Stevenson outboxes Lopez to seize junior welterweight crown in Garden masterclass

"Shakur Stevenson delivered the most complete performance of his career on Saturday night, outmaneuvering, outthinking and ultimately outclassing Teofimo Lopez over 12 rounds to claim the WBO and lineal junior welterweight titles at Madison Square Garden and further cement his standing among boxing's elite. Stevenson won a unanimous decision by identical scores of 119-109, 119-109 and 119-109, numbers that reflected a fight largely contested on his terms from the opening bell."

"In a contest between arguably the two best American fighters active today, framed all week as a clash between volatility and control, it was Stevenson's composure that defined the night. The unbeaten southpaw from Newark, New Jersey, dictated tempo early, repeatedly forcing Lopez into reset mode with sharp lead-hand work and disciplined foot positioning that prevented the champion from establishing rhythm or distance."

"From the opening round, Stevenson established the geometry of the fight. He met Lopez at center ring, touching him with the jab within seconds and following with clean left hands upstairs. Lopez landed occasionally, drawing chants of TEE-OH! TEE-OH! from the lower bowl, but Stevenson's advantages in hand speed and timing were immediately apparent. The pattern only sharpened in the second."

Shakur Stevenson outmaneuvered Teofimo Lopez across 12 rounds to win the WBO and lineal junior welterweight titles by unanimous decision, with judges scoring 119-109 on all cards. Stevenson dictated tempo from the opening bell, using sharp lead-hand work, disciplined foot positioning and superior hand speed to prevent Lopez from finding rhythm or distance. Stevenson fought on the front foot and in the pocket, landing clean left hands and a notably flush shot in the second round. A brief slip did not change momentum as Stevenson remained composed and methodical, turning an anticipated volatile clash into a clinical, controlling performance before a charged Madison Square Garden crowd.

Read at www.theguardian.com