Shakur Stevenson Blows Away Oscar Mendoza
2016 U.S. Silver medal winner Shakur Stevenson (4-0, 2 KO) defeats Oscar Mendoza (4-3, 1 KO) by second round technical knockout on the Vasyl Lomachenko–Guillermo Rigondeaux undercard at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
The official time of the stoppage was 1:38 of Round 2.
The 20-year-old Stevenson from nearby Newark, New Jersey put on a dizzying display of combinations to the body that overwhelmed Mendoza from the outset of the first round. The southpaw Stevenson was quick-as-lightning as he tagged the California native repeatedly and at will.
In the second round Stevenson started peppering Mendoza with a diet of body punches that left him completely exposed for blistering attack upstairs causing referee Sparkle Lee to call a halt to the bout and save Mendoza from further unnecessary punishment.
Stevenson has been criticized for not knocking his lesser known opponents out so he seemed extra determined to put on a show both for his hometown supporters and the ESPN worldwide television audience. Once the second round started Stevenson was laser focused on getting the stoppage one way or another.
This marks Stevenson’s fourth bout of 2017 and he’s coming off a six-round unanimous decision victory over David Michel Paz in Nebraska in August.
The oldest of nine siblings, Stevenson has since moved to Virginia where he now trains full time and joined Lomachenko’s camp and sparred with the WBO Junior Lightweight champion.
All photos by Mikey Williams/Top Rank
