Shakur Stevenson steps in with a championship game in 2023. The undefeated American, who has a record of 19-0.9 KOs, will face the same undefeated Japanese Shuichiro Yoshino (16-0, 12 KOs).

The winner is almost certain to fight for all lightweight belts. Or a high-profile standoff against Gervonta Davis or Ryan Garcia. The second option is more realistic for Shakur than for his opponent.

Shakur moved up in the lightweight division after winning the previous category. This will be his first fight.

Shakur Stevenson is currently one of the top young American boxing stars. Not the youngest – Absolute champion Devin Haney is a year younger but still. Shakur is 25 years old and in the second featherweight division (up to 58.97 kg), he did not become an absolute because he did not want to.

The last year has been great for the Americans. He continued the baton he started when he retired in late 2021, surpassing former U.S. boxing captain Jermaine Herring. In the tenth round, Shakur won by technical knockout, confirming that he is one of the most promising fighters in the world.

Stevenson went on to beat the best the following year. In a mega-fight against Oscar Valdez in the spring of 2022, Shakur left his opponent no chance. If in the case of Herring everything can be attributed to age, then it is not here. Oscar entered the ring as an undefeated young champion and left as a loser and broke in class.

The last to lose in the previous three fights, Valdez’s last opponent. While Robson Conceicao isn’t the second strongest fighter in the second featherweight division, he can definitely be counted in the top 3. A technical and long-sleeved Brazilian, fast and strong. Smart, with a strong amateur base. As a result, Shakur didn’t show his best fight in his career, but he won confidently.

Then there was the road to absolute championship. Stevenson had two titles – WBC and WBO – and had time to take two more belts in two fights and then engage in an undisputed champion battle with the one who held all the lightweight titles. If only that had been the case by then. But Shakur chose a different path.

With his size, it was increasingly difficult for him to stay within the framework of the previous division, so in fact, Stevenson, who, although not officially, had placed himself in the status of the strongest fighter in the second featherweight, moved on to the lightweight. One of the most competitive, demanding and stellar weight classes in boxing right now.

On the one hand, the duel of two absolutes sounds great. On the other hand, we all know that Shakur Stevenson is the strongest out there. Therefore, it was necessary to advance until the belts were scattered around, and you can take advantage of the moment when the title of the fighter of the promotion company is Top Rank. Working with Bob Arum definitely feels like Devin Haney. Vasily Lomachenko has a contract. So is Stevenson. Arum can spin his fighters as he pleases and will always remain in black.

For the debut, the Japanese were selected with zero in the defeat column. Shuichiro Yoshino was also the winner of Teofimo Lopez and Vassily Lomachenko’s former rival Masayoshi Nakatani. Nakatani has only lost twice early – Lomachenko in 2021 and Yoshino in 2022.

Shuichiro’s record looks strong, but this will be his first time outside of Japan. Mostly, he boxed at home against fighters or visitors to his country. There were no important titles. Except maybe WBO Asia Pacific and local third-class games.

But you can’t really call him a bad boxer. Shuichiro Yoshino, like all Japanese, is very strong when attacking. It is not known what brought knockout punches to the Japanese – magic seaweed, style or natural strength, but Yoshino strikes no worse than other representatives of the Japanese boxing school.

In his last three fights – three early victories. True, it is worth noting that Masayoshi Nakatani and Shumu Nakazato Shuichiro were knocked out, but Masayuki Ito had to try hard.

It turned out that Ito was not only smart enough to miss, but also smart enough to land retaliatory blows. The clash was highly competitive with heavy blows from both sides, but ended in a technical decision – due to Masayuki’s injury, the linesmen counted points at the time of stoppage and defeated Yoshino by a score of 107-102. , 107-102, 106-103.

Who is your favourite?

American and marginal. You can bet on him for 1.06 and on the Japanese opponent for 8.0.

And despite the fact that this is a stylistically interesting duel, everything is reasonable. Shuichiro Yoshino is a brilliant boxer. He advances, inflicts too many power blows and tries to literally crush his opponent. In addition, quite generally: he is five centimeters taller (175 cm versus 170 cm) and has the same arm span as an American – 173 cm. However, it is technically much weaker than its counterpart.

boxing scene Shuichiro Yoshino

Very good Shakur Stevenson on all components. Fast? Yes. Is there a schedule? Beautiful. Strong? no doubt. Holds the blow, strikes with full force. like him.

Shakur himself also likes to work as the first trick when provoking his opponent, allowing him to make mistakes and destroying him. But in the event of a duel against the Japanese, he can abandon the initiative and do the same with him as he did with Oscar Valdez – tear him apart.

Are there any intrigues? Definitely. On whether the Japanese will fall. Hits hard, gloves stick to opponents. But Stevenson didn’t let Conceicao or Valdez do that. Why let the Japanese, who are in a different division but not better than the two, do this?

The fight will be interesting. Because the fighters are two opposite characters and it’s always fun to watch. And that’s a good test for Stevenson against major opponents in the new chapter. But in a world where the Japanese and the Americans are ready for anything, the latter is guaranteed to win every time. Or almost everyone.

And then a fight is already booked for Stevenson. Against the winner of the couple Devin Haney – Vasily Lomachenko. Or last chance for Vasily. Or the beginning of a big story for Devin. Arum, story number two is more profitable.

The fight between Shakur Stevenson and Shuichiro Yoshino will take place on the night of April 8-9 in Newark (USA).

1.06 – 8.50 make a bet zrobbite bet