At the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada Saturday night Shakur “No Fear” Stevenson won the vacant WBO World Featherweight title easily defeated Joet Gonzales over 12 rounds. It was a grudge match and Stevenson before 2,828 fans.
Featherweight No. 1 contender Shakur “No Fear” Stevenson, 13-0 (7), of Newark, NJ, easily defeated No. 2 contender Joet Gonzalez, 23-1 (14), of L.A., CA, over 12 rounds.
In the first round southpaw Stevenson used his jaab effectively countering Gonzalez. In the final 15 seconds Stevenson landed a 3-punch combination to the head and body of Gonzalez. In the second round Stevenson was very focused and making Gonzalez continuously miss countering him.
In the third round Gonzalez cannot cut off the ring and was warned twice by Referee Vic Drakulich for stepping on Stevenson’s feet to stop him from moving so much. In the final 20 seconds Stevenson is smiling at the frustration of Gonzalez trying to hit him. In the fourth round Stevenson continues to be two steps ahead of Gonzalez. Gonzalez ties up Stevenson so he can get some punches in. Stevenson continues to pepper the face of Gonzalez and lead lefts to the body.
In the fifth round Gonzalez warned in a clinch for hitting Stevenson behind the head. Stevenson continued boxing well with the exception of the seventh round dominated Gonzalez the rest of the way. Gonzalez only won one out of twelve rounds.
Scores were 119-109 from judges Eric Cheek, Glenn Feldman and Dave Moretti. This writer agreed.
“(IBF Champ) Josh Warrington who said he won’t fight me unless I got a title so now I got a title so I got a title and I want to unify the titles,” said Stevenson. He is the first member of the 2016 Olympic medal winners of which he won a Silver Medal to win a world championship. Warrington improved his record to 30-0 (7), on October 12th with a second round TKO over Sofiane Takoucht, 35-3-1, in Yorkshire, Leeds, UK.
On the undercard Joshua “Don’t Blink” Greer, Jr., 22-1-1 (12) of Chicago, IL, won a close 96-93 and 95-94 twice decision over Antonio Nieves, 19-3-2, for the WBC Continental Americas and the WBO NABO Bantamweight titles.
Super Featherweight Female Mikaela Mayer, 12-0 (5) of Colorado Springs, COL, stayed unbeaten defeating Alejandra Soledad “La China” Zamora, 7-4 (1), of Chubut, ARG, who retired after 6 rounds, in a NABF title defense.