Shakur Stevenson, a NJ Olympian from Newark

by Alice Magdziak • July 28, 2016 • Essex, Sports & Leisure • Comments (0) • 1930

We’re highlighting all the New Jersey Olympians this summer because there are so many to watch for. Shaukur Stevenson is a Bantamweight boxer for the United States.

Stevenson is the oldest of 9 siblings and proudly represents his hometown of Newark and wants to bring something positive to the city that built him. Shakur began boxing at age five after his grandfather Wali Moses introduced him to the sport and he’s been there ever since. He’s known for shadowboxing all the time every where he goes. His grandfather jokes that he knew Shakur was awake as a kid because he’d hear that sounds of him shadow boxing. He’s named after rapper Tupac Shakur. He’s looking to follow in the footsteps of his idol and the last American man to win a boxing gold medal Andre Ward. Shakur has a perfect 23-0 international record and is the first American male to win junior and youth world titles and a Youth Olympic Games gold medal.

Stevenson won the 2014 AIBA Youth World Championships and 2014 Youth Olympic Games. In 2015 he won the Senior US Olympic Trials which qualified him for the US boxing team at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Men’s bantamweight boxing begins August 10th and medals will be awarded on August 20th.

We’ll keep you apprised of when each NJ athlete will compete so stay tuned to YDKJ for all the NJ Olympian news you can handle!

[photo and bio info via TeamUSA.org]