By Kyle Kinder-
The seeds of boxing were planted in Newark in the 1880s. Roughly thirty years later they took root when blue-collar immigrants from Ireland and Germany, along with ethnic Jews, streamed into the city and fought for ethnic pride. To date, over fifty boxers from Newark have been inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. One fighter born within city limits is forever enshrined in Canastota. Of course, that’s Marvin Hagler.
But no fighter to emerge from New Jersey’s largest city has had greater expectations levied upon his shoulders than Shakur Stevenson. Trained by his grandfather, Wali Moses, since age 5, Stevenson quickly rose to be one of the best amateur fighters in the US by the time he reached his teens. In 2013, Stevenson earned Gold at the Junior World Championships in Kiev, Ukraine and immediately followed that performance by caputring another Gold Medal in 2014 at the Youth Olympic Games in China. Stevenson then cruised through US Olympic qualifying and in August 2016 found himself in Rio de Janeiro fighting for his country.
In Brazil, Stevenson shutout his first two opponents. His semifinal foe, Russian Vladimir Nikitin, withdrew due to cuts, and Stevenson earned a free pass to the Gold Medal match against Cuban fighter, Robeisy Ramirez.
The table was set for Stevenson to be the first American boxer since Andre Ward to have the Star-Spangled Banner played over an Olympic sound system. The charming kid from Brick City was poised to win Gold.
The country expected it. Newark expected it. Stevenson expected it.
But it wasn’t meant to be. Stevenson lost a close split decision to Ramirez and left the ring in a heap of tears.
Upon return to American soil, Silver Medal in tow, Newark’s Olympic hero was honored by his city with an extravagant parade down Market Street, complete with a police escort, floats, and drumlines.
“Today is the proudest day in the city of Newark,” mayor Ras Baraka said on the steps of City Hall. “I just want to tell all these young people out here, if you all need somebody to look up to, Shakur Stevenson is somebody you should be focusing on.”
Stevenson is the role model and fighter that a city with such deep boxing tradition deserves. True, Hagler was born in Newark, but the city can’t lay claim to him. Hagler belonged to Brockton. Newark is Stevenson’s city. In his amateur career alone, Stevenson was able to captivate the hearts and minds of the people in his city. Stevenson loves his city, and his city loves him back.
On Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, thirteen miles east of Newark, Stevenson will step into the ring for his second professional bout. He scored a TKO victory over Edgar Brito in his debut in Los Angeles last month. But Saturday’s fight against Argentine Carlos Gaston Suarez will be his east coast debut and first professional fight in front of family and friends.
Presuming he sports the same gear worn in California, Stevenson will wear trunks that spell the name of his city in shiny silver letters across his waist: N-E-W-A-R-K. A constant reminder of where he came from, who he is, and who he fights for.
While Stevenson’s dreams of Olympic Gold were dashed in Rio, his goal to become a world champion and “revolutionize” the sport remains. The second step in a long journey ahead awaits him Saturday night.
A Poem For My Son
Think GOLD and Never FOLD!
Let It Be Told; Just 17 years old.
When it Comes To Your GOAL Firmly Believe in them…
He’s Living Proof and His Name Is Shakur Stevenson
– Shahid Guyton, Shakur Stevenson’s father
