LAS VEGAS — Shakur Stevenson wondered how good he was.
He can quit wondering.
He’s good, pound-for-pound good. Pay-per-view good is still a question. But the answers he wants, the stardom he’s seeking, are a lot closer today than they were a week ago.
A one-sided victory over Oscar Valdez Jr. Saturday night for two pieces of the junior-lightweight title at the MGM Grand was another convincing piece of more evidence that there are no limits to Stevenson’s unfolding career.
Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) did what he had to – and often whatever he wanted to — in scoring a lopsided decision over Valdez (30-1, 23 KOs), who had only his trademark resilience and none of Stevenson’s speed or precision.
“I told ya’ll what I was going to do.,’’ Stevenson said. I said I’m gonna beat Valdez, (stablemate) Canelo (Alvarez) and (trainer) Eddy Reynoso.
“That was my game plan — beat the whole team. I feel good about it. Much respect to them, but that was my game plan.”
The judges’ cards added up to a rout. It was 118-109, 117-110 and 118-109, all for Stevenson. The oddsmakers were right. Stevenson was an 8-to-1 favorite the night before opening bell. He could have been an 80-to-1 favorite, for all that it mattered. Valdez simply didn’t have much of a chance.
That was never more evident than in the sixth round. Stevenson, often careful early. caught Valdez with a looping right hand.
It turned Valdez and sent him crashing into the ropes. Quickly, Stevenson landed another right that put Valdez onto the canvas. It was a decisive moment. It was clear then that Stevenson’s victory was just a matter of time.
“He has great boxing skills,’’ Valdez said. “He was just the better fighter this night. He did what he had to do to win the fight.
“His speed is there. Power is there. He was just he better fighter tonight. Overall, a great fighter.”
There was a theory that Valdez might be able to test Stevenson. Valdez had shown power in earlier fights. The idea was that he would take Stevenson to a place he’s never been.
But Valdez was never able to deliver that adversity. He tried early. He was the aggressor. He pursued. But his shots mostly missed. All the while, his energy drained away like water through a colander.
Not even a friendly crowd could sustain Valdez. The order to the ring walks was determined by a coin flip. Stevenson won that one too, meaning he was second to parade down the aisle, up the steps and through the ropes. Valdez was first.
Valdez was greeted by a pro-Mexican crowd that serenaded him, a Son of Sonora, as he walked into the arena. Echoes from the roaring crowd could be heard out on the Strip and maybe all the way down to Nogales, his hometown south of Tucson. The odds didn’t favor Valdez. But the crowd did. It booed Stevenson.
Stevenson let his skillset answer, again and again, with speed and precision. From round to round, Stevenson landed shots that slowly yet surely left Valdez tired and with a dwindling work rate.
It was over not long after it started, leaving the 31-year old Valdez with only questions and the 24-year Stevenson with only possibilities.
Keyshawn Davis wins sixth-round TKO
He calls himself The Businessman.
Keyshawn Davis lived up to the nickname, working his way through a few business-like rounds and then applying a finish that suggests the lightweight prospect is well on his way to doing a lot more business Saturday night on the Stevenson-Valdez card at the MGM Grand.
In only his fifth fight since winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Davis (5-0, 4 KOs) was careful early and punishing in the end, scoring a sixth-round TKO of Mexican Esteban Sanchez (19-2, 8 KOs).
Nico Ali Walsh scores first-round KO
It was a knockout that must have made a grandfather proud
Nico Ali Walsh (5-0, 4 KOS) , grandson of legendary heavyweight Muhmmad Ali, struck swiftly. Struck definitively.
One-two, a Walsh jab and crushing right hand landed, flooring Alejandro Ibarra (7-2, 2 KOs), who looked to be unconscious before he hit the canvas 2:50 intO the first round of a middleweight fight. Ibarra had to be helped to his feet after concussive end to the first bout t on the ESPN-televised card featuring Shakur Stevenson and Oscar Valdez Jr. in a junior-lightweight title fight at the MGM Grand Saturday.
