Shakur Stevenson: record, next fight and profile →
Jamel Herring planned to use this weekend as a business trip, although recent stories have put into question what exactly lies ahead for the reigning WBO junior lightweight titlist.
Stevenson, Nakathila Weights Photos Gallery - Shakur Stevenson (15-0, 8 KOs), a former WBO featherweight world champion, will battle Jeremiah Nakathila (21-1, 17 KOs) for the vacant WBO interim junior lightweight world title at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. (photos by Mikey Williams)
Jeremiah Nakathila’s height advantage over Shakur Stevenson was obvious as they stood face-to-face Friday after they made weight. Namibia’s Nakathila stands approximately three inches taller than the 5-foot-7 Stevenson. He also believes he is a bigger puncher than Stevenson and will knock out the former WBO featherweight champion in their 12-round, 130-pound championship match Saturday night.
Jeremiah Nakathila calmly promised Thursday to produce a huge upset Saturday night. The unknown Namibian contender is very confident in his power, so much that he believes he’ll knock out Shakur Stevenson in their 12-round, 130-pound championship match. ESPN will televise their fight for the WBO interim junior lightweight title as the main event of a doubleheader from Virgin Hotels Las Vegas (10 p.m. EDT).
Stevenson, Nakathila Final Press Conference Photos Gallery - Shakur Stevenson doesn't know much about Saturday's opponent, Namibian puncher Jeremiah Nakathila, but don't expect him to step off the gas. Stevenson (15-0, 8 KOs), a former WBO featherweight world champion, will battle Nakathila (21-1, 17 KOs) for the vacant WBO interim junior lightweight world title at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. (photos by Mikey Williams)
By Corey Erdman - From an early age, Shakur Stevenson craved competition. As the story goes, from the time he was a toddler he and his grandfather Wali Moses watched fight tapes together every morning right after breakfast. As a boxing coach, Wali would critique the fighters on the screen, and Shakur would imitate what he saw, shadowboxing throughout the house.
Jeremiah Nakathila and his team praise the WBO’s decision on sanctioning an interim title fight between him and mandatory challenger Shakur Stevenson.
WBC super featherweight champion Oscar Valdez is still riding high after his sensational knockout of heavily favored Miguel "Alacran'' Berchelt. Valdez, now a two-division world champion, is looking for the biggest possibilities out there.
There remains unfinished business at junior lightweight for Jamel Herring. BoxingScene.com has learned that the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) 130-pound titlist intends to keep his title and commit to facing the winner of the June 12 interim title fight between Shakur Stevenson and Namibia’s Jeremiah Nakathila (21-1, 17KOs). The latter part was a condition placed by the WBO in permitting Herring (23-2, 11KOs) to move forward with his oft-postponed optional defense versus Carl Frampton earlier this month.
Newly crowned WBC junior lightweight world champion Oscar Valdez’s first title defense is likely to come against amateur nemesis Robson Conceicao in August or September, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told BoxingScene on Monday.