Shakur Stevenson on fighting in The Bubble and Toka Kahn Clary

Shakur Stevenson returns to the Top Rank bubble on Dec. 12 against Toka Kahn Clary. Stevenson offers his thoughts on the bubble and his opponent. 

Super featherweight standout Shakur Stevenson returns to the Top Rank bubble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for the second time. Stevenson is still getting used to fighting in the absence of fans.

Stevenson (14-0, 8 KOs) headlines Top Rank’s Saturday, Dec. 12 show to close his 2020. He last fought in June for Top Rank’s first production during the pandemic.

“The first time, it was like a new experience going into the bubble and getting used to it,” said Stevenson during a recent media call. “Being inside the bubble, things are not the same. You’re not around your family. You’re not around nobody.”

Bubble life is not what the 23-year-old young star is used to, but at least he’s able to stay active and put his skills on display. His opponent in June was Felix Caraballo, who was a last-minute replacement. Stevenson was supposed to fight Rafael Rivera, but Rivera had difficulties getting into the U.S. because of the pandemic.

Stevenson knocked Caraballo out in round 6. He had little regard for Caraballo before their contest.

“I don’t know nothing about [Caraballo]. I don’t know not one thing,” Stevenson told ESPN at the time. “I watched one, maybe two rounds of the guy. … [I’m going to] go in there and get him out of there.”

Shakur Stevenson respects Toka Kahn Clary but believes he has a way of making a good boxer look bad

Stevenson’s next opponent is Toka Kahn Clary (28-2, 19 KOs), who’s best known for going the distance with Kid Galahad in 2018 is a decision loss. Stevenson has more knowledge and respect for Clary than Caraballo.

“It’s a little bit different though because with Caraballo,” said Stevenson during the media call. “I never seen him fight before, so I went into the fight with no clue of what he was bringing. Just those two rounds, I knew. With Toka, I actually seen him fight Kid Galahad. I knew of Toka since I was an amateur coming up, and he would go to Olympic Trials and all that kind of stuff.”

Even though Stevenson respects Clary, there’s a limit to his appreciation of his opponent.

“With this fight, I only watched Toka like three rounds at the most,” said Stevenson. “That’s the most I watched Toka too, so I can’t really say and act like I’ve been studying him. I knew of his style already though.”

Stevenson added, “It don’t really matter how good he is or what he’s going to bring. I’m going to make him look a certain way, and people are going to have their opinions of him regardless.”

In all likelihood, Stevenson shouldn’t have any problems with Clary. His confidence is sky-high as it should be. Look for Stevenson to thoroughly overwhelm Clary on Dec. 12.

You can watch Shakur Stevenson vs. Toka Kahn Clary on Saturday, Dec. 12 on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET. The undercard bouts are available on ESPN+ starting at 7 p.m. ET.