Shakur Stevenson saw this as an opportunity to stamp his greatness and that’s what he did.
Stevenson stopped Jemel Herring in the 10th round in what was a one sided victory.
It didn’t take long for Stevenson to get started. In the first round it became apparent that his speed was going to give Herring problems all night.
Stevenson used distance and punishing combinations to keep the former champion at bay.
“Around the fifth round, I was landing everything and then he started trying to come on,” Stevenson said. “I smelled blood. I saw he was bleeding and was like, ‘OK, I have to attack the cut. I was trying to touch the cut to make the doctor try and stop it.”
To Herring’s credit, he didn’t make excuses. “He’s sharp and slick. His hand-eye coordination is very good. No excuses. He was just the better man tonight.”
| Total Punches (Body Landed) | Total Jabs (Body Landed) | Power Punches (Body Landed) | |
| Herring | 87 (31)/436 | 46 (8)/276 | 41 (23)/160 |
| Stevenson | 164 (23)/530 | 65 (14)/249 | 99 (9)/281 |
Stevenson said, “There’s only one fight left at the end of the day. It’s the biggest fight at the end of the day.”
Earlier in the night, Puerto Rican sensation, Xander Zayas, stopped Dan Karpency when Karpency failed to answer the bell for the round.
Zayas pressured Karpency all night.
Zayas’ accuracy was on full display. He landed a staggering 44.6% of his punches.
Zayas hurt Karpency near the end of the third round. In the fourth, Zayas moved to end the fight. A combination of crushing body shots along with pin point accuracy to the head played a big role in Karpency not answering the bell.
Nico Ali Walsh (Ali’s grandson) scored a 3rd round knockout over James Westley II.
Walsh scored a knockdown in the last 10 seconds of the second round. In the third, Walsh came out pressuring Westley II. Walsh landed a straight right hand that sent Westley to the canvas. At that moment, Westley’s corner threw in the towel
Photo credit Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images
