American Shakur Stevenson beat Brazilian Robson Conceiçao by unanimous decision on Saturday in Newark, but cannot retain his WBC, WBO and Ring Magazine super featherweight belts after exceeding the weight limit at the weigh-in.
Stevenson, dominating throughout, without however managing to send his opponent to the mat, was declared the winner by the three judges (117-109, 118-108, 117-109).
The 25-year-old American boxer worked a lot on his opponent’s body, to better lower his guard and place his hooks, most of the time from the left. In the 6th round, he chained four which seriously shook Conceiçao.
The latter, very catchy in contact, with his disconcerting supports and his atypical boxing, attempted a last stand in the 9th and 10th rounds, before brushing against the correctional next when Stevenson hit him with a big right. Without however managing to finish the work.
“As soon as I got inside he grabbed me. He was really clumsy and really tough,” commented the man who now has 18 wins (9 before the limit) in as many fights.
But this does not allow him to keep his titles, because he was stripped of them on Friday during the weigh-in. The scale has indeed displayed 59.692 kg, or 725 grams above the authorized weight limit (58.967 kg) for super-feathers.
Only Conceiçao could take it if they won. What he did not succeed, conceding at 23 his second defeat in 19 clashes (17 victories).
“I had a long week. I killed myself to get within the weight limits. All I wanted was to perform,” said Stevenson, who just needs to regain these vacant belts.