SHAKUR STEVENSON FIGHTS FIRST 10-ROUNDER ON ESPN SATURDAY 10/13

[Best Coast]

Stevenson faces Romanian Viorel Simion in the co-main event of Saturday's Crawford-Benevidez world welter title bout.

https://fightnews.com/opponent-switch-d ... more-31891

Duarn “The Storm” Vue, the #13 ranked featherweight by the WBA is out with an injury and new opponent Romanian Viorel Simion (21-2, 9 KOs), will step in to face Shakur Stevenson (8-0, 4 KOs). Simion vs Stevenson will be the co-main event on this Saturday night’s ESPN/Top Rank world championship card featuring 2018 ESPN fighter of the year, Terence “Bud” Crawford vs. WBA #1 ranked welterweight Jose Benavidez Jr at the CHI Health Center located in downtown Omaha, Nebraska.

Simion, 36, amassed well over 300 amateur fights and represented Romania in the 2004 Olympics. The former IBF-Continental featherweight champion is coming off a unanimous decision loss to former world champion, Scott Quigg 34-2-2 (25), back in April of 2017. Another highlight in the battle-tested career of Simion was when he went 12 full rounds with former world titlist, Lee Selby back in 2013.

Simion made it to the quarterfinals of the Athens Olympics and won bronze medals at the 2005 World Championships and 2002 European Championships. With over 300 amateur bouts and international success at amateur level, Simion was touted for pro success but he didnt quite live up to expectations in the pro ranks. Nonetheless he should provide Stevenson with a good learning experience in Shakur's first 10-rounder.

[siablo14]

Cool. Should be more evenly matched than the main event.

[Cent0089]

If SStevenson can defeat this guy without problems, then maybe 1-2 fights and hes ready for title shot

[Best Coast]

If Stevenson can defeat this guy without problems, then maybe 1-2 fights and hes ready for title shot

Even more impressive to me than the step up in opposition is the fact that he showed up a few weeks early to train with Terence Crawford and TC's trainer BoMac. Here's a quote from further down in the ESPN article I posted above:

Shakur, a southpaw from Newark, NJ, has been up in Colorado Springs training alongside Crawford for several weeks and ESPN boxing analyst, and lead trainer/manager for Crawford, Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, stated “Shakur will be a world champion within a year or two, he’s ahead of the competition, the scary thing is he hasn’t even grown into his man strength yet.”

Stevenson would state “I’m excited to fight in Nebraska again. The first time I fought here (August 2017 in Lincoln) they gave me a warm welcome. Terrence’s family gives me a lot of love and support every time I fought on one of his cards. I’m also excited to be the co-main event against a seasoned vet."

There's not too many fistic mentors Shakur could find better than Crawford right now. Plus Colorado Springs is almost 7,000 feet in altitude...a great place to enhance your endurance/cardio. Shakur is an East Coast guy and there is nowhere near that elevation east of the Rockies!!

[victor-romeo]

I wonder if Stevenson meets Loma in the ring one day?

[Best Coast]

I wonder if Stevenson meets Loma in the ring one day?

Maybe, but they are 10 years apart so it would probably be about 3 years from now if Loma stays active til age 33.

[victor-romeo]

On a slightly another topic I think Shakur opponent tonight is like 37 or 38 years old? Based on that fact alone I don't see the older man have any chance of winning due to his age..

[Best Coast]

On a slightly another topic I think Shakur opponent tonight is like 37 or 38 years old? Based on that fact alone I don't see the older man have any chance of winning due to his age..

Good point. The guy was picked because he is a cagey veteran who has never been stopped. He provided Lee Selby with a good learning experience and should do the same for Stevenson;

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/box ... gh-5100130

Wales ace Lee Selby admitted he still has plenty to learn despite joining the boxing elite with a hard-fought victory over rugged Romanian Viorel Simion.

Selby’s rapid rise at domestic level over the last 18 months has produced plenty of fireworks with the Barry featherweight talent tipped for the very top of the sport.

But the 26-year-old British and Commonwealth champion was worked harder than ever before at Hull’s Craven Park as the previously undefeated Simion showed ability and courage becoming of someone ranked four by the WBC.

Simion never lost heart despite being outboxed in the opening half of the fight and his no-nonsense come-forward approach troubled a tiring Selby in the closing stages.

[TheBeast]

Shakur Stevenson 8 0 0
vs
Viorel Simion 21 2 0
vacant World Boxing Council Continental Americas Featherweight Title

Shakur destroyed Simion



FULL CARD HIGHLIGHTS HERE:
http://www.the13thround.com/phpBB2/view ... 8&t=128464

ENJOY!!

[Best Coast]

Thanks for that. I was actually surprised by Stevenson in that fight!! First time he's really shown any punching power.

[ironbeard]

Cool. Should be more evenly matched than the main event.

Not exactly.

[siablo14]

Cool. Should be more evenly matched than the main event.

Not exactly.

Sure wasnt..........