Shakur Stevenson vs Artem Harutyunyan Picks, Predictions, & Odds: Steady as She Goes

Shakur Stevenson is set to defend his WBC lightweight title against the tricky Artem Harutyunyan in one of our featured boxing attractions this Saturday, July 6, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

Stevenson makes his 2024 debut and despite being an overwhelming favorite against Harutyunyan, he is also facing the pressure of delivering an impressive performance against the defensive specialist.

Boxing odds have Stevenson as a -2,500 favorite and Harutyunyan as a +1,200 underdog. Here are my best Stevenson vs. Harutyunyan predictions and free betting picks.

Stevenson vs Harutyunyan prediction and pick

• My fight prediction
  Stevenson moneyline (-2,500 at DraftKings)
  
  
• My best bet
  Stevenson to win by decision (-130 at DraftKings)

Fight analysis

One month after Gervonta Davis's scintillating knockout of Frank Martin, all eyes have turned to what many consider his main rival in the years to come: Shakur Stevenson.

Stevenson upcoming fight with Harutyunyan lacks uncertainties, and the outcome is undoubtful. However, Stevenson must feel pressure to deliver an impressive performance following a lackluster bout with Edwin De Los Santos last November, which damaged the young champion's marketability.

Harutyunyan tends to employ an ugly, defensively-sound fighting style, which could pose challenges for Stevenson, a counter-puncher who reads and reacts to his opponent's tactics. The less Harutyunyan opens up, the fewer opportunities Stevenson will have to retaliate.

Stevenson's path to victory lies in staying active, leveraging his superior hand speed and footwork to outmaneuver Harutyunyan while avoiding clinching and accommodating his opponent's pace.

The Martin bout did show that Harutyunyan cannot fight beyond his methodical pace, and while Stevenson’s shots won’t carry the same weight as Martin’s, his faster hands and sharper punching should make their mark. When Stevenson is motivated and wants to make an example of his opponent, he will let his hands go and rip shots to the head and body, and there won’t be much Harutyunyan will be able to do to stop him if he opts to do that.

Stevenson is a class above Harutyunyan and the big question isn’t if he’ll win more than it is how he’ll choose to do it. The fight is Stevenson’s to lose.

Pick: Stevenson moneyline (-2,500 at DraftKings)

Best best analysis

We’ll have to see how badly Stevenson wants to impress the public, and even if he does decide to step it up, I expect the first few rounds to be tepid and tactical.

In the past, Stevenson has shown blitzing hand speed and efficient combinations that can quickly overwhelm his opponents. but he can also sit back and pot-shot with single strikes. Seeing how Harutyunyan struggled against Martin when he got into a rhythm and started moving his hands more, I expect Stevenson to have the same success.

Unlike Martin, who took too long to adjust Harutyunyan’s style, Stevenson will likely sweep the early rounds with his accurate punching. Once he feels comfortable, he’ll turn up the intensity and leave his opponent in the dust. Stevenson lacks Martin’s power, so I’m not expecting a stoppage even when the bout becomes increasingly one-sided. My best bet for the fight is that Stevenson wins by decision.

Pick: Stevenson to win by decision (-130 at DraftKings)

Shakur Stevenson vs Artem Harutyunyan odds

Odds courtesy of bet365 as of 7-4.

Shakur Stevenson vs Artem Harutyunyan tale of the tape

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