Stevenson becomes three-weight world champion

Shakur Stevenson (21-0) won the vacant WBC lightweight title to become a three-division world champion when he unanimously outpointed Edwin De Los Santos (16-2) in Las Vegas, on Thursday night.

Stevenson won world title also in super-featherweight and featherweight.

Stevenson didn’t impress against Dos Santos.  He landed jabs that scored, hinting at his capabilities. But he was far too sparing with any power punches from his backhand. The styles of the two southpaws did not mesh but De Los Santos struggled too to put the American under pressure.

Stevenson won a unanimous decision, 115-113 and 116-112 twice on the judges’ scorecards.

It left De Los Santos frustrated. He condemned Stevenson afterwards.

“I came to fight, he came for a track meet,” he said. “He was gifted a title but I am the champion of the people.”

Stevenson won the belt, but did not allow himself much in the way of celebration.

“I had a bad performance tonight,” he admitted. “I wasn’t feeling too good.”

That suggested he did have some sort of ailment in the contest. But Stevenson provided no further details.

“I don’t make no excuses,” he said. ” I came here, got the victory, that’s all I wanted to do.

In co-main event of the evening the fight between Emanuel Navarrete (38-1-1) and Robson Conceicao (17-2-1) for WBO World Super Feather title ended in a draw.

Two judges scored the fight as draw, 113:113 and one gave the win to Navarrete (114-112). Conceicao was down twice during the fight.