Shakur Stevenson and boxing return triumphantly

Back for the first time since Covi1d19 went global, WBO super featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson (14-0, 8 KOs), fighting in a non-title fight, stopped tough Felix Caraballo (13-2-2, 9 KOs) in round six at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV Tuesday night.

Honestly, southpaw Stevenson,22, was a pretty rude host to Caraballo – who was fighting for the first in the United States. The talented 55-1 favorite flashed superior foot and hand speed. Stevenson landed a number of combinations in round one against the aggressive Caraballo. He knocked Caraballo to the canvas with a body shot. More was to come later.

Stevenson continued to tee off in round two. A four-punch combination dazed Caraballo. Stevenson couldn’t miss. Caraballo kept trying, but all he got for his trouble was more pain. Stevenson connected with an uppercut, and seconds later, a wicked right to the ribs.

The one-sided beating continued in round four. A three-punch combo connected. Caraballo matched forward, fired, and missed. Stevenson softened Caraballo up with more bodyshots. Caraballo landed his own bodyshot in round five. Stevenson fired back and of course, landed. Caraballo wobbled, but stayed upright. Not for long though. Stevenson ended things a few minutes later with a beautiful shot to the solar plexus.

Time was 1:31 seconds into round six.

“My mind set was to get him out of there,” said Stevenson. “It was a different atmosphere. “

Undercard action:

Young heavyweight Jarad Anderson (4-0, 4 KOs) stopped game Johnnie Langston (8-3, 3 KOs). Anderson teed off from the opening bell. He fired punches to the head and body. Langston tried to box but couldn’t keep the aggressive Anderson off him. The end came in round three when Anderson landed shot after shot on the noggin of Langston.

Time was 1:55.

Big Italian heavyweight Guido Vianello (7-0, 7 KOs) stopped even bigger Donald Haynesworth (16-4-1, 14 KOs) in the opening round. The six-foot-six-inch Vianello landed a double left hand that knocked Haynesworth back a step. His jab was on point. A chopping right hand put Haynesworth on his back. The almost 300-pound fighter got up, but referee Jay Nady didn’t like how Haynesworth responded to his questions.

Time was 2:16 seconds.

In a six round middleweight contest, Quatavous Cash (12-2, 7 KOs) won by technical decision over Calvin Metcalf. Scores were 60-54, 60-55, 59-55. Blood flowed from a cut over Metcalf’s forehead after an accidental headbutt. The ringside doctor advised the referee that the fight was over in the last round.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez (3-1, 3 KOs) needed only 54 seconds to knock out Yeuri Andujar (5-4, 3 KOs) in the opening bout of the evening. Southpaw Ramirez bounced and let fly with sharp shots. Andujar almost went down after walking into a long-left hand. Seconds later, Ramirez followed up with a bodyshot and uppercut sending Andujar to the canvas. Andujar pulled himself up, but went down again soon after, prompting the referee to wave off the contest.