Shakur Stevenson poses during the medal ceremony for the men's bantamweight at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Riocentro - Pavilion 6 on Aug. 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
Shakur Stevenson, the bantamweight silver medalist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, has moved into the professional boxing ranks, signing with a management team that includes his idol, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward.
The oldest of nine children growing up in Newark, New Jersey, Stevenson, 19, carried a 23-0 international record into Rio, where he lost a close decision in the gold-medal bout to Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez.
Stevenson was the first American male to win world titles at both the junior and youth levels, as well as taking gold at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. He currently lives and trains in Virginia under the guidance of coach Kay Koroma.
Ward is joined by J. Prince and Josh Dubin to comprise Stevenson’s three-man management team.
“I know I have a great team behind me with J. Prince as the head of it, working with Josh Dubin and Andre Ward,” Stevenson said in a press release. “I know that these guys can get me where I want to be and I feel very comfortable with them behind me.”
“It is an honor and a privilege to represent this young man,” Prince said. “Andre, Josh and I know we have the next superstar in the sport. Shakur is not only a gifted fighter, but someone that has the ability to be an icon.”
