On Saturday night, undefeated former two-weight world champion Shakur Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) will take on Japanese puncher Shuichiro Yoshino (16-0, 12 KOs) in a 12-round WBC lightweight title eliminator this Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
In the co-feature, heavyweight Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson (13-0, 13 KOs) faces fellow unbeaten George Arias (18-0, 7 KOs) in a 10-rounder. U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (7-0, 5 KOs) meets his stiffest challenge yet in the 10-round lightweight televised opener against former title challenger Anthony Yigit (26-2-1, 10 KOs).
“It feels great to be back home,” Stevenson said at Thursday’s press conference. “It feels great to be back in front of my fans and family. I’m enjoying myself, and I just can’t wait for Saturday. I’m really excited for Saturday. But is he ready for Saturday? That’s the real question. He walks around here with a smile, and I can’t wait to wipe that smile off his face.”
Stevenson, 25, is fighting at 135 pounds for the first time in his pro career and hopes to make his mark in that division. Some have questioned Stevenson’s power, including Yoshino, but according to the Newark native, Yoshino will taste his power on Saturday night.
“This dude been running around here saying that I don’t have any power,” Stevenson said. “He’s been saying that he’s going to push me mentally. Let’s see if he’s ready to go to deep waters with me. I’m going to drown him…
“You’re going to see everything in the arsenal. I’m going to go out there and box him. I’m going to beat him up. He’s going to leave that ring knowing that I’m the best fighter he’s ever been in the ring with.”
Yoshino, 31, is fighting outside of Japan for the first time in his career, and his best win was over Masayoshi Nakatani, who he KO’d in his last fight. Yoshino believes he’ll have a solid plan to defeat Stevenson.
“I’m excited to fight for the WBC title,” he said through a translator. “This opportunity is really going to change my place in boxing…
“My trainer and I have been studying Shakur. We have a game plan to implement on Saturday.”
Yoshino is a pressure fighter, so his style should make for an interesting night. However, it’s hard to imagine that he can beat Stevenson, especially in Newark.
Stevenson-Yoshino, Anderson-Arias & Davis-Yigit will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
The ESPN+-streamed undercard (7 p.m ET/4 p.m. PT) includes Polish heavyweight Damian Knyba (10-0, 6 KOs) and Brooklyn-born featherweight phenom Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (6-0, 3 KOs).
Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Leave a Reply