Stevenson Breaks Down Herring, Wins WBO Title in Atlanta on ESPN
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
CLICK HERE for photos from Mikey Williams / Top Rank via Getty Images
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Atlanta, Georgia (October 24th, 2021)– On ESPN, southpaw WBO interim champion Shakur Stevenson backed up southpaw WBO champion Jamel Herring, and gave him a nasty beating with punches of speed and accuracy. Herring was unable to consistently move forward and outwork Stevenson. The result was a tenth round TKO win for Stevenson to win the undisputed World Boxing Organisation World Super Featherweight title, in the main event of a nine-bout Top Rank card at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday night, October 23, 2021.
The southpaw Stevenson, 17-0 with nine knockouts, Alexandria, Georgia, demonstrated superior hand speed and foot movement as the better boxer, throwing lightning fast jabs and body shots to which Herring attempted but was not able to land most counters. The game plan for Herring was there, to get inside and outwork Stevenson. However, Stevenson was landing with accuracy and super speed, and before round one ended, a puzzled Herring was hesitant to throw punches lacking the appropriate counter answer. Herring was just not fast enough. Herring, 23-2 with 11 knockouts, Cincinnati, Ohio, was walking to the right, getting hit by Stevenson’s straight left hand jabs.
Throughout his career, Stevenson has outpunched and outlanded his opponents by a nearly four-to-one ratio, the fastest hands in professional boxing. Herring, like others faced by Stevenson, dug himself an automatic hole on the scorecards as the rounds progressed which proved insurmountable. Stevenson landed head body combinations walking Herring down. Herring did not fall, he just lost most rounds on the scorecards by the punch count.
Stevenson’s pinpoint accuracy, body head, jabs, hooks, and power punches, was an insurmountable challenge for Herring. Stevenson threw with fire from the outside, swelling the left eye of Herring and slowing him down. Stevenson stood his ground and fought with domination on the inside. Stevenson’s work rate, speed, and punching power put Herring in a situation where he had to fire back, but at the tempo set by Stevenson it was not possible. Herring tried to come forward, but kept getting beaten to the punch.
By the start of round four, Stevenson, winning the first three rounds, had outlanded Herring 59 to 21. Herring, making adjustments, moved left. Stevenson began doubling his jabs, and landed punches off angle. Herring expended a great deal of energy with defensive hand movement while not throwing enough punches. Stevenson was targeting around Herring’s guard, landing, blocking punches, and countering.
Herring needed to take chances in the line of fire, but continued to get hit by Stevenson’s power punches. Stevenson continued walking Herring down. Stevenson continued getting stronger down the stretch, landing while keeping Herring off balance, doing more and more damage. Even in the fifth round, Stevenson outlanded Herring 16 to 12 despite Herring’s best efforts.
By the start of round seven, Stevenson had outlanded Herring 102 to 49. Stevenson’s right hook took away punch angles for Herring. With no alternative, Herring tried to mix it roughly in center ring, landing some short hooks at close range with an obvious low blow. Herring tried to brawl and hold, going to the body. Stevenson had to get close and smother Herring’s idea with straight lefts. Herring appeared to win round eight, getting inside.
In round nine, Stevenson returned to distance range, landing power shots combinations, coming around Herring’s guard and through his guard, landing consistently. At the start of round ten, referee Mark Nelson had the ringside physician look at a cut above the right eye of Herring. When the action resumed, Stevenson, seeing blood, moved forward with pinpoint power shots to the head in attack mode to close the show, and did so. Stevenson’s accurate punches to the face of Herring were raining in and not stopping, and Herring did not respond, prompting referee Nelson to stop the bout before the real damage occurred. Stevenson won every round on the scorecards except one round on one scorecard. Stevenson outlanded Herring 164 to 87 overall, an edge which eventually spelled doom.
Result: Shakur Stevenson TKO 10 Jamel Herring, Super Featherweights (1:30). Stevenson wins the World Boxing Organisation World Super Featherweight championship. Referee Mark Nelson stops bout. Herring had a cut over the right eye in round ten, was in trouble.
State Farm Arena Undercard Results
Nico Ali Walsh TKO 3 James Westley II, Middleweights (0:30). Muhammad Ali’s grandson Nico Ali Walsh, now 2-0, dropped Westley in second and third rounds.
Evan Holyfield KO 2 Charles Stanford, Junior Middleweights (0:30) On his 24th birthday, Evander Holyfield’s son Evan, 8-0, knocks out Stanford cold. His dad was in the house.
Xanders Zayas Referee’s Technical Decision 4 Dan Karpency, Super Welterweights. 11-0 Puerto Rican prospect Zayas, age 19, stops 9-4-1 Pennsylvania vet Karpency for the first time in eight years as a pro, after knocking out his mouthpiece several times.
Eric Palmer Win Split Decision 6 Roddricus Livsey, Super Lightweights. In a not an upset, Pennsylvania’s 13-14-5 Palmer won a split decision over Atlanta’s undefeated Livsey, now 8-1-1. Livsey’s padded record includes a four round split decision draw with 1-11-1 Anthony Zender in September 2020 in Georgia, so absolutely no surprise.
Harley Mederos Win 4 Deljerro Revello, Lightweights
Haven Brady Jr. Win 4 Roberto Negrete, Featherweights
Troy Isley TKO 1 Nicolai Navarro, Middleweights (2:48)
Antoine Cobb (Pro Debut) KO 1 Jerrion Campbell, Super Lightweights (0:58)
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