It appears that Shakur Stevenson will face Frank Martin for the vacant WBC lightweight world title on Thursday, November 16th in Las Vegas, ahead of the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix event.
The news broke first with Pro Boxing Fans' YouTube channel in which Top Rank CEO, Bob Arum commented the following.
"Yes, we do [have a fight date]," said Arum to Pro Boxing Fans. "The fight is signed and it will be the Thursday in November...before the Formula 1 big race in Las Vegas."
It was reported on Tuesday that Top Rank's Shakur Stevenson and TGB Promotions' Frank Martin, had come to terms on a fight, as first reported by Keith Idec of BoxingScene.com. The news came just a few hours prior to a scheduled purse bid.
Stevenson, boasting a record of 20-0 with 10 knockouts, and Martin, with an impressive 18-0 record featuring 12 KO wins, will fight on a school night for the world title as Devin Haney, the current undisputed lightweight world champion, is now the WBC lightweight champion-in-recess, as it appears he will move up and fight Regis Prograis for the WBC junior welterweight.
The bout proves to be one of the more marquee events of the fall of as it will signal the second appearance of both fighters in 2023, and it will see Shakur Stevenson looking to become a three-division world champion, and Frank Martin looking to win his first world title. The early assumption by many is that Shakur Stevenson's talent will be too much for Martin, the bout will see two top-rated true main event fighters vying for a world title.
Martin is trained by Derrick James, the trainer of Errol Spence Jr., and co-promoted by Errol Spence Jr.'s Man Down Promotions.
The bout will be broadcast by ESPN.
