Curtis Stevens (boxer)
| Curtis Stevens | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | Showtime |
| Rated at | Middleweight |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Reach | 71.5 in (182 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | March 10, 1985 Brownsville, Brooklyn New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 32 |
| Wins | 27 |
| Wins by KO | 20 |
| Losses | 5 |
Curtis Stevens (born March 10, 1985) is an American professional boxer and world title contender.
Contents
Amateur
Stevens was an amateur standout, and was the National Amateur Light Heavyweight Champion in 2002. Stevens attended Samuel J. Tilden High School in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn, where he starred as a middle linebacker on the football team.
Pro
"Showtime" Curtis Stevens began his professional career in 2004. His first four bouts were in the light heavyweight division before moving down to the super middleweight division. Stevens knocked out his first six opponents before going to a six round decision against Shannon Miller. Stevens would stop his next four opponents by early rounds knockout before going the distance against Carl Daniels.
First loss
Stevens would knock out his next opponent before facing Marcos Primera. Primera was a journeyman who was not expected to do anything of note, and it appeared Stevens was well on his way to knockout victory as he battered his foe around the ring. Stevens however began to tire and Primera took full advantage of this, picking up the pace and dropping Stevens in the eighth round. The referee stopped the fight, preventing an exhausted Stevens from taking anymore punishment.
Four months later Stevens would rematch Primera, this time winning by a wide unanimous decision. Stevens would win his next four bouts before facing future super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell. Dirrell easily outboxed Stevens, mostly pot shooting his much smaller foe (Dirrell stood seven inches taller than the 5'7 Stevens). Other than the occasional left hook, Stevens was unable to catch up to Dirrell, and lost a wide unanimous decision. After the match, Harold Lederman would refer to this bout as the "worst fight I have ever seen."
Temporary retirement
Stevens won his next four bouts, three by knockout, before again hitting a roadblock in his career against the tough middleweight and super middleweight contender Jesse Brinkley. Stevens started the match well, punishing Brinkley frequently with heavy left hooks, but Brinkley managed to trade with Stevens to keep the rounds close. Eventually Stevens tired and Brinkley took over the fight, even knocking Stevens down in the sixth round. Stevens survived to the bell, and lost by a wide unanimous decision.
After this bout, Stevens announced his retirement.
Comeback
After two years away, Stevens announced his comeback. Moving down to middleweight, Stevens was able to more effectively utilize his great power, winning four consecutive fights and stopping three of them, including a first round knockout over middleweight fringe contender Saul Roman.
Stevens vs. Golovkin
After four consecutive victories, Curtis Stevens challenged much avoided WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin. Golovkin was a former silver medalist who was regarded for his vicious power and cast iron chin. Stevens repeated that he would be both the first to drop and eventually stop Golovkin in the ring. To prove his intentions, Stevens photographed himself and some friends standing next to a coffin labeled "GGG" (Golovkin's nickname).
On November 2, 2013, the bout took place. Stevens began aggressively, but had difficulty reaching Golovkin's chin. In the second round, following two consecutive left hooks, Stevens was dropped hard and appeared visibly stunned by the champion's power. Stevens began to have difficulty with Golovkin's power and work-rate, and began to shell up more and more as the rounds went on. Despite landing several of his vaunted left hooks, they appeared to do little damage to the durable champion, and soon Golovkin's body punching had Stevens in near full retreat. By the eighth round Stevens was shelled up in his corner taking vicious shots, while the referee was looking to stop the fight. When the bell rung signaling the end of the round, Stevens corner informed the referee they no longer wished to continue, citing the damage their fighter was taking. Stevens had just suffered his fourth pro loss.
Stevens next bout was against journeyman Patrick Majewski. Stevens made short work of him, demonstrating his fierce power by dropping his outmatched opponent thrice before the referee called a halt to the match. His next bout was far more competitive, nearly going the distance against Tureano Johnson. Johnson easily outworked and out-hustled Stevens, clearly outboxing and marking up his face. Stevens would win by sudden controversial stoppage when he landed one of his trademark left hooks against Johnson's jaw in the final round and visibly dazed his opponent. Johnson fell into the ropes, but was covering up well before the referee jumped in to stop the match. Johnson and his corner protested the decision, claiming that he has recovered before the referee had stepped in. Nevertheless, this gave Steven's his second consecutive win.
Stevens vs. N'Jikam
On October 1, 2014, Stevens would challenge former WBO middleweight champion Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam. The fight was a title eliminator for the right to become the mandatory challenger for the IBF middleweight title. N'Jikam fought very well, landing strong combinations against his opponent while staying far away from Stevens left hook. N'Jikam eventually dropped Stevens in the eighth round. N'Jikam would win the match via a clear unanimous decision.
Honors
Stevens was the subject of the Ring Magazine October 2006 issue's "New Face" column.
Big Knockout Boxing
On April 4th 2015, Stevens put his professional boxing career on hold to engage in a Big Knockout Boxing match against current BKB middleweight champion Gabriel Rosado. The bout itself was mostly a lackluster affair, with Rosado attempting to control the outside with his jab while Stevens only appeared interested in landing one big left hook to end things quickly. Stevens dropped Rosado briefly in the fifth, but Rosado recovered quickly. The fight was declared a majority draw.
Professional boxing record
| 27 Wins (20 knockouts, 7 decisions), 5 Losses (2 knockouts), 0 Draws[1] | |||||||
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Type | Rd, Time | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 27–5 |  Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam |
UD | 12 | 2014-10-01 |  Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, California |
|
| Win | 27–4 |  Tureano Johnson |
TKO | 10 (10), 2:09 | 2014-04-04 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| Win | 26–4 |  Patrick Majewski |
TKO | 1 (10), 0:46 | 2014-01-24 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Loss | 25–4 |  Gennady Golovkin |
RTD | 8 (12), 3:00 | 2013-11-02 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York |
For WBA & IBO Middleweight titles. |
| Win | 25–3 |  Saul Roman |
KO | 1 (10), 2:26 | 2013-08-03 | Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut |
|
| Win | 24–3 | Derrick Findley |
UD | 8 | 2013-04-20 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York |
|
| Win | 23–3 | Elvin Ayala |
TKO | 1 (10), 1:10 | 2013-01-19 | Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut |
Won vacant NABF Middleweight title. |
| Win | 22–3 | Romaro Johnson |
KO | 1 (6), 2:16 | 2012-03-24 | Aviator Sports & Events Center, Brooklyn, New York |
|
| Loss | 21–3 | Jesse Brinkley |
UD | 12 | 2010-01-29 | Grand Sierra Resort & Casino, Reno, Nevada |
For WBC USNBC Super middleweight title. |
| Win | 21–2 | Piotr Wilczewski |
TKO | 3 (8), 1:46 | 2009-07-11 | Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 20–2 | Don Mouton |
UD | 8 | 2009-04-28 | Russo's On The Bay, Queens, New York |
|
| Win | 19–2 | Ray Smith |
TKO | 1 (8), 0:48 | 2008-11-07 | Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 18–2 | Thomas Reid |
TKO | 8 (8) | 2008-03-06 | The Grand Ballroom, Manhattan, New York, |
|
| Loss | 17–2 | Andre Dirrell |
UD | 10 | 2007-06-16 | Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut |
|
| Win | 17–1 | Darnell Boone |
UD | 10 | 2007-03-22 | Hammerstein Ballroom, Manhattan, New York |
|
| Win | 16–1 | Jonathan Corn |
TKO | 2 (10), 2:34 | 2006-12-14 | The Grand Ballroom, New York City, New York, United States |
|
| Win | 15–1 | Dhafir Smith |
UD | 10 | 2006-12-01 | Vernon Downs, Vernon, New York |
|
| Win | 14–1 |  Marcos Primera |
UD | 8 | 2006-11-15 | The Grand Ballroom, Manhattan, New York |
|
| Loss | 13–1 | Marcos Primera |
TKO | 8 (10), 1:24 | 2006-07-20 | The Grand Ballroom, Manhattan, New York |
For Interim WBC Youth Super middleweight title. |
| Win | 13–0 | Eric Howard |
TKO | 6 (6), 2:15 | 2006-06-10 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York |
|
| Win | 12–0 | Carl Daniels |
UD | 8 | 2006-04-20 | The Grand Ballroom, Manhattan, New York |
|
| Win | 11–0 | Jose Spearman |
KO | 2 (8), 2:59 | 2006-02-16 | The Grand Ballroom, Manhattan, New York |
|
| Win | 10–0 | Kia Daniels |
KO | 1 (6), 0:44 | 2005-12-15 | The Grand Ballroom, Manhattan, New York |
|
| Win | 9–0 | Corey Budd |
TKO | 1 (6), 2:32 | 2005-11-04 | Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, Oklahoma |
|
| Win | 8–0 | Jason Quick |
TKO | 2 (6), 1:55 | 2005-08-04 | The Grand Ballroom, Manhattan, New York |
|
| Win | 7–0 | Shannon Miller |
UD | 6 | 2005-04-28 | The Grand Ballroom, Manhattan, New York |
|
| Win | 6–0 | Raynard Darden |
TKO | 2 (6), 1:43 | 2005-03-10 | The Grand Ballroom, Manhattan, New York |
|
| Win | 5–0 | Darin Johnson |
KO | 1 (6), 0:58 | 2005-02-24 | Hammerstein Ballroom, Manhattan, New York |
|
| Win | 4–0 | Anthony Konicek |
TKO | 1 (4), 0:35 | 2004-12-11 | Greensboro, North Carolina |
|
| Win | 3–0 | Wayne Cooper |
TKO | 2 (4), 2:19 | 2004-11-18 | The Grand Ballroom, Manhattan, New York |
|
| Win | 2–0 | Anterio Vines |
KO | 1 (4), 0:30 | 2004-10-21 | Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut |
|
| Win | 1–0 | Henry Dukes |
TKO | 1 (4), 1:47 | 2004-09-30 | The Grand Ballroom, Manhattan, New York |
Professional boxing debut. |
Big Knockout Boxing record
| 0 Wins, 0 Losses, 1 Draw | ||||||||
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Type | Rd, Time | Date | Location | Event | Notes |
| Draw | 0-0-1 | Gabriel Rosado |
MD | 7 | 2015-04-04 | Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada |
BKB 2 | For BKB Middleweight title. |
