Tag Archives: stevenson

2023 Fantasy Football: SportsLine’s 12-Team Half-PPR Expert Mock Draft features Jonathan Taylor, Josh Jacobs, and Rhamondre Stevenson all as top-30 picks – SportsLine

  1. 2023 Fantasy Football: SportsLine’s 12-Team Half-PPR Expert Mock Draft features Jonathan Taylor, Josh Jacobs, and Rhamondre Stevenson all as top-30 picks SportsLine
  2. Fantasy football 2023 rankings, draft prep: QB, WR, RB, TE picks, cheat sheets, ADP, tiers by computer model CBS Sports
  3. Fantasy football sleepers to draft The Washington Post
  4. Easy fantasy football offenses: Which narrow-usage NFL trees can you trust in 2023? Yahoo Sports
  5. TJ’s Targets: 22 Players I Want in Every Fantasy Football Draft (Plus 12 Deep-League Targets) 4for4
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News

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Ray Stevenson, Actor in ‘Punisher: War Zone,’ ‘RRR’ and ‘Thor’ Films, Dies at 58 – Variety

  1. Ray Stevenson, Actor in ‘Punisher: War Zone,’ ‘RRR’ and ‘Thor’ Films, Dies at 58 Variety
  2. Ray Stevenson, ‘Punisher: War Zone’ and ‘Rome’ Star, Dies at 58 Yahoo Entertainment
  3. Ray Stevenson Dies: ‘RRR’, ‘Thor’, Vikings’ & ‘Divergent’ Actor Was 58 Deadline
  4. Ray Stevenson, Star Wars: Ahsoka and Marvel Movie Actor, Dead at 58 ComicBook.com
  5. Ray Stevenson, Actor in the Thor Movies and ‘RRR,’ Dies at 58 Hollywood Reporter
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News

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Venetia Stevenson, ‘the most photogenic girl in the world’ who dated Elvis, quit acting for this reason

Whenever Venetia Stevenson walked into a room, every man would turn his head and gawk, including Elvis Presley.

The actress and model, who was once labeled “the most photogenic girl in the world,” died in September at age 84. Tab Hunter’s longtime partner Allan Glaser confirmed to Fox News Digital that he’s producing a film about Hunter’s life in which Stevenson is prominently featured.

Her sister Caroline Stevenson spoke to Fox News Digital about how her “idol” captivated some of Hollywood’s sought-after leading men, including the King of rock ‘n’ roll.

Venetia Stevenson poses with Elvis Presley at his home in Memphis.
(Getty Images)

“Elvis Presley was one of the most polite, wonderful, genuine kind men she’s ever met,” said Caroline. “Of course, me being a teenager, I thought, ‘Oh my God, is Venetia going to marry Elvis?’”

MOTHER DOLORES HART EXPLAINS WHY SHE LEFT HOLLYWOOD TO BECOME A NUN: ‘GOD CALLED ME’

Stevenson, the daughter of “General Hospital” star Anna Lee and “Mary Poppins” director Robert Stevenson, became romantically linked to the singer in the late ‘50s. She visited him in Memphis, Tennessee, and the pair were photographed attending a screening of Presley’s 1957 film “Loving You.”

“He couldn’t have been nicer,” said Caroline. “She did go and stay with him. I know they stayed in separate bedrooms because she made it very clear that’s how she wanted it. He respected that. And she thought he was just wonderful. But nothing ever evolved beyond that. Can’t imagine why. I mean, we were all doing flip-flops whenever he walked into a room.”

Venetia Stevenson appeared on a magazine in “Back to the Future Part II.”
(Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

“I remember he was so down-to-earth,” she continued. “He came to this little restaurant and ordered a hamburger. The waitress was just swooning. And here he is saying, ‘This food is delicious. But you’ve got to make this lettuce smaller. You’ve gotta chop it up. Chop this lettuce up, or it just falls off the hamburger.’ Meanwhile, the waitress is just fainting almost on the floor.”

Joanna Venetia Invicta Stevenson was born in 1938. It was around this time her father signed a contract with producer David O. Selznick, and the family traveled from London to Hollywood. At 14, Stevenson was scouted by photographer Peter Gowland on a beach in Malibu, California. Her photos soon appeared in numerous magazines, including Esquire.

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In 1956, Stevenson was signed by RKO Radio Pictures. She and Bond girl Ursula Andress even took tap-dancing lessons together. She then signed a contract with Warner Bros. Then, Popular Photography magazine named her “the most photogenic girl in the world” out of 4,000 contestants in its 1957 issue. She accepted the award on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

Venetia Stevenson alongside a young Burt Reynolds, circa 1960.
(CBS via Getty Images)

“I remember I was in Grand Central Station [in New York City] and I looked at the magazine stand,” Caroline recalled. “One time, I counted 46 magazine covers with my sister. She’s a chameleon. She could be Marilyn Monroe. She could be Ingrid Bergman. She could be whoever the photographer wanted her to be. 

“She just had this incredible ability to make herself look completely different in each photo. Some people thought she was a little distant or reclusive. The truth is, I felt Venetia was always a little shy. And I guess some people mistook that for coldness. She had a great sense of humor. I never knew her to speak unkindly about anyone.”

PAUL NEWMAN AND JOANNE WOOWARD HAD A ‘COMPLICATED’ MARRIAGE, DAUGHTER SAYS: ‘THERE WAS A VIBE OF TENSION’

As a movie star, Stevenson dated “all kinds of people,” Caroline shared. She acted as a confidant for Hunter, a Hollywood heartthrob who was closeted at the time, and “Psycho” star Anthony Perkins. Hunter was allegedly one of Perkins’ first lovers, Entertainment Weekly reported. In the 2015 documentary “Tab Hunter Confidential,” Stevenson said she served as “a beard” when she was photographed around town with the two actors.

“I remember I got to stay at her apartment one time,” Caroline recalled. “She would get a lot of phone calls, and I was able to mimic her voice. I would have about seven- to 10-minute conversations with all sorts of people who wanted to be with her. I remember there was this man who was in charge of Warner Bros. at the time, and he really wanted to date Venetia. I just had this wonderful conversation with him, mostly yes and no, but quite a lot of nos.”

Russ Tamblyn and Venetia Stevenson were married from 1956 until 1957.
(Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Stevenson said “I do” to “West Side Story” actor Russ Tamblyn on Valentine’s Day 1956. However, the relationship was short-lived, and the pair called it quits in 1957. It was at “The Ed Sullivan Show” where she met Don Everly of The Everly Brothers. They were married from 1962 until 1970.

Stevenson and Everly had three children, including actress Erin Everly. Erin married Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose in 1990. According to reports, it was Erin who inspired the band’s hit song, “Sweet Child o’ Mine.” Their marriage was annulled in 1991.

Despite having a life of glitz and glamour, Stevenson quit acting after marrying Everly.

Phil Everly, left, congratulates brother Don Everly, who married screen star Venetia Stevenson. Everly and Stevenson were married from 1962 until 1970.
(Getty Images)

“She would not mind me saying this, but my sister Venetia was not a good actress,” Caroline chuckled. “She would be the first to tell you that. She didn’t like acting. But she was under contract and when you are, it doesn’t matter whether you like acting or not. That’s just what you do. She got out as soon as her contract was done. And she was happy to get out at the time. The [studio] had its stable of celebrities. And there was so much more she wanted to do.”

BURT REYNOLDS’ PAL RECALLS ‘SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT’ STAR’S FINAL DAYS: ‘IT REALLY TOOK US ALL BY SURPRISE’

Stevenson went on to serve as a script reader for Burt Reynolds’s production company. She also became a vice president at the production company Cinema Group and a manager who represented director Renny Harlan.

“I’ve never really known anything but Hollywood,” Stevenson once said. “I don’t think I could relate to a physician or an accountant. What would we talk about? I guess, when I really stop and think about it, I have lived a very narrow existence because movies are all I know.”

Tab Hunter’s longtime partner Allan Glaser confirmed to Fox News Digital he’s producing a film about the actor’s life in which Stevenson is prominently featured. Hunter died in 2018 at age 86.
(Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Fighting back tears, Caroline said it was difficult watching her sister battle Parkinson’s disease shortly before her death.

“I pray for her all the time that she’s really found happiness because she had Parkinson’s in the end,” said Caroline. “And I know how hard it was for her having been so beautiful. Parkinson’s is so cruel to your body, your everything. I wish I could have given her more comfort. I still feel her loss very much.”

‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’ STAR CLAUDIA WELLS REVEALS HER FAVORITE THEORY ABOUT JENNIFER PARKER: ‘IT’S WILD’

Stevenson’s brother, actor Jeffrey Byron, confirmed to Fox News Digital that the star died at a health care center in Atlanta.

Venetia Stevenson quit acting after marrying Don Everly, but she found herself busy pursuing new, surprising roles behind the camera.
(Universal Pictures/Film Favorites/Getty Images)

“My sister was resilient in this industry,” he said. “She took life as it came to her. And when things maybe didn’t go quite her way, she was able to turn it around and find new adventures and succeed in those adventures.”

“She had an amazing life,” added Caroline. “I really idolized her. With everything that she accomplished, I’m just so happy that she was my sister.”

Stevenson is survived by Byron, Caroline and her daughter Erin, as well as another daughter named Stacy, a son named Edan, a brother named Steve and four grandchildren.

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Fantasy Football Week 6 Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em Running Backs: Rhamondre Stevenson gets featured role for Patriots

Now the byes start to bite us, too. D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams, D’Andre Swift, Dameon Pierce, Rex Burkhead, Josh Jacobs and Derrick Henry are enjoying a week off. Jonathan Taylor,, D’Andre Swift, James Conner, Damien Harris, Rashaad Penny, Cordarrelle Patterson, Nyheim Hiines,, Elijah Mitchell, Darrel Williams, Justice Hill, Gus Edwards, and Damien Williams are among those dealing with injuries. So which running backs should you be counting on this week?

It is be our objective to help you find running backs you’ll want to move in and out of your lineups based on matchups every week. Playing matchups is key, and we’re here to find you the perfect path to a winning in 2022. 

START ‘EM & SIT ‘EM

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Shakur Stevenson vs. Robson Conceicao – LIVE BoxingScene Scorecard

Top junior lightweight Shakur Stevenson will return in the main event against Brazilian standout Robson Conceicao this Friday, Sept. 23 at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+. The event takes place at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (photos by Mikey Williams)

>>>>CLICK HERE FOR THE LIVE RESULTS<<<<

The WBC, WBO super featherweight titles will only be at stake for Conceicao – after Stevenson failed to make weight on Thursday and was forced to vacate his belts.

Newark native Stevenson (18-0, 9 KO) returns to fight in his hometown against 2016 Brazilian Olympic Gold Medalist Robson Conceicao (17-1, 8 KO).

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A’s Designate Jed Lowrie, Select Cal Stevenson

The Athletics announced a series of roster moves prior to today’s game, recalling left-hander JP Sears and selecting the contract of outfielder Cal Stevenson. In corresponding moves, righty Paul Blackburn has been placed on the 15-day injured list and infielder Jed Lowrie has been designated for assignment. Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle relays word from the team that Blackburn’s injury is an inflamed right middle finger.

Lowrie, 38, is a veteran playing in his 14th MLB season, with seven of the last nine being in Oakland. He signed a two-year deal with the Mets prior to the 2019 season, which turned out to be a disaster as mounting injuries limited Lowrie to just nine games over the course of that contract. He returned to Oakland last year and had a nice bounceback, hitting at a league average rate over 139 games.

The A’s brought him back for 2022 on a modest $850K salary, with a $100K bonus for spending 60 days on the active roster and a $150K bonus for being traded. With Oakland undergoing a massive sell-off during the offseason, it seems like the A’s wanted Lowrie aboard as a competent veteran presence amid their roster of youngsters. If he played well enough to be shipped out for prospects at the deadline, that would have been a nice bonus. Unfortunately, Lowrie has a .180/.245/.263 line on the season for a wRC+ of just 49. Now that the deadline has passed, it seems that the A’s will use the season’s final few months to evaluate younger players, with Lowrie getting nudged out of the picture.

One of those younger players getting a shot for Oakland down the stretch is Stevenson. The 25-year-old was a 10th round pick of the Blue Jays in 2018 but has since been a part of numerous trades. He went to the Astros alongside Aaron Sanchez and Joe Biagini in the 2019 deal for Derek Fisher. Houston then traded him to Tampa in 2020 as part of the Austin Pruitt deal. The Rays sent Stevenson to the A’s last month as part of the return for Christian Bethancourt.

The left-handed hitter has always carried himself well at the plate, posting double-digit walk rates at each of his minor league stops and always getting his wRC+ above 100, indicating above-average production. He first reached Double-A in the Rays’ organization last year, getting into 92 games, walking 15.3% of the time and hitting .254/.368/.403. That amounted to a wRC+ of 118, or 18% above average, with 17 stolen bases thrown in for good measure. This year, he’s been in Triple-A all year, split between the Durham Bulls and the Las Vegas Aviators. In 73 combined games, he’s amazingly walked in 15.3% of his plate appearances again, while hitting .275/.387/.402 for a wRC+ of 113, swiping 15 bags in the process. He’ll get a chance to see how he carries himself against big league pitching over the final few weeks of 2022, before the A’s decide how to proceed with building their roster for next season.

It’s unclear how long Blackburn will be out of action, but it seems like Sears will at least get a couple of turns in the rotation. The 26-year-old Sears was one of the players who came over from the Yankees in the Frankie Montas trade just over a week ago. He pitched in seven games for the Yanks this year but will be making his Oakland by starting today’s game, taking the place of Blackburn, who was the originally scheduled starter.



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Shakur Stevenson cruises past Oscar Valdez to unify junior lightweight titles by unanimous decision

Looking to prove he’s one of boxing’s pound-for-pound best, Shakur Stevenson put his WBO junior lightweight championship up against WBC champion Oscar Valdez in a big unification bout on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Despite the fight being the most dangerous of Stevenson’s career, he made very easy work of Valdez, cruising to a wide unanimous decision win.

Valdez, a fighter known for a rugged and aggressive approach to his bouts, spent much of the fight stuck in neutral, standing in front of Stevenson without letting his hands go. This approach allowed Stevenson to employ a simple strategy of jabs to set up straight lefts from his southpaw stance.

Valdez had brief moments of success, occasionally being able to bully his way forward and throw body shots at the slicker, more skilled Stevenson. Those moments were few and far between, however, and it was often Stevenson whose body shots provided the more meaningful work.

The biggest moment of the fight came in Round 8, when Stevenson hit a right hook that stumbled Valdez. Another right hook seconds later sent Valdez shooting into the ropes. With the ropes holding him up, it was ruled a knockdown, giving Stevenson a 10-8 round and some extra padding in a fight where he truly never needed it.

Valdez simply did not present any true danger for Stevenson for the full 12 rounds, leaving the ring with a swollen, reddened face after absorbing round after round of crisp, clean shots.

In fact, the riskiest moment of the night for Stevenson may have come when he interrupted his post-fight interview to propose to the mother of his young daughter in the middle of the ring. She said yes, giving Stevenson his second win in one evening.

The final scorecards read 117-110, 118-109 and 118-109, all, unsurprisingly, for Stevenson.

Asked what’s next in the ring, Stevenson acknowledged his future may be at lightweight before saying the immediate concern is collecting two more belts at junior lightweight.

“I’m a superstar in this sport,” Stevenson said. “Line ’em up, name ’em. I’m ready for whoever. … Anybody. Any of the champions. I’m going to go collect all the belts at 130 and become undisputed. I deserve to be a superstar.”

Can’t get enough boxing and MMA? Get the latest in the world of combat sports from two of the best in the business. Subscribe to Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell for the best analysis and in-depth news, including instant analysis of both Taylor vs. Serrano and Stevenson vs. Valdez at the end of the night below.

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Shakur Stevenson ends news conference ends after brawl erupts

From the day he turned pro, this kind of performance from Shakur Stevenson was inevitable. He’s the kind of guy who can dominate boxing for a decade or more. He understands the game at a level few do. He’s blazingly quick, incredibly conditioned and unnaturally calm.

Oscar Valdez never had a chance against Stevenson in their bout Saturday for the WBC and WBO super featherweight titles before a lively, often raucous, crowd of 10,102 at the MGM Grand Garden. Stevenson won a unanimous decision by scores of 118-109 twice and 117-110 that was even easier for him than the wide cards would indicate.

He dumped Valdez in the sixth and managed to neutralize Valdez’s vaunted power. Valdez came into the bout 30-0 with 23 knockouts, but he rarely hit Stevenson clean with anything.

“He’s a great fighter,” Valdez said of Stevenson. “His speed is there. Power is there. He was just the better fighter tonight. Overall, a great fighter.”

Stevenson kept a jab in Valdez’s face from the opening moments. He didn’t “run,” as many in the Valdez camp had derisively predicted he would. Instead, he boxed beautifully, controlling the range, hitting Valdez with nearly everything he threw and putting together the kind of masterpiece few in this sport are capable of authoring.

Stevenson connected on an astounding 53 percent of his power shots and held Valdez to 29 percent.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 30: Shakur Stevenson (L) and Oscar Valdez (R) exchange punches during their WBC and WBO junior lightweight championship at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 30, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)

His manager, James Prince, previously managed Floyd Mayweather and Andre Ward, two fighters who finished undefeated and who will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June. There is a lot of Mayweather and Ward in Stevenson.

He’s not at their level yet, but he’s only 24 and neither Mayweather nor Ward were nearly a finished product at that age. But Prince has seen plenty of great fighters in his 20-plus years in boxing and he knows Stevenson is about to join that list.

“The sky is the limit,” Prince said of Stevenson. “Everybody who gets in front of him is going to have a problem.”

Stevenson’s biggest issue on Saturday was at the post-fight news conference. He began without his belts, and had to ask someone from his team to deliver them to him. Then, he shouted at the crowd on the side to quiet down so he could hear the questions.

Then, in a bizarre scene, there was a commotion to the left of the dais. Stevenson’s mother attempted to get into the news conference and security would not allow her into the room.

Stevenson was answering a question when he turned to his left, stared intently toward the door and listened for several seconds, and then sprinted off the stage and out the door of the ballroom where the news conference was being held. A fight ensued in the casino hallway outside the ballroom, and Stevenson was in the middle of it trying to get his family members out of it.

Prince told Yahoo Sports via text that Stevenson and his mother were fine. An MGM Grand spokesman said he was attempting to gather more information and reserved comment until he did so.

At his biggest moment, on the night he became a unified champion, he only answered a handful of questions before abruptly leaving.

He lost his moment in the sun because of it, though he was brilliant enough in the ring before a national audience on ESPN that his words at a news conference won’t be missed.

Shakur Stevenson, center, celebrates after defeating Oscar Valdez during a WBC-WBO junior lightweight title boxing bout Saturday, April 30, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Stevenson was beaming when he got to the news conference because he knew that he’d put on the performance of his life in his biggest moment. He largely shut up the heavily pro-Valdez crowd that was so exuberant before and during the early stages of the fight.

“That was an incredible crowd and they saw an incredible performance by an excellent fighter,” said Top Rank president Todd duBoef, who said he wasn’t sure what was next for Stevenson.

On the undercard, Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis was impressive in stopping Esteban Sanchez in the sixth. He seemed in awe of what Stevenson had done.

“Shakur’s come a long way, man,” said Davis, who might be boxing’s next big superstar. “Shakur won just about every round and Oscar basically never touched him.”

It’s going to take a complete fighter, one who has speed and the ability to cut off the ring, to give Stevenson much of a tussle. He’s already one of the best fighters in the world and he’s just getting better all the time.

“Just so, so impressive,” promoter Bob Arum said of Stevenson. “Incredible, really.”

The same could be said of the scene that forced Stevenson to flee the news conference.

But even that couldn’t detract from what was a brilliant night for the now unified champion from Newark, New Jersey.

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Shakur Stevenson dominates Oscar Valdez to win second title via unanimous decision

LAS VEGAS — Shakur Stevenson jogged around the ring with his hands held high as the seconds ticked away on the biggest night of his career.

For 12 rounds, he practically played with Oscar Valdez in what turned out to be an utter mismatch in the ESPN main event Saturday before 10,102 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Stevenson is simply that good.

He used an excellent southpaw jab — one of the best weapons in boxing — to keep Valdez at range and set up his own powerful left hand to the body. The unanimous-decision victory — scores of 117-110, 118-109, 118-109 — handed Stevenson a second title at 130 pounds.

“I’m a superstar in this sport,” the 24-year-old Stevenson said. ” … Line ’em up. I’m ready for whoever.”

Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) delivered a career-best performance in his previous outing, a 10th-round stoppage of Jamel Herring in his first bout against a reigning titleholder. The Newark, New Jersey-born Stevenson had been criticized for his risk-averse style but against Herring, he showed a more aggressive side.

“He was just a better fighter tonight,” Valdez said. ” … We’ll see what we have to do to improve. I don’t think this is the end.”

Valdez, 31, entered the biggest fight of his career following a maelstrom of controversy. The two-time Olympian from Mexico tested positive for the banned substance phentermine yet was allowed to proceed with a title defense vs. Robson Conceicao in September.

Valdez (30-1, 23 KOs) struggled during the first half of that bout, but rallied for the close decision victory. The bout was Valdez’s first title defense after he captured the belt from Miguel Berchelt last February in one of 2021’s best knockouts.

Valdez had been ranked No. 1 by ESPN at 130 pounds but was removed from the rankings after the adverse finding.

“I’m not a cheater. Never have been. Never needed it,” Valdez told ESPN’s Mark Kriegel in September. ” … A lot of people saying, ‘You’re a cheater. You’re using steroids. You came back positive.’ It’s just, it’s heartbreaking for me.”

The former featherweight champion, regarded for his fan-friendly style, blamed the positive result on herbal tea.

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Shakur Stevenson becomes unified junior lightweight champion after dominating Oscar Valdez with masterclass

Stevenson crowned unified junior lightweight champion

Judges score it as a unanimous decision (117-110, 118-109 and 118-110) all in favor of Stevenson, who takes Valdez’s WBC title, adding it to his own WBO hardware behind a dominant boxing masterclass.

Valdez-Stevenson; Round 12

Valdez quickly lunges, trying to throw everything and the kitchen sink. He misses on nearly everything. Stevenson further frustrates him by shuffling around the ring. Too elusive. Ninety seconds remaining. Inside work highlighted by short, crisp output from Stevenson. Moments later, he shoulders Valdez and pierces him with two quick shots. Thirty seconds left. Valdez digs to the body in a last-ditch effort and Stevenson stings back with a right hook. Stevenson dances around the ring and flexes during the waning seconds. Valdez gives chase and comes up empty. What a dominating performance from Shakur Stevenson, who will walk out of Vegas with two titles in tow. (10-9 Stevenson, 118-109 Stevenson)

Valdez-Stevenson; Round 11

Stevenson doesn’t bother with a clinch and cranks up a winding left uppercut. Stevenson stings Valdez with an unanswered three-punch combo to the head, body and head. On the defensive end, he’s making a lunging Valdez miss — almost looking like a matador with a bull in the process. Ref Kenny Bayless warns Stevenson about resting out his jab. Stevenson is up so big that it shouldn’t be a problem to take heed. Stevenson obliging Valdez’s request to fight inside. Perhaps he wants to further the statement he’s making. Unless Valdez lands a knockout shot, this one should be easy to score for judges ringside. (10-9 Stevenson, 108-100 Stevenson)

Valdez-Stevenson; Round 10

Valdez working hard to rally but Stevenson covers up and defends well. How frustrating that must be for Valdez who got inside but couldn’t land anything meaningful. Valdez goes for a wild right hand and misses with Stevenson evading the shot smoothly. Stevenson lands a short left to the temple and then finishes a three-punch combination to the body. Valdez is landing to the body while seeking an equalizer upstairs. The latter attempts, he keeps missing. A much better round for Valdez, however, he’s down on the scorecards so much that he’s going to have to land a devastating shot to have any chance at this point. (10-9 Valdez, 98-91 Stevenson)

Valdez-Stevenson; Round 9

Valdez catches Stevenson in cramped quarters and digs three right hands to the WBO titleholder’s body. He needs more of that kind of output and fast because Valdez is behind on the scorecards. Left to the face lands flush, before Stevenson deposits another shot to Valdez’s body. Valdez is respecting Stevenson’s power more as he’s moving inside with caution. Stevenson potshotting Valdez and landing at will, especially with that left hand, which is connecting upstairs and to the body. Stevenson is pouring it on. (10-9 Stevenson, 89-81 Stevenson)

Valdez-Stevenson; Round 8

Stevenson loose in between rounds, taking heed to game being told to him by his corner. He has been producing a masterclass thus far. Valdez’s warrior grit is being stifled by Stevenson’s skills. It’s just that simple. Or at least Stevenson is making it look that way. Three-punch combination from Stevenson, who shows his speed is a level or two above Valdez’s. Valdez attempts and misses a left hook and Stevenson returns fire with a left hook of his own. Left hook to the body from Valdez lands. He’s trying to time a damaging left hook with more on it to make this fight a lot closer. (10-9 Stevenson, 79-72 Stevenson)

Valdez-Stevenson; Round 7

Stevenson is in firm control as he continues to punish Valdez behind that jab while eluding harm’s way. He catches a lunging, possibly desperate Valdez with a perfectly-timed uppercut. Seconds later, Valdez presses and this time connects. But Stevenson quickly bounces to the outside and scores on more jabs. An uppercut follows. Valdez pumping and connecting on a right hand as he closes off the ring. Good work from Valdez but not enough to snag the round. (10-9 Stevenson, 69-63 Stevenson)

Valdez-Stevenson; Round 6

Stevenson back to peppering Valdez with the jab. And he catches and drops Valdez, who seemed to be off balance. The knockdown shot came on a pinpointed right hook from Stevenson.

Valdez is back on his feet and the fight resumes. Stevenson is picking up the aggression, piecing power punches together behind that jab. He’s stalking Valdez now. Brilliant stuff from Stevenson. Valdez is sporting a cut under his right eye and his face is reddened from Stevenson’s sharp output. (10-8 Stevenson, 59-54 Stevenson)

Valdez-Stevenson; Round 5

Stevenson has thrown 120 jabs through the first four rounds and enters this fifth frame using the same weapon of choice. Valdez pushes his way into the phonebooth and throws everything wildly with bad intentions — coming up empty on most of the attempts. Stevenson calculates well and counters with a stiff reminder. His range-finding jab is spawning some clever combinations now. Valdez once again closing the distance and coming up empty. He’s also getting hit while coming in. Big left hand lands for Stevenson who measures and catches Valdez as he’s coming in. Stevenson’s high ring IQ on full display here. (10-9 Stevenson; 49-46 Stevenson)

Valdez-Stevenson; Round 4

Valdez is working diligently to get inside and is reaching paydirt for his grind. 

Stevenson back outside to his comfort zone and he’s peppering Valdez with stinging, crisp shots. Be clear that Stevenson is scooping up points like this. Valdez lunges forward and crowds Stevenson’s space but misses most of his output. Stevenson digs to the body and goes upstairs on Valdez. Stevenson checks with ref about Valdez’s movements but the official tells him to keep fighting. (10-9 Stevenson, 39-37 Stevenson)

Valdez-Stevenson; Round 3

Stevenson is the bigger man in the ring and Valdez pops the right-hand jab, daring his younger opponent to bring the fight to him. Seconds later, Valdez stalks and misses with Stevenson making him pay with a counterpunch. Again, Valdez goes to the body and lands but Stevenson makes him pay with a left hook across the jaw. Valdez is increasingly cutting off the ring now and hitting Stevenson’s body. Splintering right through Stevenson’s guard from Valdez. Ref warns Stevenson for a low blow. Valdez pulls off his best round yet. Busy, grinding work from the WBC champion and all-around warrior. (10-9 Valdez, 29-28 Stevenson)

Valdez-Stevenson; Round 2

Another three-punch combination peppers Valdez. Stevenson is essentially executing target practice. Meanwhile, Valdez is pressing and coming up empty. Just as that was said, Valdez presses to the body and finds a bit of success, cutting off the ring and landing a shot. Valdez needs to do a lot more of that to close the gap on Stevenson and the WBO titleholder’s superb boxing skills. (10-9 Stevenson, 20-18 Stevenson)

Oscar Valdez vs. Shakur Stevenson; Round 1

Crisp left jab lands on an off-balance Valdez. Moments later, Stevenson flicks out the right jab as a temperature gauge before splitting Valdez’s guard with a left hand. Stevenson’s left is already finding a home. Valdez presses and Stevenson moves slickly out of harm’s way. Elusive movement. Left hand to the body followed by a right upstairs. Three-punch combination connects for Stevenson. Sharp first round for Stevenson, who flashes those dazzling boxing skills and ring management early. (10-9 Stevenson)

Stevenson led out by DaBaby

A coin toss determined who would come out second and Stevenson won. The WBO titleholder looking loose, yet laser-focused. This Vegas crowd is pro Valdez.

Valdez makes ring walk

The WBC champion is looking like a quiet storm before the fight.

Main event up next

Oscar Valdez, with his steely determination and grit, puts his WBC junior lightweight championship on the line against the pure boxing skills of Shakur Stevenson with the Newark, New Jersey product’s WBO title up for grabs as well. Who’s going to take it? We’re about to find out. However, we know who Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is pulling for. His stablemate, Valdez, of course.

Davis launches target practice barrage toward sixth-round TKO

A slashing right uppercut is followed by another right uppercut and compact right hook to the head. Davis combines that with a straight left through Sanchez’s guard and a left hook to the head. Two more left hooks rock Sanchez and a final right uppercut pierces through the guard for the referee to have seen enough.

Davis continues to impress! The future is bright for Davis and Ali Walsh.

Davis is all business

Davis in firm control through three

Davis is living up to his nickname, going about dismantling Sanchez methodically. He’s wrapping that left hook around Sanchez’s guard seemingly at will.

Meanwhile …

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