Shakur Stevenson Clinches Boxing Medal in Rio

After a unanimous decision in his quarterfinal bout, Newark’s Shakur Stevenson clinched at least a bronze medal in the bantamweight division in the Rio Olympic boxing tournament.

In a tournament full of questionable judge’s decisions, Shakur Stevenson gave them absolutely no choice but to pick him, after dominating Mongolia’s Tsendbaatar Erdenebat coast to coast, even despite letting up in the third round. He is going to need to be stronger throughout the entire fight in the next rounds if he hopes to keep on winning, as judges are making questionable decisions. He needs to leave them no choice in the matter.

Stevenson, 19, was seen as the American men’s best chances at a boxing medal in Rio, after being shut out from the podium altogether in London. Nico Hernandez already secured a bronze in the light flyweight division, taking some of the immense pressure off of Stevenson’s shoulders.

However, Stevenson and his immense competitive nature isn’t thinking that way, as he expects to win gold. Floyd Mayweather was even in the stadium to watch his quarterfinal bout, a fighter who Stevenson had been compared to in fighting style, talent, and beaming confidence several times during his rise. Stevenson can also match Mayweather in another mark, with Stevenson never losing a single fight in his career.

After Michael Conlan of Ireland, the number one ranked fighter in the world in that class, was upset in his quarterfinal match, Stevenson was set up against Vladimir Nikitin of Russia in the semifinals, with a chance at the gold medal match on the line. Even if he loses however, he will be guaranteed a bronze medal, since there are two bronze medals awarded in every weight division.

The United States hadn’t won a medal in the bantamweight division since Sydney in 2000, and hasn’t taken home gold since Seoul in 1988. Stevenson will set to change that history when he squares off against Nikitin on Thursday afternoon.