Shakur Stevenson breaks down after losing Olympic gold medal match
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RIO DE JANEIRO – The drought continues.
The U.S. men’s boxing team hadn’t won an Olympic gold medal since Andre Ward in 2004, and that won’t change in the 2016 Rio Games as American Shakur Stevenson lost a rousing split decision to Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez in the bantamweight (56 kg.) gold medal match Saturday. The judges scored it 29-28 for Ramirez twice and once for Stevenson.
Ramirez won the gold medal at the 2012 London Games and was favored to beat Stevenson, but the American’s quick feet and varied body shots kept him in the close contest.
Stevenson struggled to find a rhythm in the opening round of the fight and Ramirez took advantage, stalking him and landing with several damaging punches. As is his signature style though, Stevenson smiled back at his opponent and took the second round on all three judges’ scorecards. Ramirez increased his pressure in the third and decisive round though, winning the fight on a late flurry of punches.
Stevenson, who is named after legendary rapper Tupac Shakur, appeared devastated by the decision. The 19-year-old covered his face in the ring and broke down in tears on his way out.
“I could have done better, but I made a lot of mistakes and things I did wrong,” Stevenson said. “[Ramirez] came and did what he had to do. I had a game play to try and out-box him and it didn’t work…maybe next time.
“…I could have thrown more punches and try and box him. I was hurt. I hate losing more than anything. I’m disappointed in myself.”
When the disappointment wears off, perhaps Stevenson will take pride in what he accomplished here in Rio. His silver medal is the first for the American men since the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
It was the first amateur loss of Stevenson’s career as he was 25-0 internationally coming into the bout. He is expected to turn pro at the conclusion of the Olympics and sign with Mayweather Promotions, fronted by former world champion Floyd Mayweather.
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Mayweather had been courting Stevenson for the duration of the Olympics. The retired world champion really started to lay it on thick after Stevenson’s quarterfinal win though, lauding him at length in front of reporters while referring to him as “the next Floyd Mayweather“.
He even went so far as to welcome Stevenson to his organization on Wednesday, tweeting that he wished to “extend a warm welcome to @ShakurStevenson into The Money Team family.”
Stevenson made the final by walkover as Russia’s Vladimir Nikitin was too beaten up by Ireland’s Michael Conlan in the quarterfinals to compete in the semifinals.
The loss drops American boxers to 14-7 in these Games.
Claressa Shields is the only fighter left for Team USA as she tries to defend her 2012 gold medal in the middleweight final Sunday against Nouchka Fontijn of the Netherlands.
But the American men won’t touch gold for at least another four more years.
