AMERICAโS Shakur Stevenson advanced to the 56kgs semi-final after outpointing Mongoliaโs Tsendbaatar Erdenebat, 30-27 for all three judges, on Tuesday (August 16). He’s guaranteed an Olympic bronze medal and will box for a place in the final on Thursday (August 18).
He noticed none other than Floyd Mayweather in the crowd. โI got excited and I got a little nervous but I got it done,โ Shakur said.
Mayweather was issuing some advice from the stands. โHe kept saying jab. Then he kept saying go to the body. I heard him a lot,โ Stevenson said. โHeโs been in the same situation before, he mastered boxing, heโs one of the greatest. So of course Iโve got to listen once I hear Floyd talking.โ
He saw Michael Conlanโs controversial defeat to Russiaโs Vladimir Nikitin as he was warming up for his semi-final. โI wanted to fight Conlan. I felt Conlan won his fight, honestly, but now weโve got to focus on the Russian,โ Shakur said. โI thought he made it clear. I guess the judges saw different. I plan on going in there and focusing on what Iโve got to do and not worry about no judges or nothing.
โIโve got to stay focused and go get that gold medal now.โ
Along with Nico Hernandezโs bronze, the USA boxing team is assured of two medals at Rio 2016. And middleweight Claressa Shields hasnโt even got started yet.
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