AN action-packed card, culminating in a truly stunning finish from Hamzah Sheeraz, inspired a hurricane of mixed emotions earlier this morning.
It is the show-stopping main event, of course, that has largely dominated the headlines – and rightfully so – as Sheeraz wasted little time before laying his demons to rest at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, New York.
Along with that, a touch of class from Shakur Stevenson made for a vastly different, yet nonetheless captivating, spectacle against William Zepeda, while two more meaningful matchups only enhanced the night’s pulsating tempo.
Here, Boxing News takes a closer look at five major talking points from the four-fight extravaganza.
Alleged drug cheats are rarely treated as such
It was a controversial decision, at best, to allow Imam Khataev, a fighter who allegedly tested positive for Clomifene last year, to enter his assignment against David Morrell.
Just a few days prior to their encounter, the International Testing Agency (ITA) reported that Khataev is in the midst of a two-year ban.
If nothing else, the news should have been alarming enough to raise suspicion or, better still, inspire event organisers to promptly remove the light-heavyweight contender from his contest.
But instead, the fact that the ITA is not recognised by the New York State Athletic Commission emerged as an easy excuse, convincing enough to distract most from the shocking turn of events.
Dalton Smith could dethrone Subriel Matias
After dropping a convincing points decision to Liam Paro last year, Subriel Matias looked even more beatable this time around.
While rushing into the pocket – at times, throwing caution to the wind – it is fair to say that the former world champion put many of his defensive limitations on display.
Yet despite his reckless approach, Matias’s pressure was relentless enough to see him edge a majority decision against Alberto Puello.
Sitting ringside, meanwhile, was leading super-lightweight contender Dalton Smith, who, after being promised a shot at the newly-crowned WBC world champion, is likely to be licking his lips ahead of their potential clash on November 22.
That said, the ferocious power of Matias should nonetheless make for an intriguing battle, putting Smith’s superior boxing brain firmly to the test.
Shakur Stevenson is no ‘Tom and Jerry’ fighter
Stevenson executed a meticulous game plan against William Zepeda, nullifying much of his pressure with a seamless blend of spiteful counterpunches and slick defensive manoeuvres.
Early doors, Zepeda appeared the marginally stronger operator, targeting his opponent’s body while marching forward with an almost tangible desire for destruction.
Stevenson, however, maintained a cool head, utilising his fluid movement while, at times, holding his feet in the pocket, long enough to capture the judges’ attention before finding an exit.
In doing so, the 28-year-old struck a perfect balance between outboxing his less technically proficient opponent and keeping the fans engaged, at no point putting himself in any real jeopardy.
Hamzah Sheeraz is a problem at super-middleweight
The pressure for Sheeraz to perform was immense, so much so that even he, a typically laid-back customer, could not help but reveal a few nervy signals during the build-up.
Using those nerves to his advantage, though, the 26-year-old was able to pummel Edgar Berlanga like a man possessed, almost shaking the ring with each attack.
His vicious power was one thing, but the mentality of Sheeraz perhaps represented the most impressive aspect of his fifth-round stoppage victory, establishing him as a formidable contender at 168lbs.
One can only assume, too, that his mental fortitude has been expertly hardened since a link-up with trainer Andy Lee, which, from an outside perspective, looks to be a match made in heaven.
Shakur Stevenson vs Lamont Roach could make perfect sense
With Gervonta Davis staring down the barrel of a possible prison sentence – not for the first time, either – Lamont Roach Jr has been left scratching around for a more reliable dance partner.
A fighter that could quite easily fill those boots, it seems, is WBC world lightweight champion Stevenson, who actually called for a clash with Roach earlier this year.
It was shortly after the 29-year-old’s controversial draw with Davis, in fact, when Stevenson – clearly searching for a more meaningful fight following his victory over Josh Padley – threw his hat into the ring.
Yet now seems as good a time as ever for the pair to duke it out, both of them likely to engage in a technical chess match which, from a purist’s perspective, should make for a compelling watch.
