Shakur Stevenson


Ash-Shakur Nafi-Shahid Stevenson is an American professional boxer who held the WBO featherweight title from 2019 to July 2020. As an amateur, Stevenson represented the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in the bantamweight division.

Personal life

A native of Newark, New Jersey, Stevenson is the oldest of nine siblings, born to Shahid Guyton and Malikah Stevenson. He took up boxing at age five under his grandfather Wali Moses and cites Andre Ward as his influence.

Amateur career

Stevenson had a very successful career at the Youth Level, winning the 2014 AIBA Youth World Championships and 2014 Summer Youth Olympics. In 2015 he won the Senior U.S. Olympic Trials, thus qualifying for the U.S. boxing team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. In Rio, Stevenson won a silver medal, losing to Robeisy Ramírez of Cuba in the gold medal match. He was the highest-medaling male for the USA.

World Series of Boxing record

Professional career

Stevenson turned professional on February 9, 2017 signing a promotional contract with Top Rank. He signed Andre Ward as his manager.
Bob Arum told Ringtv that Stevenson would likely make his debut on a stacked card at the StubHub Center in Carson, California on April 22, 2017. Stevenson showed off his quickness, defense and punching skills as he won his first professional fight against American boxer Edgar Brito. Stevenson won via fifth round technical decision. Brito was cut on the left eye after an accidental headbutt in round 2. In round 3, he was deducted a point for intentionally headbutting Stevenson. From his own intentional headbutts, Brito suffered a cut over his right eye. The ringside physician stopped the bout. Stevenson was ahead on all three judges scorecards and won every round.
In an official press release on May 3, it was confirmed that Stevenson would make his Madison Square Garden debut on undercard of the Crawford vs. Díaz world light welterweight championship fight on May 20, 2017. His opponent was announced as Argentine boxer Carlos Suarez. Stevenson won the bout after 2 minutes and 35 seconds of the first round. Suarez was knocked down before the stoppage. Stevenson's third bout took place at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, again on the undercard of Terrence Crawford, this time his unification fight against Julius Indongo on August 19, 2017. Stevenson fought his second straight Argentine opponent, David Michel Paz in a scheduled six-round fight. Stevenson easily outpointed Paz over 6 rounds winning 60-53 on all three scorecards. In round 5, Paz was knocked down following a straight left. Stevenson seemed comfortable and patient in letting the fight go the distance. On November 20, Top Rank confirmed 26-year-old Mexican Oscar Mendoza as Stevenson's opponent, which would take place on the undercard of Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux on December 9, 2017 at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City, New York.
Stevenson's first fight for 2018 was announced on February 7 to take place at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino's Grand Theater in Reno, Nevada on February 16 against Juan Tapia in a scheduled 8 round bout. Stevenson easily outpointed Tapia, winning 80-72 on all three judges' scorecards. Stevenson showed defensive improvements in the fight, boxed with his jab and worked to the body. He used the distance well, allowing Tapia to land only one punch at a time.

Arrest

According to a police report, Shakur Stevenson and another boxer, David Grayton, were involved in an altercation in a South Beach parking garage. The two fighters made comments to a group of people in a parking garage, including two women to whom they directed sexual innuendo, which sparked an altercation. Stevenson was arrested on July 1, 2018 and charged with misdemeanor battery. He was sentenced on June 18, 2019 to a year of probation, 50 hours of community service and ordered to pay the victims' medical expenses. Stevenson, of Newark, New Jersey, was celebrating his 21st birthday with friends in South Beach when the incident occurred, the report said.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
14Win14–0 Felix CaraballoKO6, 1:31Jun 9, 2020MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S..png" />
13Win13–0 Joet GonzalezUD12Oct 26, 2019 Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant WBO featherweight title
12Win12–0 Alberto Guevara3, 2:37Jul 13, 2019 Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.Retained WBO-NABO featherweight title
11Win11–0 Christopher DiazUD10Apr 20, 2019 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained IBF Inter-Continental title;
Won vacant WBO-NABO featherweight title
10Win10–0 Jessie Cris RosalesTKO4, 1:29Jan 18, 2019 Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, U.S.Won vacant IBF Inter-Continental and WBC Continental Americas featherweight titles
9Win9–0 Viorel SimionTKO1, 3:00Oct 13, 2018 CHI Health Center, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
8Win8–0 Carlos RuizUD8Aug 18, 2018 Ocean Resort Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
7Win7–0 Aelio MesquitaTKO2, 1:45Jun 9, 2018 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
6Win6–0 Roxberg Patrick RileyTKO2, 1:35Apr 28, 2018 Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
5Win5–0 Juan TapiaUD8Feb 16, 2018 Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
4Win4–0 Oscar MendozaTKO2, 1:38Dec 9, 2017 The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
3Win3–0 David Michel Paz6Aug 19, 2017 Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
2Win2–0 Carlos Gaston Suarez1, 2:35May 20, 2017 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1Win1–0 Edgar Brito6, 3:00Apr 22, 2017 Stubhub Center, Carson, California, U.S.Fight stopped after Brito cut from accidental head clash