Shakur Stevenson did not take well, to put it mildly, the criticisms some directed at him regarding his latest performance on Saturday night, when he achieved a wide points victory over Armenian-German Artem Harutyunyan, thus retaining his WBC lightweight world title. Stevenson did not take any risks and outclassed his rival throughout the fight, but many still did not appreciate the spectacle, accusing the American of delivering yet another soporific performance.
The former Rio Olympic silver medalist has spent the last 24 hours compulsively using social media to insult and sometimes violently attack anyone who dared to express doubts about his performance. Particularly shocking was his post on X, where Stevenson openly threatened the well-known American journalist Steve Kim, who was merely guilty of stating that, besides winning, it is also important how one wins. These were the boxer’s exact words:
“Steve Kim is Fruity. Zesty ass dude reporting straight hate on me I’m gone start smacking these reporters and taking the charge that come wit it.”
Kim promptly replied, not without a certain dose of sarcasm:
“Well, I hope I never see you in a Miami parking garage, in that case…”
With this quip, the journalist clearly referred to the brawl Stevenson took part in several years ago, captured on camera, in the famous Florida city.
Regardless of what one thinks about Shakur Stevenson’s qualities and his recent victory, it is entirely evident that a champion worthy of representing our sport would do better to enhance their self-control. Violent phrases like those of the talented American boxer only serve to fuel negative stereotypes about boxing and must be condemned with absolute firmness.
Full solidarity from Boxe Punch naturally goes to Steve Kim.