Shakur Stevenson reaches a new high against Oscar Valdez, and it looks like there’s more to come

Shakur Stevenson eases to victory versus Oscar Valdez in Las Vegas, writes Declan Warrington from ringside

AT the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night America’s Shakur Stevenson eased to victory against Oscar Valdez of Mexico, proving he is by some length the most effective fighter in the super-featherweight division.

He gained a unanimous conclusion and dropped Valdez in the sixth round.

Among all those viewed ringside before the begin of Valdez-Stevenson was Teofimo Lopez, who on a Top rated Rank bill 18 months earlier, also at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand, generated the greatest effectiveness of his occupation to defeat the good Vasiliy Lomachenko. The belief that he had matured into a fighter deserving of the maximum amount was justifiable, and but he has fought just once considering the fact that, shedding to George Kambosos Jnr on a evening when he was the major favourite, and then not coming shut to returning to the ring.

Stevenson experienced established himself at a high degree when he stopped Jamel Herring in October 2021, and, in contrast to Lopez, demonstrated in opposition to Valdez the extent to which that is probable to establish just the start.

Carrying himself to the ring like a fighter relishing his status as a titlist, he was as untroubled by the heavily professional-Mexican group as he was by Valdez’s aggression. Applying a the two sharp and precise jab he capitalised on his size edge to virtually instantly get manage.

As early as the finish of the next spherical he experienced uncovered to productively read and negate his sturdy, demonstrated opponent, and he thereafter proceeded to develop a convincing direct.

The knockdown, in the sixth spherical, convincingly captured what in the long run unfolded. Stevenson’s speed intended he landed a right hand just as Valdez swung his left and missed to the extent that the blend of his decline of balance and the punch he had just taken despatched him into the ropes and down. 

The exceptional Stevenson then turned pretty much disdainful of his opponent, managing the rate and variety of the combat and trying to keep Valdez where he understood he would continue on to frequently skip.

Lopez, Stevenson’s compatriot, followed his most important victory with the worst outcome of his career when he must have been moving into his key. Stevenson has currently recorded a new higher – and even revealed he has appreciably more to achieve.