Stevenson outpoints Valdez in dominating win
WORLD Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Shakur Stevenson handed Oscar Valdez the first loss of his career on Sunday (PH time) in a junior lightweight championship bout.
What some thought could be a fight of the year candidate turned into a one-sided boxing clinic.
Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) won by unanimous decision and took Valdez’s WBC belt with the victory.
Stevenson displayed faster hands, exquisite footwork, and overall better boxing skills than Valdez. Stevenson outpunched his opponent 189-110 and landed 53% of his power punches.
Judge Tim Cheatham had the fight scored 117-110, while Dave Moretti and David Sutherland had it 118-109.
“This victory means everything,” said Stevenson, who is looking to win every belt at 130 pounds and unify the division. “I told ya’ll what I was going to do. I said I’m gonna beat Valdez, Canelo (Alvarez), and Eddy Reynoso, so that was my game plan. Beat the whole team and I feel good about it. Much respect to them, but that was my game plan.”