Shakur Stevenson vs Miguel Marriaga Preview March 14th
The WBO World Featherweight Title is on the line at the Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York this Saturday, March 14th as unbeaten Shakur Stevenson of Newark, New Jersey takes on Miguel Marriaga of Colombia. The 12-round bout can be seen on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the USA. Stevenson won the vacant title in October in his last outing when he beat Joet Gonzalez by a majority decision. Marriaga last fought in December when he stopped Alfredo Vargas in the sixth round.
Stevenson vs Marriaga Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Miguel Marriaga +1250
- Shakur Stevenson -3000
My Pick
The 22-year-old Stevenson enters the contest a perfect mark of 13-0 with 7 Kos. He had an excellent amateur career as he won a USA Junior National Championship and World Junior Championship in 2013. The next year he captured the USA Youth National, Youth Olympic Games and World Youth Championships. He won the USA Youth National Title in 2015 as well as the Olympic trials and qualifiers. He then fought at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and won the silver medal.
Since turning pro in 2017 he’s boxed 65 rounds and has also captured the IBF Inter-Continental, WBC Continental Americas, and WBO NABO Featherweight Titles. Stevenson stands 5-feet-8-inches tall and has a 68-inch reach. He’s not known as a KO artist but has a decent knockout percentage of 54 per cent. He possesses fine boxing skills and speed and has plenty of potential. Along with beating Gonzalez and Alberto Guevara, Stevenson’s also beaten the likes of Christopher Diaz, Jesse Cris Rosales and Juan Tapia.
The 33-year-old Marriaga has an impressive record of 29-3 with 25 Kos. His defeats have been to o then-WBA Featherweight Champ Nicholas Walters by unanimous decision in June of 2015 as well as to Oscar Valdez via unanimous decision for the WBO Featherweight Title in 2017 and was then stopped after seven rounds by Vasyl Lomachenko for the WBO Super Featherweight Crown also in 2017.
Marriaga stands 5-feet-7-inches tall with a 67-inch reach so gives up an inch to Stevenson in both departments. He has 162 rounds under his belt since turning pro in 2009 and has better-than-average power in his fists with a current knockout ratio of 78 percent. He’s win four straight bouts since losing to Lomachenko with all four of them coming by stoppage.
Marriaga likes to initiate the action in the ring while moving forward by throwing power shots to the head and body. He doesn’t use his jab all that well and that could cost him here. His power means he’s never really out of a fight though. However, when he’s fought upper-class opponents such as Walters, Valdez and Lomachenko for world titles he’s fallen short. Since turning pro he’s won a couple of minor titles though such as the WBC Continental Americas, and the WBO NABO Featherweight Titles.
Prediction…
It’s going to be very difficult for the 33-year-old Marriaga to outbox Stevenson so it appears Marriaga’s only hope is his power. But to be honest, he’s going to have to throw the perfect punch or combination to win this fight. Look for Stevenson to retain his belt in his first title defence.
Stevenson’s youth, athleticism and skills should be the difference.
Play: Stevenson -3000 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Miguel Marriaga betting • Shakur Stevenson betting