Shakur Stevenson became a unified super featherweight champion on Saturday night after dominating Oscar Valdez in a unanimous decision victory to add the Mexican's WBC title to his WBO belt.
Stevenson improved to 18-0 as he handed Valdez his first defeat in 31 professional fights, with two of the three ringside judges scoring the bout 118-109 and the third 117-110 for the American.
Stevenson sent Valdez to the canvas with a left to the head in the sixth round on the way to his first defence of the WBO title he won with a 10th-round technical knockout of Jamel Herring in October.
Valdez upset Miguel Berchelt last year to win the WBC title and retained it with a unanimous decision over Robson Conceicao in September.
The 31-year-old Mexican, a two-time Olympian, was embroiled in controversy when the bout against Conceicao was allowed to go ahead after he tested positive for the banned stimulant phentermine eight days before the fight.
Valdez blamed the positive result on herbal tea and authorities ruled the drug was prohibited only during competition.
"He is a tough champion, but I prepared to beat him," Stevenson said in an in-ring interview. "I'm ready for anyone, I want all the belts."
But Stevenson had personal business to attend to immediately after the fight. He dropped to one knee in the ring to propose to his girlfriend, rapper Young Lyric, who said yes. The couple have a baby daughter.
Valdez acknowledged that Stevenson was the better fighter on the night.
"He has a very great boxing quality and today he was the best in the ring," Valdez said. "He moves very well, he's a champion. He has speed, he's a great boxer."
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Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
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Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
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West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
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- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
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Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Company name: Farmin
Date started: March 2019
Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: AgriTech
Initial investment: None to date
Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1. |
United States |
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2. |
China |
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3. |
UAE |
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4. |
Japan |
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5 |
Norway |
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6. |
Canada |
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7. |
Singapore |
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8. |
Australia |
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9. |
Saudi Arabia |
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10. |
South Korea |
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Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
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MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Greenwood 77')
Everton 1 (Lindelof 36' og)
