Superstar in waiting
LAS VEGAS, NV
APRIL 30
IF OCTOBER’S victory over Jamel Herring was the night the talented Shakur Stevenson matured into a convincing world-level fighter, Saturday’s, over Óscar Valdez, was when he blossomed into one of the élite.
He had long been recognised as one of the world’s most promising fighters, but at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand, where so many other greats furthered their reputations before him, the world super-featherweight champion so convincingly outboxed his strongest divisional rival that he demonstrated that for the coming years he will remain one of the very best.
At 24 Stevenson, whose significant advantage in size over a titlist seven years his senior unquestionably contributed much to his dominance, boxed with a maturity beyond his years, complementing the athleticism that will no doubt take
