Having become a four-division champion with a clear win over Teofimo Lopez in Madison Square Garden, Shakur Stevenson talked about the keys to his victory.
Stevenson, among other things, urged young fighters to understand the importance of the jab and he told fighters how important it was to study tape of their opponents.
“It was an amazing night, I stayed disciplined all the way through my camp,” Newark’s Stevenson said. “I was in tremendous shape. Teo is a helluva fighter but I was the better man tonight. “
Stevenson, now 25-0 (11 KOs), claimed the WBO title at 140lbs with the win, claiming 119-109 scores across the board. Stevenson said he felt like he demoralised his opponent.
“I definitely did,” he added. “He’s a fighter, so he tried to fight back but I picked him apart. In the second round, I told my corner, ‘I’m stronger than he is.’
“I hurt him a couple of times, my jab, my left hand to the body, my left hand up top. I put on a great show tonight.”
Was he disappointed not to get a stoppage?
“It’s no disappointment. It’s boxing at the end of the day. I seen him go out there when I was about to stop him and he started fighting back a little bit, so respect to him. He’s a sharp fighter, he’s got a lot of knowledge and he did what he needed to do to survive…. I told you he wasn’t on my level, and I proved it tonight.
“I studied him… everything I seen was there tonight. There is benefit from watching tape.
“I’ve been calling people out and Teo took the bait. Finally, someone took the bait. I was begging for this moment and we finally got it…. Tonight, I went out there and I just used my jab over and over, made it a weapon and he couldn’t stop it.”
Gifted southpaw Stevenson said he took a phonecall from Floyd Mayweather wishing him well before the fight and was asked whether he was the next Mayweather.
“I’ve got a lot of love for Floyd, but I’m the first Shakur Stevenson,” said the Newark star.
