt in their February 2021 game. Despite the dubious voices, Valdez went on to roughly snatch Berchelt’s £130 WBC crown in the 10th round.
Since winning his bloody title, Valdez has gone on to defend the title against Robson Conceicao, winning in a rather controversial unanimous decision about seven months later.
As Valdez is busy winning, so is Stevenson. He ended his 2021 with a decisive one-sided unanimous victory over former Marine Jamel Herring. In the process, Stevenson cut his WBO title reign short and started his own race.
With Stevenson and Valdez inching closer and closer, the slick and slick hunter was upping his work rate in training camp. Winning Valdez’s WBC title is the primary goal but to do so in commanding fashion, it is the ultimate goal.
“I am a better fighter and I want that more. I’ve been waiting for a moment like this my whole life, I’m not going to come here and go back. I am not going to come here and allow him to take this moment away from me. I go there to dominate, this is going to be a special night. ”
