Undefeated American Shakur Stevenson stopped Felix Caraballo with a punishing body shot in the sixth round on Tuesday to win the main event of boxing’s first major fight card since the start of the coronavirus outbreak.
The 22-year-old Stevenson easily won the 10-round non-title fight by delivering a devastating left hand to Caraballo’s rib cage for the knockdown at 1:31 of the sixth round. Stevenson, who is the World Boxing Organisation featherweight champ, completely dominated the Puerto Rican to improve to 14-0 with eight knockouts.
There were no fans allowed into the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino conference center because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. “It’s a different atmosphere,” Stevenson said. “Losing the weight was different. Training in the gym was different. I couldn’t be around anybody. Even when fighting and there was no crowd was different. I would catch him with mean shots and there would be no ‘Ooohs’ or ‘Aaahs.’”
Stevenson also forced Caraballo to take a knee in the first round. Stevenson said he injured his left hand in the fifth round but was still able to land solid blows. “I hit him with everything I could early. I wobbled him a bunch of times. He took a lot of punishment, and I started realizing that head shots weren’t going to get him out of here. So I started going to the body more,” Stevenson said.
Stevenson, who is black, wore a T-shirt reading “Black Lives Matter” for his post-fight interview. “My people right now, they’re protesting and there’s a lot going on in our community, a lot of people trying to stand up for what’s right,” he said.
“I couldn’t really go out there and protest with them because I had a fight coming up and I didn’t want to risk catching corona. Now that the fight is over, I’ll go out there and protest. Mask up, gloved up, I’ll go out there and help my people out.”
Joshua and Fury agree
terms on two-fight deal,
says promoter Hearn
British world heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have agreed financial terms for a two-fight deal, promoter Eddie Hearn said. The discussions over an undisputed world heavyweight title showdown between the two fighters began in early May and they have now agreed on initial terms for two encounters.
Joshua holds the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts, while Fury is the reigning WBC champion. “We’re making great progress,” Joshua’s promoter Hearn told Sky Sports News.
“There is still a lot to overcome. We are looking at venues and dates. We have the Dillian Whyte mandatory which is due before this fight. It’s fair to say (Joshua and Fury) are in agreement regarding the financial terms of the fight.”
Joshua won back his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts from Mexican-American Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia last December. His next fight was due to be against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev on June 20 but it was put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Fury has to face Whyte in a mandatory bout by February 2021, and is also contracted to face Deontay Wilder for a third time. Fury overpowered Wilder in their Las Vegas rematch in February, claiming the WBC crown with a seventh round stoppage. They had previously fought to a draw in December 2018.
“I’m just got off the phone with (advisor) Daniel Kinahan. He’s just informed me the biggest fight in British boxing history has been agreed,” Fury said in a video posted on his Twitter account.
Undefeated American Shakur Stevenson stopped Felix Caraballo with a punishing body shot in the sixth round to win the main event of boxing’s first major fight card since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. (AFP)
