Looking like a well-dressed banker, challenger Artem Harutyunyan beat WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson by submission today in their final press conference for their twelve-round main event fight this Saturday, July 6 on ESPN at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. .
(Mandatory Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
Shakur’s Price on the Line
Harutyunyan (13-1, 7 KOs) anointed Shakur (21-0, 10 KOs) as a token of gratitude for being given this golden lead date that lost to Frank Martin last year in July 2023, and is not eligible for a shot. opportunity.
Top Rank selected the 34-year-old Harutyunyan in Shakur’s final fight of his contract with them, which may be their way of enticing him to re-sign. They could have given Shakur a tough opponent like William Zepeda, and he could have lost to him or, more likely, turned into something worse like his last fight against Edwin De Los Santos.
That would not help Top Rank because it would make Shakur ineligible to offer a new contract. His value will sink even further than it is now, and it’s about as bad as it can get for a world champion who started his career on a high note.
Top Rank threw Shakur a bone by selecting the slow-hitting Harutyunyan as the opponent, also defeated by Frank Martin.
You can only imagine the run Shakur would have made if Bob Arum had chosen to kick him in the rear by fighting Zepeda, Abdullah Mason, or Raymond Muralla to get him out the door as a free agent.
Harutyunyan’s Oscar-Worthy Acting Performance
“We both fought in the Olympics. He got a silver medal, and I got a bronze medal. Now, we are fighting for the world champion, WBC,” said Artem Harutyunyan at today’s final press conference for his fight with WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson this Saturday night, July 6, in Newark, New Jersey.
“I don’t like that. You’re really trying to put yourself down, you’re trying to smear me like you’re not going to win. No, you will win. I already know,” said Shakur Stevenson.
“Some people say I should wear running shoes in this fight, but it’s a joke,” said Harutyunyan.
“That s*** was a **,” Shakur said.
“Shakur Stevenson, you have to give him respect. Most fighters don’t want to fight him. As Shakur once said, ‘They’re all ducks.’ I think so, but I took that chance. I want to do this fight,” said Harutyunyan. “He’s a good fighter. Give him the honor and respect he deserves, and, of course, this will be a great event, a great night.
“I want to show the fans a good boxing game,” said Harutyunyan.
“I’m going to take him to a level he’s never been to,” Shakur said.
“You can’t compare Frank Martin to Shakur Stevenson. Every striker is different,” said Harutyunyan.
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