Shakur Stevenson Ready To Handle Business March 14!
Shakur Stevenson(13-0, 7 KOs) will make the first defense of the WBO world Featherweight title against Miguel Marriaga (29-3, 25 KOs) on March 14 at the MSG Theater in New York City. The bout is set to be aired live on ESPN.
During an interview with Boxing Insider Radio, the 22-year-old discussed his upcoming fight. According to the young southpaw nicknamed “Fearless”, he looks at Marriaga as a barometer to what he hopes will be bigger fights down the road.
“It’s a measuring stick sort of fight. I’m a beat dude up. I know that he’s tough since he fought Lomachenko, Oscar Valdez and Nicholas Walters. So I know he’s tough but shit, tough ain’t enough.”
Currently ranked 7th by the WBO at 126-pounds, this is the challenger’s third world title attempt. Losing in back to back fights against then-WBO world Featherweight champion Oscar Valdez in April 2017 and to then-WBO Super Featherweight titleholder Vasyl Lomachenko in August 2017, the 33-year-old from Arjona, Colombia hopes that third time is indeed a charm.
However, the champ, by all measures, is the heavy favorite. Stevenson has an eye on a Featherweight unification showdown against IBF champion Josh Warrington later in 2020. Because of that backdrop, the New, New Jersey fighter cannot afford a slip-up.
Stevenson has been predicted by many to become a future star in the sport and a pound for pound entrant. For him to achieve any of his goals and live up to his obvious potential, he has no choice but to take care of business at MSG against Marriaga.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
