Shakur-Yoshino Final Press Conference

Shakur Stevenson Vs Shuichiro Yoshino Faceoff
Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images

Undefeated former two-weight world champion Shakur Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) will take on Japanese puncher Shuichiro Yoshino (16-0, 12 KOs) in a 12-round WBC lightweight title eliminator on ESPN this Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. At Thursday’s press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.

Shakur Stevenson: “He walks around here with a smile, and I can’t wait to wipe that smile off his face. This dude been running around here saying that I don’t have any power. He’s been saying that he’s going to push me mentally. Let’s see if he’s ready to go to deep waters with me. I’m going to drown him. You’re going to see everything in the arsenal. I’m going to go out there and box him. I’m going to beat him up. He’s going to leave that ring knowing that I’m the best fighter he’s ever been in the ring with.”

Shuichiro Yoshino: “I’m really pumped up for the fight. I’m really excited. I’m excited to fight for the WBC title. This opportunity is really going to change my place in boxing. My trainer and I have been studying Shakur. We have a game plan to implement on Saturday.”

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  • I wonder if shakur drained weight yoshino???
    The Japanese is a good boxer but black boxers have a very ugly style they are fast but they avoid the toe to toe fight , in a few words black boxer win but never convinced, they win with unflavored victories,,…people fall asleep
    If this Japanese fights against a Mexican it would be the fight of the year

    • There are people who deny racism in boxing. You are a prime example. You’re basically saying “black boxer” are great but you don’t give them credit because of their skin color.

      • Don’t be in defensive I said the black boxing is effective but lack of action , you are bored to watch people fell asleep, Mexicans are very exciting to watch we give lots of fight of the year people jump of excitement when Mexicans fight

        • Bud Crawford, Shawn Porter, Deontae Wilder, Tank David just to name a few aren’t what you call “boring.” Do they not go for the kill? This fight is between Stevenson and Yoshino so what do “Mexicans” have to do with this fight? Clearly your gripe is with Stevenson who defeated a “Mexican” Valdez. Time for you to get over it.

          • Well we also beat Whitaker , Austin trout , Mosley, Andre berto , Floyd Mayweather but José Luis castillo was robbed etc etc
            But the point here is the style , you having a good time right now but we dominate boxing for years now it’s your time and now you have shakur Haney and tank
            Before we had Barrera morales and Marquez And we made history with legendary trilogies and fights of the year shskur Haney and tank won’t be able to do this because your bored style you hit and we fight going g forward like warriors

        • Dude you literally wrote “black boxing.” What is “black boxing?” Are you not referring to skin color?

          • Black boxing is referred to black peoples but I never said because the color you are not good or bad stop being in defensive that’s why for you everybody is racist

          • carlos is mexican. mexicans eat greasy food. his lil greasy fingers typed something his greasy ass cannot splain Roocy..

      • I don’t think Carlos explained himself well, but I think he was trying to refer to style rather than race. The problem is there are always exceptions like Roy Jones Jr. and many others.

        • Don’t get in this. Let him explain it himself. He said it so let him explain it. You’re “exceptions” comment was no better lol. Blind leading the blind.

      • dumbass..twisted fuck..Pernell was not great because he was black.

    • The article says it’s an official WBC lightweight eliminator, which means the weight is 135lbs. Yoshino is a career lightweight. Lightweight fighters in professional boxing fight at 135lbs. in title fights and eliminators. Stevenson moved up from 130lbs. to fight at 135lbs. It is not a catchweight fight. You sound like you are trying to come up with excuses for Yoshino before the fight even starts. Why would you make excuses for a good fighter? How do you read this article and think Yoshino is being forced to be weight drained by Shakur? Stevenson, who missed weight in his last fight at 130lbs. is moving up to fight the career 135lber. Yoshino, who again is not fighting at a weight lower than 135lbs. Did I mention Shakur isn’t making anyone cut weight? Do you understand the fight is at 135lbs. and that is the same weight where Yoshino typically fights? You should be smarter like Yoshino, who knows what weight class he fights in. Do they have weight classes in Mexico? Of course they do the WBC is based in Mexico and they are sanctioning this match as a lightweight eliminator (which is at 135lbs). I’m not sure you understand what that means. I could write it out in stone pictographs if that makes it easier?

      • When I mention the drain weight was sarcastic about tank Davis who refused to fight Ryan at 140 where tank fought berrios at 140

        • Who the hell mentioned Davis or Garcia in the article? This fight doesn’t have anything to do with them? How do you even draw that parallel? Oh wait because Davis is black and Stevenson is black? Such incredible logic. I guess since Pacquaio fought catch weight matches every Filipino boxer wants to make their opponents weight drained too? Or just the black fighters?

    • “The Japanese is a good boxer but black boxers have a very ugly style they are fast but they avoid the toe to toe fight”.’
      – We have a new candidate for idiotic post of the week…..

      • You mean “idiotic post of the week that got too much attention”

  • Possible fight (even upset?) of the year… excellent matchmaking!

    • No lets call it what it is. Racist fans are typical in boxing. He’s the example to those who deny it. He knows what he’s saying.

  • I’M GLAD ALL THE TRASH TALKING IS OVER… IT’S REALLY A WAIST OF TIME ALSO GLAD IT’S ON E.S.P.N. AND NOT PAY PER VIEW BECAUSE E.S.P.N. IS ENOUGH TO PAY FOR AS IT IS…

  • So tired of the racist comments on here. Grow the fk up or drop dead!

    Some fighters are boxers that move and counter. Other fighters are come forward all action type that try to break you down. race or color has no bearing on which type you are.

    roger mayweather said it best, some fighters fight with all heart. Some fight with brains.

    While machismo and bravado are needed, the top fighters use their brains and just fight smarter. Hit and not get hit is the name of the game.

    The pressure fighter however, is actually taking more risks by coming forward than boxer who moves and counters.

    And Unfortunately it is not always fan friendly but it is still a skill.

    I think boxing commissions could help make it more fan friendly by placing a little more emphasis on scoring action for the fighter that is coming forward and throwing first since they are the ones trying to make the fight.

    That could go a long way in to making it more pleasing for fans and rewarding the fighter pressing the action in close rounds.

    • They don’t because those pressing the action often don’t land enough scoring punches.

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