Shakur Stevenson dazzles with third-round KO of Alberto Guevara in Newark homecoming, calls out Josh Warrington

Mark Lelinwalla

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Shakur Stevenson dazzles with third-round KO of Alberto Guevara in Newark homecoming, calls out Josh Warrington image

The only thing that Shakur Stevenson’s Newark, N.J., homecoming was missing was some gold around his waist, but by the looks of the 22-year-old's upward projection, a world title might not be too far away.

Stevenson (12-0, seven KOs) dazzled in his hometown Saturday night, dropping Alberto Guevara three times en route to an emphatic third-round knockout at the Prudential Center and live on ESPN.

Stevenson used a stiff left hand to put Guevara down for the second time in the second round; that spelled the beginning of the end, which came when he battered the body before going upstairs with a vicious left hook that produced the highlight-reel finish he was seeking.

More importantly, the victory inches Stevenson even closer to the featherweight world title shot for which he yearned well prior to this fight.

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"Top Rank, y'all gotta get me better competition," the southpaw with a megawatt smile said during his postfight interview on ESPN as he called out the promotion company under which he fights. “I want the world champions: Oscar Valdez, [Leo] Santa Cruz, I want the world champions. Y'all gotta get me better competition. That guy came in there, he ain’t want no smoke."

“I want the IBF and the WBO,” he continued. “Josh Warrington got the IBF, Oscar Valdez got the WBO. I’m No. 1 in the WBO and I’m No. 3 in the IBF, so I think it’s that time."

Stevenson said he would cross the pond to challenge Warrington for his IBF strap.

 

 

Warrington didn't take long to respond, as he welcomed the challenge from Stevenson, but only after the Newark product grabs a belt of his own first.

 

 

Prior to this fight, Stevenson's manager, retired boxing great Andre Ward, claimed on his Twitter account that seven to eight credible boxers turned down a fight against his young charge. With five knockouts in his last seven fights, it’s easy to see why.

How soon will Stevenson be able to get the world title shot that he so covets?

Co-main event: Joshua Greer Jr. edges Nikolai Potapov by majority decision (116-112, 115-113, 114-114); bantamweights

Potapov was more of a game pest than Greer might have anticipated, but Greer did just enough to secure a victory in which two of the judges scored the bout in his favor. The win will likely keep him ranked among the top 10 bantamweights.

The 25-year-old Greer improved to 21-1-1 with the victory.

Undercard results

  • Josue Vargas def. Manuel Damairias Lopez by seventh-round TKO; junior welterweights
  • Vito Mielnicki Jr def. Tamarcus Smith via first-round KO; junior welterweights
  • Julian Rodriguez def. Hevinson Herrera by first-round KO; junior welterweights
  • John Bauza def. Angel Sarinana via unanimous decision; junior welterweights
  • Vijender Singh def. Mike Snider by fourth-round TKO; super middleweights
  • Joseph Adorno def. Adriano Ramirez via second-round KO; lightweights

Mark Lelinwalla

Mark Lelinwalla Photo

Mark Lelinwalla is a contributing writer and editor for DAZN News. He has written for the likes of the New York Daily News, Men's Health, The Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, Complex, XXL and Vibe Magazine.