WBC lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson defends his title against Artem Harutyunyan in the main event of a Top Rank on ESPN card at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday (ESPN/ESPN+ at 8:30 p.m. ET, undercard on ESPN+ at 6:10 p.m. ET).
Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs), of Newark, is a three-division champion. He won the then-vacant WBC belt by defeating Edwin De Los Santos in a thrilling November bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Although it wasn’t the performance he wanted, Stevenson won by scorecards of 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113.
Neither Stevenson nor De Los Santos landed double figures in any of the 12 rounds. De Los Santos didn’t want to fight and Stevenson failed to take the initiative. The result: Stevenson landed only 19 power punches in 12 rounds. De Los Santos only 14.
Stevenson’s deal with promoter Top Rank expires after the fight and he becomes a free agent. There will be an added incentive for Stevenson to perform well if he wants to sign another lucrative contract.
“It feels good to return to my hometown of Newark, where they appreciate a young legend, and to defend my first title at 135,” Stevenson said when the fight was announced in early May.
Harutyunyan (12-1, 7 KOs), originally from Yerevan, Armenia but now fighting out of Germany, has never fought for a major world title. His first fight outside of Germany was a unanimous decision loss to Frank Martin in Las Vegas in July 2023. Harutyunyan has fought just twice in 12-round bouts and is a big underdog at -1200. But he is confident he can pull off an upset.
“I respect Shakur Stevenson as a champion, but I’m coming to shock his hometown fans and win the WBC lightweight championship,” Harutyunyan said. “This is the opportunity of a lifetime and I’m going to take full advantage of it.”
Where can I watch the Stevenson-Harutyunyan match on Saturday?
The four-fight schedule for the Stevenson-Harutyunyan bout begins at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+.
Watch: Download ESPN App | WatchESPN | TV
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How can I stream the fights?
The fights can be streamed on mobile devices via the ESPN app.
The undercard begins at 6:10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Watch the undercard live on ESPN+ via the ESPN app
The full map:
Main map:
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Title fight: Shakur Stevenson vs. Artem Harutyunyan, 12 rounds, for Stevenson’s WBC lightweight title
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Title fight: O’Shaquie Foster vs. Robson Conceicao, 12 rounds, for Foster’s WBC junior lightweight title
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Keyshawn Davis vs. Miguel Madueno, 10 rounds, lightweights
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Abdullah Mason vs. Luis Lebron, 8 rounds, lightweights
Prediction:
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William Foster III vs. Eridson Garcia, 10 rounds, junior lightweight
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Keith Colon vs. Hunter Turbyfill, 4 rounds, featherweights
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Kelvin Davis vs. Kevin Johnson, 8 rounds, welterweights
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Ali Feliz vs. Robinson Perez, 4 rounds, heavyweight
What other battle cards are airing this weekend and where can you watch them?
Saturday, July 6 in Anaheim, California (DAZN PPV)
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Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal, 10 rounds, light heavyweight
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Daniel Jacobs vs. Shane Mosley Jr., 10 rounds, super middleweight
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Chris Avila vs. Anthony Pettis, 6 rounds, light heavyweight
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Devin Cushing vs. Manuel Correa, 10 rounds, lightweights
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Amado Vargas vs. Sean Garcia, 8 rounds, lightweights
Saturday, July 6 in Ontario, California (DAZN)
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William Zepeda vs. Giovanni Cabrera, 12 rounds, lightweights
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Ricardo Sandoval vs. Angel Acosta, 10 rounds, flyweights
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Alex Martin vs. Pedro Campa, 10 rounds, junior welterweights
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Manuel Flores vs. Nohel Arambulet, 10 rounds, junior featherweights
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Japhethlee Llamido vs. Ryan Lee Allen, 8 rounds, junior featherweight
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Joel Iriarte vs. Yainel Alvarez, 6 rounds, welterweights
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Joshua Garcia vs. Jason Buenaobra, 6 rounds, junior lightweight
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Gael Cabrera vs. Mychaquell Shields, 6 rounds, junior featherweight
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Daniel Luna vs. Joseph Walker, 4 rounds, junior lightweights
For all other major boxing fight schedules, visit the ESPN boxing schedule.
