Featured Articles
Fast Results from Reno: Shakur Stevenson Wins in a Cakewalk

Results From Reno: Stevenson Victorious Over Gonzalez
Shakur Stevenson borrowed a leaf from the notebooks of Willie Pep and Pernell Whitaker tonight, breezing to a lopsided 12-round decision over flummoxed Joet Gonzalez whose guns shot only blanks. In the process, Stevenson advanced his ledger to 13-0 and captured the WBO world featherweight title vacated by Oscar Valdez.
It was a tour-de-force for the 22-year-old southpaw from Newark, New Jersey, but also a monotonous fight that was mindful of Larry Holmes’ 15-round whitewash of Randall “Tex” Cobb. Actually, Stevenson did let Gonzalez win a round — the seventh — but he was merely taking a little nap. In suffering his first defeat, Gonzalez (23-1) was outclassed by a boxer whose defense is far advanced for his age.
Other Bouts
Chicago bantamweight Joshua Greer (22-1-1, 12 KOs) has won 19 straight, but is living on the edge as his last two wins, including tonight’s 10-round unanimous decision over Cleveland’s Antonio Nieves, did not meet with the approval of the crowd. In round 8, Greer scored an apparent knockdown over Nieves, but Nieves (19-3-2) had just been hit with a low blow and referee Robert Byrd waived it off, allowing Nieves time to recover. In the final round, Nieves knocked Greer down with a cuffing blow to the back of the head which was ruled a knockdown. The final scores were 96-93 and 95-94 twice.
In a lightweight match shortened from 10 to 8 rounds (in hindsight a smart idea) Toledoâs Albert Bell (16-0, 5 KOs), âpitched a shutoutâ over Frankie De Alba, winning all eight rounds on all three cards. The fight was a snoozer.
Las Vegas lightweight Francisco Esparza Jr (10-1-1) had a tougher time than expected with Matt Conway who came in undefeated (17-0) but had been plying his trade in the fallow fields of West Virginia. Esparza knocked Conway to the canvas with a left hook in the opening round and rocked him again in the third, but the teak-tough Conway wouldnât go quietly. In the end, Esparza prevailed by the narrowest of margins, winning a split decision.
San Jose lightweight Andy Vences (23-1-1, 12 KOs) rebounded from the first loss of his career with a workmanlike 8-round unanimous decision over Mark Bernaldez. The scores were 79-73 across the board, Bernaldez, a Filipino, slipped to 19-3.
In a battle of former world title challengers, Albuquerque featherweight Jason Sanchez (15-1, 8 KOs) caved in Brazilâs Adeilson Dos Santos with a pair of fourth-round body shots. Dos Santos (19-7) got up from the first but not the second.
Two of Top Rankâs newest signees won their pro debuts in predictably easy fashion, scoring first-round stoppages.
Puerto Rico-born welterweight Xander Zayas, who turned 17 just last month, knocked Denverâs Genesis Wynn down twice before the ref waived it off. It was all over in 84 seconds. Toledoâs Jared Anderson took career of business even quicker, dismissing no-hoper Daniel Infante in 54 seconds. It was somewhat disconcerting that the six-foot-four. 19-year-old Anderson tipped the scales at 233 after fighting at 201 just a few months ago.
Las Vegas lightweight Francisco Esparza Jr (10-1-1) had a tougher time than expected with Matt Conway who came in undefeated (17-0) but had been plying his trade in the fallow fields of West Virginia. Esparza knocked Conway to the canvas with a left hook in the opening round and rocked him again in the third, but the teak-tough Conway wouldnât go quietly. In the end, Esparza prevailed by the narrowest of margins, winning a split decision.
Also, junior lightweight Mikaela Mayer (11-0, 5 KOs) thoroughly outclassed Argentinaâs Alejandra Zamora (7-4) in a bout that was stopped after the sixth round by Zamora’s corner. Mayer had Zamora on the deck and badly hurt in the opening stanza but let her off the hook and the fight continued longer than it should have.
Photo credit: Mikey Williams for Top Rank
Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel Â
To comment on this story in The Fight Forum CLICK HERE
-
Featured Articles3 weeks ago
Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford
-
Featured Articles1 week ago
Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark
-
Featured Articles4 weeks ago
Remembering the Under-Appreciated âBody Snatcherâ Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro   Â
-
Featured Articles4 weeks ago
Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More
-
Featured Articles3 weeks ago
Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend
-
Featured Articles3 weeks ago
Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni Â
-
Featured Articles2 weeks ago
Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books
-
Featured Articles4 weeks ago
Delving into âHooplaâ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates