Stevenson remained unbeaten after his win over Artem Harutyunyan, but what’s next as he hits the open market?
Shakur Stevenson captured Olympic silver at the 2016 Games in Rio De Janeiro and, eight months later, made his pro debut with Top Rank.
Bob Arum, Top Rank’s founder and CEO, signed Stevenson as a 19-year-old, the only promoter the champion has ever worked with. Seven years later, their relationship is bound to change following Stevenson’s successful WBC lightweight title defense vs. Artem Harutyunyan on Saturday.
Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) was dominant — he was a -3500 favorite, per ESPN BET — but failed to deliver the thrilling victory he sought. There were boos down the stretch as Stevenson cruised to a unanimous decision victory against an overmatched opponent for the second consecutive fight. This time, the boos were from his hometown fans at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Stevenson, 27, said the jeers were aimed at Harutyunyan (12-2, 7 KOs) because “he ain’t really try to make the fight.” And while it’s true that neither Harutyunyan nor Edwin De Los Santos — Stevenson’s last opponent in November — truly pressed the action, the onus was on the supremely gifted Stevenson to find a way to finish his opponent.
Now, Stevenson will test free agency on the heels of an uneventful victory, not the statement-making performance he needed.
Stevenson turned down a five-fight extension with Top Rank, sources told ESPN, that would have guaranteed the boxer $3 million per bout.
He could sign with a rival promoter — PBC, Matchroom, Golden Boy, etc. — or remain a free agent and the flexibility that brings fighters such as Devin Haney or his mentor, Terence Crawford.
“I want to honestly start my own promotional company and just work with promoters and do a lot of short-term things so that way I’m not locked in and stuck to somebody”, Stevenson told ESPN last Sunday.
He lamented that he didn’t score the KO and while he blamed Harutyunyan, Stevenson also looked inward. The champion said he needed to improve his ability to cut off the ring.
Outside the ring, Stevenson will navigate uncharted waters. Eddie Hearn, chairman of Matchroom Sport, has publicly expressed interest in a deal with Stevenson.
