WBC Orders Shakur Stevenson Vs. Frank Martin For The Vacant Lightweight Belt
The WBC has ordered Shakur Stevenson to face Frank Martin on November 16th or December 9th, 2023 for the vacant lightweight belt.
The news comes after both fighters agreed to face each other in Las Vegas or New York in a battle of two undefeated fighters, as per ESPN’s Mike Coppinger. Stevenson’s last fight was a sixth-round stoppage of Shuichiro Yoshino. That was Stevenson’s first fight at the weight class in what was a major-statement win. That made him the WBC mandatory to Devin Haney. However, since the latter has moved up to 140, the WBC stripped him of the belt which became vacant.
Shakur Stevenson and Frank Martin have agreed to a deal for a WBC lightweight fight that will likely place on either Nov. 16 in Las Vegas or Dec. 9 in New York, sources told @MikeCoppinger.@Idecboxing was first to report the Sept. 5 purse bid was cancelled due to deal. pic.twitter.com/sMnfk2afXv
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) September 5, 2023
Meanwhile, Martin’s last bout was a unanimous-decision win over Artem Harutyunyan. The German took a knee in the latter part of the fight which proved crucial. And with the duo knowing that a world title is up for grabs, both fighters had everything to play for.
Social Media Reaction
Banger
— Rad (@radamez) September 5, 2023
I got shakur💯
— 503gotti (@1deepReezy) September 5, 2023
Should be a hood tactical fight but @ShakurStevenson by decision
— Gerald Richard (@Grich31Richard) September 5, 2023