Shakur Stevenson, the unbeaten boxing sensation, has his sights set on Edwin De Los Santos, a southpaw he deems a more intricate challenge than Frank Martin. Martin had withdrawn from an earlier bout with Stevenson, setting the stage for De Los Santos to step up. The Dominican boxer, despite a split decision loss to William Foster III in one of his previous fights, has marked victories over Jose Valenzuela and Joseph Adorno.
Stevenson remarked on the upcoming fight, “I think he’s a harder challenge than Frank Martin.” He praised De Los Santos’ movement and punching prowess, especially noting his skill in exchanging blows with opponents. The match, scheduled for November 16 at the T-Mobile Arena, will be broadcasted as a main event on ESPN. Bookmakers already peg Stevenson as a heavy favorite, predicting a spirited contest for the vacant WBC lightweight title.
De Los Santos boasts an impressive record, having knocked out 82 percent of his adversaries, a statistic superior to Martin’s 67 percent knockout rate. This potent capability has Stevenson acknowledging De Los Santos as a stronger puncher. Noteworthy is De Los Santos’ triumphant bout against Valenzuela at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, where he managed a comeback despite a second-round knockdown.
Bob Arum, Stevenson’s promoter, shared his confidence in his fighter stating, “there ain’t nobody out there that’s gonna beat Shakur.” Yet, Arum did concede that De Los Santos might offer a sterner test than Martin. Arum also expressed his bafflement over Martin’s withdrawal from the originally scheduled fight.
The upcoming clash holds additional significance, with Stevenson, ranked number one by the WBC, and the sixth-ranked De Los Santos vying for the unclaimed WBC lightweight title. This opportunity arose due to Devin Haney being named the WBC’s 135-pound champion in recess, as he transitions to the 140-pound category.
Image Credit: Top Rank