Shakur Stevenson Vs. Jeremiah Nakathila fight forecast, undercard, odds, start time, how to watch, stream

The problem is not a lack of desire to join the best fighters on the planet. For the undefeated Shakur Stevenson, his opposition has become more about not wanting to do the same.

Stevenson (15-0, 8 KOs), a sensitive 23-year-old from Newark, New Jersey, returns on Saturday to summarize the third straight fight he has had in the last 12 months. ready to take the step.

Yes, the former WBO featherweight title holder and 2016 Olympic silver medalist will compete in the WBO provisional belt in his new 130-pound weight, which is likely to win the entire WBO lightweight champion (and good friend) Jamel Herring. with a win. But Stevenson is struggling with a well-known name when he holds the ESPN card title at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas against opponent Jeremiah Nakathila (21-1, 17 KOs).

The 31-year-old Nakathila, nicknamed “Low Key”, is as dark as an opponent despite his amazing level of WBO, and Stevenson was unable to pronounce his last name in the film “Morning Kombat” last week. Nakathila has also never fought professionally outside of his native Namibia.

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“You have to understand at the end of the day that I can’t force anyone to join the ring with me,” Stevenson told CBS Sports. “I can’t sit there, put a gun to someone’s head and say, ‘Fight me.’ If these fighters don’t want to fight, they don’t want to fight. In the end, that’s why I’m fighting Jeremiah Naka, whatever his name is. WBO 2 is the number. it just makes sense “.

If Stevenson has his way, Nakathila will be his last opponent in something like a showcase. Herring is ready to fight (23-2, 11 KOs) even as the two fighters share workouts together and walk through the same business and personal circles as Top Rank fighters linked to WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford.

Stevenson’s most coveted fight, however, is with WBC 130-pound champion WBC (29-0, 23 KOs) who mentioned his name earlier this year after the title he won over longtime champion Miguel Berchelt.

“I think Valdez and I should be in the next big fight. I don’t see any sense in waiting. I don’t understand, what are we waiting for? Is he trying to get the belt first?” Stevenson said. “I don’t understand. I was his obligatory at the age of 126 and soon after, he went up. A lot of people think Valdez is scared. I think he should prove he’s a Mexican warrior because Mexican fighters are tough people.

“I think he should show his passion [isn’t afraid]. Yes, Miguel Berchelt won but Miguel Berchelt and I are two different fighters. I respect Valdez’s victory but I don’t respect his actions. When he came out of the ring, he said he wanted to carry out the fight. So if you say that, you should be the man of your word. Prove that you will support what you tell people. “

Considering that both fighters compete for the Top Rank promotion flag on ESPN, it’s a fight that shouldn’t be difficult. Stevenson, to make sure there is no miscommunication, is ready to drive straight from the fight against Nakathila in Las Vegas this weekend and will go straight to the city’s Top Rank offices to get the final answer.

“I want to hear from their mouths that Valdez doesn’t want to fight me,” Stevenson said. “Anyway, I need that fight afterwards.”

Stevenson is now firmly within a group of five young fighters in the light sports division and the surrounding area, who seem to have the next “next” from the perspective of becoming an advanced star for the next era. Joining Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez Jr. and Devin Haney with this team, Stevenson said he has a willingness to fight all along, but he doubts the political and networking problems of boxing happen.

The 1980s would be dominated by a team known as the “Four Kings” – Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran – who fought nine times for 10 years to become the face of the sport, Stevenson is concerned that this generation does not have the same intentions.

“Everything is in the hands of the fighters; they have to be ready to fight each other,” Stevenson said. “Right now I’m putting myself in a position to fight any of these people. Every time the time comes, I’m ready. I don’t happen to be that, to be honest. I see them all. Shit each other and then act like everyone else in negotiations. [to fight each other] when they really aren’t. “

Until one of them gets in the ring against him, Stevenson is much more focused on finding someone who can get the best out of him.

“I don’t think they forced me to show too much,” Stevenson said. “I’m sorry everyone hasn’t seen some parts of my game already. The world doesn’t know a lot of things. They say, ‘Oh, Shakur is a skilled boxer and this or that.’ ‘They don’t really know what I got. At the end of the day, I don’t think they forced me to show too much. We don’t know, maybe it will come out on Saturday. We never know which fighter will come out. “

Fight card, probability

• Shakur Stevenson -3500 vs. Jeremiah Nakathila +1400, WBO junior lightweight title
• Julian Rodriguez -240 vs. Jose Pedraza +200, junior welterweights

Viewing information

• Day: June 12 | Place: Virgin Hotels – Las Vegas
• Start time: 22:00 ET | How to view: ESPN | Stream: fuboTV (try it for free)

Forecast

Nakathila is such a dark fighter that it is difficult to find anything close to an accurate assessment of his height or reach the net. The fighter’s tape, however, shows that he is aggressive and thin, but not close to Stevenson’s technical level.

The main issue of Nakathila is how much he will telegraph his right hand and the main punch of the orthodox attitude. He doesn’t traditionally get away from the owner and will have to go all out properly so that his pressure style can affect the opponent as he goes up in class.

Hopefully Stevenson will have his way with picking Nakathila with quick combinations to show what the future holds for both the division and the sport.

Choose: Stevenson via TKO7