American boxer Shakur Stevenson is a unified world champion after he defeated Oscar Valdez by a unanimous decision at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, United States, on Sunday morning (South African time).
The 24-year-old Stevenson added the World Boxing Council (WBC) junior-lightweight title to his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) belt.
Stevenson dominated throughout the contest fighting behind the jab and even decked the Mexican in the sixth round. All three judges gave the fight to Stevenson with 117-110 (Tim Cheatham) and 118-109 (Dave Moretti and David Sutheland) score cards.
The unbeaten southpaw stretched his record to 18 wins and nine knockouts while 31-year-old Valdez has 30 victories with 23 stoppages and a loss.
Meanwhile, unbeaten 35-year-old Katie Taylor from Ireland retained beat Puerto Rican Amanda Serrano by a split decision in an earlier fight.
As a result, Taylor held on to her WBC, World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and WBO female lightweight titles. Taylor’s record reads 21 victories with six stoppages while Serrano dropped to 42 wins (30 knockouts), two defeats and a draw.
