Shakur Stevenson will face Shuichiro Yoshino in the 135-pound undefeated on Saturday in Newark, New Jersey, Stevenson’s hometown.
SHAKUR STEVENSON (19-0.9 KOS)
WITH. SHUICHIRO YOSHINO (16-0, 12 KOS)
- Day: Saturday, April 8
- Time: 10pm ET / 7pm PT (main event after that)
- Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
- television/stream: GAME, GAME +
- Assignment: Light weight (135 pounds)
- threatened: No main title
- Pound-for-pound ratings: Stevenson number 13
- the odds: Stevenson 11½-1 favorite (multi-store average)
- Also on the card: Jared Anderson versus George Arias, heavyweights; Keyshawn Davis vs. Anthony Yigit, lightweight
- Guess: Stevenson University
- Background: Stevenson is one of the few boxers capable of succeeding Terence Crawford as king of the weight. The 25-year-old from Newark will compete as an official 135-pound athlete for the first time after losing his 130-pound title on the scale before his defense against Robson Conceicao in September, which Stevenson won by a broad decision. That followed sensational back-to-back victories against the belt holder at the time Jamel Herring (KO 10) And Oscar Valdez (UD), which marked the talented Stevenson as one of the fastest rising stars in the sport. Yoshino is a significant loser (see above) but he is not one to be easily persuaded. The 31-year-old boxer from Tokyo, competing outside his hometown for the first time, showed his mettle with convincing victories over capable compatriot Masayuki Ito (TD) last April and Masayoshi Nakatani (KO 6) in November. Stevenson’s promoter, Bob Arum, said he wants Stevenson to take on the winner of a May 20 matchup between undisputed champion Devin Haney and his former employer. Vasiliy Lomachenko if Stevenson wins on Saturday.
