BoxRec

Source: Shakur Stevenson to head June 12 card on ESPN; Jeremiah Nakathila likely opponent

Shakur Stevenson will headline a June 12 card on ESPN in New York City, a source told ESPN.

The opponent is not finalized yet and might not be until following the Carl Frampton-Jamel Herring April 3 WBO junior lightweight title bout, but it most likely will be South African Jeremiah Nakathila (21-1, 17 KOs), according to a source. The WBO's No. 2 contender, Nakathila is on a 10-fight winning streak, all by knockouts.

Stevenson (15-0, 8 KOs), the WBO's No. 1 contender, has been waiting for a title opportunity since moving up to the junior lightweight division. He last fought in December, beating Toka Kahn Clary by unanimous decision, and his promoter, Top Rank, doesn't want to delay his return any longer.

Stevenson is expected to face the winner of the Frampton-Herring fight, a bout that has faced multiple delays in the past few months. Although a June bout with Frampton or Herring hasn't been ruled out, it would be a very tight turnaround to have them return to the ring just over two months later.

If a quick turnaround can't be made, Stevenson could end up fighting the Frampton-Herring winner in his next bout in the fall.

Rising super middleweight prospect Edgar Berlanga is expected to be on that card in his first 10-round bout, a source told ESPN, assuming he comes out clean of his April 24 bout against Demond Nicholson.

Berlanga's April and tentative June bouts are expected to be a step up in competition for an exciting prospect who has ended all of his fights by first round knockout. There's a shared desired to get Berlanga more rounds in 2021 as he continues his development.

The June 12 card will take place on Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend, which holds significance to Stevenson, whose late father was Puerto Rican.

Is this on Sky?

Dioufy wrote: ↑11 Jun 2021, 18:35 Is this on Sky?

Yup! Starts at 3am on Sky Sports Action.

Stevenson's career bores me, apart from picking up a title down at Featherweight its not much better than Conlan's, its like Bob Arum doesn't give much of a fvck these days, he just cost Fury a shot at the undisputed and a career best payday, Crawford and Lopez sound like they cant wait to get away from him too, why does he still bother these days??

I had a look through Nakathila's record, noticed he stopped Patrick Okine who fought Selby for the Commonwealth years back

handsofstone wrote: ↑12 Jun 2021, 03:16 Stevenson's career bores me, apart from picking up a title down at Featherweight its not much better than Conlan's, its like Bob Arum doesn't give much of a fvck these days, he just cost Fury a shot at the undisputed and a career best payday, Crawford and Lopez sound like they cant wait to get away from him too, why does he still bother these days??

I had a look through Nakathila's record, noticed he stopped Patrick Okine who fought Selby for the Commonwealth years back

I've not seen much of him but his clearly talented but he winds me up on twitter. Saying No one wants to fight constantly digging out herring who wants a unification. He forgets he turned down offers from hearn and Warren to fight in a unification over here. To give up his title and move up in nothing fights so far.

He is brilliant

handsofstone wrote: ↑12 Jun 2021, 03:16 Stevenson's career bores me, apart from picking up a title down at Featherweight its not much better than Conlan's, its like Bob Arum doesn't give much of a fvck these days, he just cost Fury a shot at the undisputed and a career best payday, Crawford and Lopez sound like they cant wait to get away from him too, why does he still bother these days??

I had a look through Nakathila's record, noticed he stopped Patrick Okine who fought Selby for the Commonwealth years back

Nakathila is a top level fighter, tall rangey, pop in the right hand, sets his punches up well etc. problem is Shakur is elite and a possible future all time great.

Nakathila is a policeman in Namibia..

Stevenson said no way he’s looking to a cop..

He ain’t losing to no 5-0..

Haha! Some of these boxers sound so childish.

i havent seen naka fight......but i have seen the 1 guy who beat him (chupa) and that guy is pretty bad. that's the only time naka boxed oiutside namabia.

cant imagine naka will manage much vs a guy as good as shak, this seems like another andrade vs kautonowaka type fight

Bob Arum's Top Rank Present: Stevenson vs. Nakathila

Date: Saturday, June 12, 2021
Start Time: 10:00 pm ET (Main) | 6:30 pm ET (Prelims) | 3am UK (Main)
Location: Virgin Hotels - Las Vegas, NV
US TV: ESPN (Main)
UK TV: Sky Sports (Main)
Streaming: ESPN+

Main Card (ESPN+, ESPN & Sky Sports)

Vacant WBO Super Featherweight Championship
Shakur Stevenson (15-0, 8 KOs) vs. Jeremiah Nakathila (21-1, 17 KOs)

10 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Jose Pedraza (28-3, 13 KOs) vss Julian Rodriguez (21-0, 14 KOs)


Prelims (ESPN+, 6:30 pm ET)

6 Round Welterweight Bout
Xander Zayas (8-0, 6 KOs) vs. Larry Fryers (11-3, 4 KOs)

8 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Tyler McCreary (16-1-1, 7 KOs) vs. Manuel Rey Rojas (20-5, 6 KOs)

8 Round Super Lightweight Bout
John Bauza (14-0, 5 KOs) vs. Christon Edwards (12-2, 6 KOs)

6 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Bryan Lua (7-0, 3 KOs) vs. Frevian Gonzalez (4-0, 1 KOs)

4 Round Middleweight Bout
Troy Isley (1-0, 0 KOs) vs. LaQuan Evans (4-1, 2 KOs)

4 Round Welterweight Bout
Jahi Tucker (3-0, 2 KOs) vs. Ysrael Barboza (3-1-1, 3 KOs)

4 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Kasir Goldston (2-0, 1 KO) vs. Maurice Anthony (3-1, 3 KOs)

Pedraza dominated Rodriguez. It was target practise for Pedraza. Switched stances, toyed with Rodriguez. It was hard to give a round for Rodriguez. Pedraza worked well from the distance, threw jabs from both stances, followed up well. Rodriguez was clueless. Just a gap in the level. Rodriguez retired after the 8th.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑12 Jun 2021, 16:45 Nakathila is a policeman in Namibia..

Stevenson said no way he’s looking to a cop..

He ain’t losing to no 5-0..

Haha! Some of these boxers sound so childish.

maybe he's still upset he got arrested for assaulting a dude and dudette

shak's good, but he's an absolute stinker, and no, nakathila isnt top level.

A bloody awful bout. Another mismatched main event. There was a huge gap in levels. Nakathila didn't know what to do and didn't try much. Stevenson was outboxing Nakathila with a minimal effort. A totally boring affair, absolutely lackluster. And that goddamn foot fetish referee was annoying with that "Watch the feet" all night long. Snoozenson gotta have a real test.

I dont understand how blown up records still make you a main event. the internet exists, you cant just pretend this 20-1 nabibian is world class, because people will just look at there record and go... nahhh. But they still try it.

Was this opponent forced by the WBO? A predictable mismatch made worse by Stevenson’s lack of desire to go for the stoppage.

They stupid modern boxers get addicted to being gun-shy. Such mismatches are as good as working on the heavy bag. There simply was no effort from Nakathila, while he was vulnerable. Snoozeson literally let Nakathila hear the final bell. Yet you can progress only when you are pushed to the limit. There will be no surprise, if Sh!tkur gets pulverized, when he steps up after his bum diet.

That was dire to watch, i had Stevenson ahead 119-109 but it was boring as hell, round 1 same as round 12, Stevenson never seemed interested in changing things up and going through the gears, was just content to jab Nakathila and occasionally come over with the straight left, wasnt always effective though, its just that Nakathila barely landed a shot all night, Stevenson scored a flash KD in the 4th when he caught Nakathila with a right hook coming in but all in all a sparring session for Stevenson

I really like Stevenson but that was snoozeville.

Massively disappointed to see Sky going with their own commentary team.

Though Chris and Barry are excellent, really good chemistry - you can tell Barry likes him which wasn’t the case with John Rawlling, who it was obvious he thought was a bit of a putz ( Barry’s quite droll, and JR has no sense of humour at all ) it’s just you know numb nuts is going to appear for the “big fights” as a treat for us fans

Calzaghe used to punch out their combined punches thrown in 6 rounds, abysmal

Just got the chance to watch this, very forgettable fight. Those punch outputs are horrendous. Shakur has a lot of ability but I was surprised to see him coast so much against a limited opponent.

Just caught up with this… what the hell was Nakathila? Off balance every shot he threw and helped create a stinker of a fight. Shakur didn’t cover himself in glory just throwing counter lefts all night.
Hopefully the Herring fight is easier on the eye.

The ref was smoking some shit in that fight… “watch your feet”.

Dioufy wrote: ↑15 Jun 2021, 08:04 Just caught up with this… what the hell was Nakathila? Off balance every shot he threw and helped create a stinker of a fight. Shakur didn’t cover himself in glory just throwing counter lefts all night.
Hopefully the Herring fight is easier on the eye.

The ref was smoking some shit in that fight… “watch your feet”.

Even Dan Rafael was getting pissed off.. He was tweeting, 'Watch your feet!"