Three title fights featuring unbeaten champions should serve as the proper headliner for the sport?s next pay-per-view event Saturday night.
And although titleholders Oscar Valdez, Gilberto Ramirez and Jessie Magdaleno merit recognition for their accomplishments, the boxing public also is intrigued by the appearance of another fighter still years from similar achievements but targeted for professional stardom.
Olympic silver medalist Shakur Stevenson will make his professional debut on the card at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Stevenson, who became one of the most successful U.S. boxers in the 2016 Summer Olympics, will face Edgar Brito in a scheduled four-round featherweight bout.
?I?m so excited. I can?t wait for my pro debut,? Stevenson said in a recent news conference. ?I plan on entertaining the fans.?
Stevenson, 19, became the closest U.S. male boxer to win an Olympic gold medal since Andre Ward in 2004. Stevenson reached the final of the bantamweight division and lost to Cuba?s Robeisy Ramirez.
Stevenson?s performances drew comparisons to 1996 Olympian and eventual five-division professional world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. In fact, during the Olympics Mayweather actively recruited Stevenson to join his promotional company before Stevenson signed a professional promotional deal with Top Rank, headed by Bob Arum.
Arum is experienced at signing high-profile U.S. Olympic boxers. Before they became their own promoters, Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya began their professional careers under Arum?s promotional guidance.
