Stevenson Claims WBO Featherweight Title

Now 13 fights into his professional boxing career, Shakur Stevenson is a world champion, defeating Joet Gonzalez to win the vacant WBO featherweight championship.

THAT WORLD CHAMP FEELING! @ShakurStevenson 🏆#PhotoOfTheFight pic.twitter.com/Z7BuIts99B

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 27, 2019

The fight headlined a Top Rank Boxing card at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada. The WBO title was vacated upon Oscar Valdez moving up to super featherweight.

Stevenson’s speed helped give him an early edge in the fight, as Gonzalez had trouble finding the mark in the opening rounds. Every time Gonzalez would go in to attack Stevenson’s body, the Newark-born fighter would move back and force Gonzalez to reset.

How you scoring it through 6️⃣? #StevensonGonzalez pic.twitter.com/NTXTayIyPI

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 27, 2019

Gonzalez started to close the gap between the pair in the fifth round but still had trouble connecting. He found success in the seventh, but that was the only round the judges ended up scoring in his favor. Making some adjustments, Stevenson, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist, once again used his speed to outland and outclass his opponent.

All three judges scored the bout 119-109 for Stevenson.

Following the bout, Stevenson proclaimed a desire to face IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington, who retained his belt just a couple of weeks ago, in a title unification bout.