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Stevenson vacates WBO featherweight belt, moving to junior lightweight

Al Bello / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Shakur Stevenson announced Thursday that he's vacating his WBO featherweight belt to move up to junior lightweight.

"We're moving on up ... we're getting all the belts, and everyone at 130 (pounds) can get it," Antonio Leonard, one of Stevenson's promoters, told ESPN's Steve Kim.

Stevenson claimed the then-vacant WBO featherweight belt by defeating Joet Gonzalez via unanimous decision in October. He was scheduled to defend against IBF title-holder Josh Warrington in a unification bout this summer but the fight was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Though he doesn't have an opponent scheduled at his new weight class, Leonard said Stevenson should be ready to step back into the ring next month. Stevenson indicated to Kim that he'd like to fight for a title quickly.

"I think I should be in the rankings to fight for a title (at junior lightweight) ASAP," Stevenson said. "I think I deserve it."

The 23-year-old added that he'd like his first opponent at junior lightweight to be Leo Santa Cruz.

Current junior lightweight title-holders

Organization Title Holder
WBO Jamel Herring
IBF Joseph Diaz Jr.
WBA Leo Santa Cruz*
WBC Miguel Berchelt

*WBA regular champion is Rene Alvarado; WBA interim champion is Chris Colbert

Stevenson owns a career 14-0 record as a professional, with eight of his wins via knockout. Last month, he scored a sixth-round victory over Felix Caraballo in a non-title junior lightweight fight.

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