Shakur Stevenson easily outpoints Joet Gonzalez to win WBO title
Drama was promised in an emotional story line about two fighters who have lots of reasons to dislike each other. It was a good soap opera, contentious and crazy. But the show was over when the opening bell sounded. Shakur Stevenson made sure of that.
In an unmistakable sign of his emerging maturity, an unflappable Stevenson displayed poise, speed and dominant ring skill, scoring a one-sided decision over Joet Gonzalez on Saturday at Reno-Sparks Convention Center for his first major title in only his 13th fight since his Olympic silver medal at the 2016 Rio Games.
Gonzalez never had chance, winning only one round – the seventh – on the scorecards, all 119-109 in favor of Stevenson (13-0 7 knockouts), who won the featherweight belt vacated by Oscar Valdez Jr.
Throughout 12 rounds, the 22-year-old Stevenson never showed a hint of anger at Gonzalez, who called the fight personal in a nasty rivalry fueled by Stevenson’s relationship with his sister, Jajaira. They’ve been dating for about three years. Jajaira was reported by ESPN to be in Reno. However, she was not at ringside to see her boyfriend beat her older brother.
Shakur Stevenson celebrates winning his first major title. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
At the final bell, a jubilant Stevenson looked at the beaten Gonzalez.
“I told him he was a great fighter,’’ said Stevenson, who grew up in Newark, New Jersey, and lives in Virginia. “But he didn’t want to talk.’’
Stevenson appeared to ask for peace between him and the Gonzalez family.
“Please talk to your daughter, please talk to your sister,’’ Stevenson said to Joet Gonzalez and his father/trainer Jose.
But it didn’t sound as if the Gonzalez family, of Glendora, California, would be asking Stevenson over to dinner anytime soon.
Gonzalez (23-1, 14 KOs) had no excuses for what happened in the ring.
“Tough fight in there,’’ said Gonzalez, who seemed bewildered by the quicksilver way in which Stevenson was able to elude almost every punch he threw.
Yet it sounded as if his anger at Stevenson was undiminished.
“I’m fine,’’ said Gonzalez, whose chances were summed in the first two rounds when he landed a total of six punches. “I have my family to pick me up.’’
When asked about Stevenson’s apparent peace offer, however, it was clear he was not ready to move beyond what he believed were expressions of disrespect from Stevenson.
“I don’t know how he thinks it can go away just like that,’’ Gonzalez said.
Stevenson was already moving forward, beyond the soap opera and onto what he hopes is another featherweight belt.
“If he wants to be cool, we can be cool,’’ Stevenson said.
Shakur Stevenson said he would like to fight beltholder Josh Warrington next. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
Cool is about the only thing left for these two featherweights. There won’t be a rematch. Stevenson is already seeking another 126-pound belt.
“I want Josh Warrington,’’ he said.
On the undercard, junior lightweight Mikaela Mayer (12-0, 5 KOs) had it all, including pound-for-pounder Terence Crawford and Andy Ruiz Jr. trainer Manny Robles working as seconds to Al Mitchel in her corner.
No way she could lose and she didn’t, winning by stoppage over Argentine Alejandra Zamora (7-4, 1 KO), whose father/trainer listened to his daughter argue for another round after the sixth. But Father knows best. He said no and ended it before the seventh.
Also, bantamweight prospect Joshua Greer (22-1-1, 12 KOs) began to assert himself midway through a 10-round bout, scored repeatedly and often enough to overcome a debatable knockdown in the final round and won a 95-94, 96-93, 95-94 decision over Antonio Nieves(19-3-1, 11 KOs).