Shakur Stevenson, the undefeated WBC lightweight champion, will have his last bout under his current promotional contract with Top Rank on July 6. The fight will take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, Stevenson's hometown. He faces Artem Harutyunyan, a Germany-based Armenian fighter and WBC No. 6 ranked boxer.
Stevenson comes into this fight with an impressive record of 21-0, including 10 knockouts. His notable recent fights include victories at Las Vegas and twice at the Prudential Center against formidable opponents such as Edwin De Los Santos and Robson Conceicao. Carl Moretti, a representative from Top Rank, confirmed that Stevenson’s contract concludes with this fight. Moretti expressed openness to renegotiating but acknowledged Stevenson’s freedom to explore other opportunities.
Artem Harutyunyan brings a strong pedigree, having won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics. His professional record stands at 12-1, with his only loss coming from a close decision against Frank Martin last July. Moretti highlighted Harutyunyan’s rigorous amateur background and competitive professional performance as key factors for his selection as Stevenson's opponent.
The event coincides with the Fourth of July holiday weekend, adding to the appeal for local fans in Newark. Previously considered venues in other locations like Las Vegas were unavailable due to the holiday festivities.
Carl Moretti mentioned that while he is uncertain if Stevenson will stay with Top Rank post-contract, he emphasized that all options are open. This situation places Shakur in a pivotal position regarding career decisions after this fight.
