Whenever Shakur Stevenson last stood in the ring, it wasn’t a night worth remembering. Neither for him nor for his fans. However, he can make amends when he faces Artem Harutyunyan this Saturday before his home crowd. Will the home support propel him to the performance that his career needs? Or will it be a night where the challenger finally exploits the holes in his game and causes an upset?

The fans will witness an intriguing tactical tussle, when the two fight it out on July 6 at the Prudential Center in Newark, with the WBC lightweight strap on the line. The action will please orthodox fans, where every punch is thrown with calculation and met with a counterpunch. But who might come on top after those exchanges is anyone’s guess. Before that happens, let’s have a look at how the two boxers stack up.

Shakur Stevenson vs. Artem Harutyunyan: tale of tape

What has pushed Stevenson to the top of the weight classes? The 27-year-old is a skilled technician, who has mastered the art of hitting his foes and not getting hit. He puzzled the opponents with his boxing prowess, and none of the 21 fighters who faced him could budge him. His record of 21-0 with 10 KOs reflects his depending on his skills rather than his outrage, and his KO ratio of 47.62% reflects the same. What’s more? Stevenson utilizes his tall stature of 5’8″ (173 cm) and a reach of 68.0″ (173 cm) to maintain a distance from his foes and then catch them lacking, imposing his will.

Can the American boxer do the same to Harutyunyan, who is more experienced at 33 and was the bronze medalist at the 2016 Olympics? Interestingly, at the same Olympics, Stevenson had bagged a silver. The two even ventured into professional boxing together. The German boxer took his time, fought at his own pace, and after 13 grueling fights, is now at 12-1 with 7 KOs. What separates him from the WBC champion is his aggression and zeal to take the fight to his competitors. His KO ratio of 58.33% paints a similar picture.

While Harutyunyan cedes ground in size advantage, as he stands tall at 5’7″ (171 cm), he comes in heavier at 134.5 lbs (61.0 kg), compared to Stevenson’s 133.8 lbs (60.7 kg). So, the Yerevan native’s punches might sting more on Stevenson’s skin when the two clash. But is it enough to pull a win against ‘Sugar’? Does he have what it takes to deal with Stevenson’s pull-back style?

Prediction: X factor and where the fight will be won

What makes this fight an intriguing matchup for the fans? It’s the chip on Stevenson’s shoulder to put on an entertaining fight that will dictate the action. The Newark native is coming into the fight on the heels of a snoozefest against Edwin De Los Santos, where he threw only 65 punches. He is in dire need of a fan-friendly display that will protect his stocks, as well as his chances of bagging a lucrative contract as he enters free agency after this fight.

What is his X factor? Where does the champion have the edge? Undoubtedly, it’s his technical prowess and his ability to stay away from his rival’s hitting arc. Stevenson has to turn in a courageous output, where he stands in the pocket and exchanges with free hands. The three-division champion has the swift hand speed and footwork to do it too. But can he dominate a boxer, who no one has to date, especially with his punches, which are devoid of power?

Harutyunyan comes into the fight after dropping the first fight of his career against Frank Martin. Despite being on the wrong side of the decision, he showed heart and had a commendable first half, only to lose track in the latter rounds. What worked against him was his lack of experience against top fighters and his defensive gaps. In addition, ‘The Original’ has never fought for a world title either. Will it be his undoing, or will he plug holes and come in a better boxer on the fateful night?

One can argue that Harutyunyan has a similar defense-first-oriented fighting style too, which could pose some challenges to Stevenson, who prefers to react instead of initiate. So, what’s his X factor that might help him topple Stevenson? It’s his power. He could attempt to pick his spots, stick to those, and then unload those. He can do damage whenever he connects. Will Stevenson be on the receiving end of it? The fans will find out.

What do you make of this coming fight between Shakur Stevenson and Artem Harutyunyan? Who do you think will emerge victorious between the two? Let us know in the comments below.