Shakur Enters The P4P

Shakur Stevenson unified two world titles in the 130 lbs division defeating previously unbeaten world champion and two-time Olympian Oscar Valdez in the main event of a Top Rank ESPN boxing card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Saturday night. 

In short, Stevenson looks like a young legend. Calm, poised, and technically great. When Shakur fights like this it is hard to imagine he will lose. Stevenson fought a great fighter, and the novice fight fan, that might have thought it was a showcase because Stevenson dictated the terms of the fight from the opening bell. 

Stevenson is slowly amassing a credible world title run across two divisions as he now has held three world title belts in two divisions, featherweight, and super featherweight, and made his intentions clear he has his eyes set on lightweight for the near future. 

By the end of the year, Stevenson should be one of Top Rank’s main fighters that headline big events.

The question is, will the fans be compelled by one of the most talented fighters in the sport, or will they view Stevenson as an unbeatable fighter who doesn’t entertain. I would like to think the sport of boxing would come first, but the question will be up in the air for the coming years.

undercard

A future headliner, Keyshawn Davis continues to get solid wins to start his career, as the 2020 lightweight Olympic silver medalist, continues to show why he is one of the most offensively gifted fighters of the next generation. 

Nico Ali Walsh got a highlight-reel KO in the first-round. Walsh is improving and his commit to the sport is showing growth, and it seems his connection with Richard Slone, his new head coach has also helped as well.

Raymond Muratalla knocked out very tough gatekeeper Jeremy Hill in a fight that showed Muratalla is ready for the top-15 of the division.

Andres Cortes picked up a KO on the undercard in his first fight being official signed by Top Rank Inc. Cortes is a big puncher.

Troy Isley continues to look like a future middleweight star as he stopped his opponent. I expect Isley to be a main eventer in this next decade, often.

Abdullah Mason got a knockout win over tough veteran Luciano Ramos.

Jaylan Phillips got a draw with undefeated Antoine Cobb in the opening bout. Phillips, who trains at City Boxing Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, seemed to be the fighter the media favored in the bout, but I didn’t watch it extremely closely to have an opinion.

Taylor Beats Serrano

Katie Taylor the great. 

Rarely do European fighters come to America, and win – though this fight will be debated about who won as the split decision left a cliffhanger, which will surely see a rematch. Taylor won on the cards, and more so proved any doubters wrong. 

Fighting Amanda Serrano in Serrano’s hometown of New York City, Taylor got an early lead, and took heavy shots in the fifth and tenth round – which she was able to withstand, leading to her winning the fight. 

This wasn’t a fight that saw one fighter become great, and the other become less than. 

No.

This saw two queens of the ring get crowned. Amanda Serrano had a very good case to say she won the fight, and Taylor showed the conviction guts of any fighter ever. 

This was the greatest bout in women’s boxing history, fitting of the being the first one to headline a historic arena.