Shakur Stevenson doesn't know what to make of the confidence shown by his opponent Artem Harutyunyan in the final days before their fight on Saturday, July 6.
Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs), the WBC lightweight champion, is used to his opponents looking shy, but Harutyunyan (13-1, 7 KOs) showed no signs of fear when the dozen were built. -round competition at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Facade or true self-belief?
It is possible that Harutyunyan is a good actor and hides his fears well so that his younger rival, Shakur, does not see. But another thing could be that he is not afraid because Shakur has no punching power, and he only throws one shot before running away.
That's his style, and it's been his way of fighting since his college days. Harutyunyan knows he'll have to work harder offensively to attack Shakur on foot because he won't stand in front of him, even though he's talked about wanting to get beat.
Shakur Warns Harutyunyan Not to Be Tired
In Shakur's last fight against Edwin De Los Santos last November, he threw weak punches and looked wary of getting cut by his opponent's heavy shots. Against De Los Santos, Shakur did not dare to sit down with his fists.
“He better not get tired out there,” Shakur Stevenson said on Top Rank Boxing, referring to his opponent Artem Harutyunyan on Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey. “That's what he better not do.”
“He doesn't face the truth. If the truth comes in, he won't laugh. Fear will set in,” said Wali Moses, Shakur's coach, giving his opinion on Harutyunyan.
“I don't think he's afraid,” Shakur said of Harutyunyan. “I don't think you know what it's really like until you get in there.”
“Right now he is just another opponent,” said Moses. “If he looks like that, and I admire him for that. You will need it.”
“He doesn't really think he's going to win,” Shakur said, trying to smile but clearly confused and annoyed by Harutyunyan's confidence. “It's a trick.”
Artem Harutyunyan: “Fear, I can smell it.”
Shakur Stevenson: “I don't have a brother. I won't lie to you. Little you, too. You have a big head**.”
Harutyunyan: “Yes, I told you that we are equal. Yes, it's easy to beat, yes?”
Shakur: “Were you doing your sit-ups?”
Harutyunyan: “What is sitting down? Ah, sitting down. Ah, you want to go to my body.”
Shakur: “Have you been doing your sit-ups?”
Harutyunyan: “What kind of joke? Okay, yes I have.”
Shakur: “Okay, I just wanted to make sure, man. We will check it.”
Harutyunyan: “Ah, okay.”
Shakur: “Look at this guy. A funny person.”
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