Newark’s three-division king is prepared to protect his crown on native grass. Shakur Stevenson will make the inaugural defense of his WBC light-weight world champion against Armenian-born German Olympian Artem Harutyunyan on Saturday, July 6, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
In the co-feature, O’Shaquie Foster will protect his WBC junior light-weight world title against Brazilian Olympic gold medalist and three-time world title opposition Robson Conceição.
In the 10-round light-weight telecasted opener, Keyshawn Davis will handle Mexican veteran Miguel Madueño.
Stevenson-Harutyunyan, Foster-Conceição, and Davis-Madueño will be transmitted live on ESPN, ESPN, Deportes and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Universum Boxing, tickets go on sale Wednesday, May 22 at 2 p.m. ET by means of Ticketmaster.com.
“There is a unique connection in between Shakur and the City of Newark, and we are delighted he’s returning for another home town look against a hard challenger in Artem Harutyunyan,” stated Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “O’Shaquie Foster does not avoid the very best opposition, and I understand Robson Conceição is encouraged to manage the upset. And with Keyshawn Davis on the card against a rugged competitor in Madueño, this is rather the tripleheader we have in shop in Brick City.”
“To when again invite back Top Rank, ESPN, and Shakur Stevenson for the 3rd time in 2 years is an excellent honor for Prudential Center and the whole city of Newark,” stated Dylan Wanagiel, VP of Sports Properties & Special Events for Prudential Center. “We anticipate hosting a memorable night filled with history-making minutes in the heart of New Jersey as Shakur handles a powerful challenger in Artem Harutyunyan for the WBC Lightweight Title. Following successive record-breaking occasions with Shakur headlining, we are delighted to display the sweet science in our world class location, even more strengthening Newark’s track record for marquee occasions around the globe.”
Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs) has actually won world titles in 3 weight classes throughout his seven-year run. After protecting a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics, he made his professional launching in 2017 and promptly went up the ranks. He recorded his very first world title by beating Joet Gonzalez for the WBO featherweight strap in October 2019. Two years later on, he stopped Jamel Herring in 10 rounds to make the WBO title at 130 pounds. The 26-year-old southpaw unified world titles by handing then-WBC champ Oscar Valdez his very first loss in April 2022. Stevenson then declared 2 successive triumphes at Prudential Center by beating Conceição that September and stopping Japanese competitor Shuichiro Yoshino in 6 last April. Hee outpointed Dominican puncher Edwin De Los Santos last November to end up being the WBC light-weight world champ.
Stevenson stated, “It feels great to be returning home to Newark, where they value a young legend, and to make my very first title defense at 135. On July 6, Down Goes Artem!”
Harutyunyan (12-1, 7 KOs) recorded an Olympic bronze medal for Germany in 2016. He began his professional profession the list below year and went 12-0 in his adopted nation with victories over Samuel Molina in September 2021 and Humberto Galindo in June 2022. Last July, he made his U.S. launching in a competitive face-off against Frank Martin. The 33-year-old had success with his hostility and right-hand man, though Martin rallied late to win a narrow consentaneous choice. Harutyunyan will have his very first world title shot against his 2nd successive southpaw competitor.
Harutyunyan stated, “I appreciate Shakur Stevenson as a champ, however I’m pertaining to stun his home town fans and win the WBC light-weight champion. This is the chance of a life time, and I will maximize it. This will be my 2nd fight in the U.S. I’ve discovered and advanced given that my loss to Frank Martin.”
Foster (22-2, 12 KOs) had a recognized amateur profession with more than 100 battles and an alternate area in the 2012 U.S. Olympic group before going into the paid ranks later on that year. He experienced 2 early-career problems, consisting of a split choice defeat to Rolando Chinea in July 2016. He returned more than a year later on with popular fitness instructor Bobby Benton and has actually given that gone 12-0. Last February, he won the WBC world title with a points decision over two-division world champ Rey Vargas before a remarkable 12th-round knockout win against Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez in October. The following month, Foster signed a long-lasting advertising handle Top Rank. He returns after protecting a well-earned split choice over Abraham Nova in February.
Foster stated, “I’m delighted to be back for my 3rd title defense. Conceição is an excellent challenger who has actually remained in the ring with a great deal of leading fighters, however come July 6, we will be prepared. I will keep showing that I’m one of the very best fighters on the planet.”
Conceição (18-2-1, 9 KOs), Brazil’s inaugural Olympic boxing gold medalist, turned professional in November 2016. His only losses have actually come against unbeaten world champs, consisting of a close choice against then-WBC champ Valdez in September 2021. Following the obstacle to Stevenson, Conceição’s June 2022 face-off against Nicolas Polanco ended in a no contest. He followed up by challenging three-weight world champ Emanuel Navarrete last November, increasing two times from the canvas and fighting to a bulk draw. In April, he signed up a seventh-round TKO against Jose Guardado in April.
Conceição stated, “I’m actually anticipating this fight against O’Shaquie Foster. This title is something I’ve been going for a long period of time, and I’m not going to let this chance escape. I can ensure that I’ll offer my finest; I’ll leave whatever in the ring. Blood, sweat, and commitment—whatever will be purchased this title bout. I’m prepared to deal with any difficulty that comes my method. Let’s go all in towards triumph! Brazil!”
Davis (10-0, 7 KOs), from Norfolk, Virginia, made a fast shift from possibility to competitor. After going 3-0 as a professional, he made a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. In November 2021, he tattooed a long-lasting advertising pact with Top Rank and has actually generated 7 wins given that. In 2023, he stopped Anthony Yigit in 9 rounds in April and overcome Francesco Patera by means of 10-round choice in July. After his October win over Nahir Albright was reversed to a no contest due to a favorable cannabis test, Davis returned with restored vitality in February to dispatch previous two-weight world champ Jose Pedraza in 6. Madueño (31-2, 28 KOs) tallied a 3-fight gaining spree after a choice defeat to Jezreel Corrales in March 2022. The streak was stopped by a points obstacle against Canadian competitor Steve Claggett last November, however he recovered rapidly by decisioning Justin Pauldo in February.
Davis stated, “Madueño is a hard fighter with more than 30 professional battles, and I have a great deal of regard for what he gives the table. I like battling in Newark. The fans there are unique, and I am going to feed off their energy and place on a program.”
Undercard action — streaming live and specifically on ESPN+ — consists of the return of 20-year-old light-weight prodigy Abdullah Mason and unbeaten heavyweight possibility Damian “Polish Hussar” Knyba.
Mason (13-0, 11 KOs) will make his 3rd 2024 look in an eight-rounder against Puerto Rican veteran Luis Lebron. The Cleveland native went 5-0 with 4 knockouts in 2015 before stopping Benjamin Gurment in 2 in February. He is coming off a fourth-round TKO win over Ronal Ron in April. Lebron (20-5-1, 13 KOs) has actually provided stiff tests to Duke Ragan and Henry Lebron and stopped Giovanni Gutierrez in February.
Knyba (13-0, 7 KOs), a 6-foot-7 leviathan with an 86-inch reach, returns in an eight-rounder versus Richard Lartey (16-6, 13 KOs). He signed up with the Top Rank steady in January 2023 and scored a TKO win over Curtis Harper that April followed by choices over Helaman Olguin in June and Michael Coffie in December.
