Rising star Shakur Stevenson announced, Thursday, his plan to move up the weight class after he failed to gain weight before defending his scheduled title Friday night.
The WBC and WBO featherweight champion was set to defend his 130-pound titles against Robson Conceição (17-1, 8 KOs) at Prudential Center in Newark, Stevenson’s hometown, but had to vacate the belts afterwards. Weighs 131.6 pounds During the official weigh-ins on Thursday.
Fighting officials gave Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) a two-hour window to shed the weight but the first-class fighter refused, later saying in a tweet‘My health comes first’, before sharing decided to move to the £135 section.
“I gave it my all,” Stephenson wrote. “I have been a professional all my career and have gained weight, but my body can’t make 130 anymore. My health has to come first.”
According to Mike Coppinger of ESPN, Top Rank is currently seeking a solution so that the fighters can meet in the main event; Should the bout go ahead, only 33-year-old Conceicao, who weighed in at 129.6 pounds, will be able to pull off the belts if the 2016 Olympic gold medalist wins.
ESPN also reported that Stevenson is expected to be fined by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission, and likely have to forfeit some of the $3 million fight purse he is expected to earn in order to continue the fight.
Stevenson, 25, last fought in April in an unbalanced unanimous decision over Oscar Valdez to win the WBC title and vacancy. the ring Super heavy titles. He previously claimed the WBO belt after winning a 10-round TKO over Jamal Hering in October 2021.
A silver medalist at the 2016 Olympics, Stephenson is now moving from the division he dominated to start his career to a new challenge and a list of opportunities. Stevenson, from Sports IllustratedChris Mannix ranked seventh in his latest August rankings, and the numbers will be in a mix of notable bouts against fellow A-class boxers Devin Haney, the undisputed lightweight champion, and 135-pound Vassily Lomachenko. .
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