It may take time, maybe even a lifetime for Shakur Stevenson to get over the disappointment of not winning an Olympic gold medal Saturday afternoon in Rio de Janeiro. It had been his dream, and he believed his destiny, to stand atop the podium.
So the tears were understandable as Stevenson, a Newark native, sobbed on the shoulders of his family after Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez won the gold in the bantamweight division with a split decision victory over Stevenson. Two judges saw Ramirez winning, 29-28. A third judge saw Stevenson the winner, 29-28.
The three-round bout could have gone either way. Five judges scored the fight and a computer selected the three scorecards to be used. The three judges all gave Ramirez the first round and Stevenson the second, setting up a decisive third round.
Ramirez, who won the gold at flyweight in London, was the aggressor, but Stevenson fought well backing up. He blocked punches, delivered his own jabs and combinations and scored points to the body.
Stevenson understandably was devastated by the decision, though there is no shame in winning a silver medal. The 19-year-old was hoping to earn America’s first gold medal in men’s boxing since Andre Ward in 2004.
“I’m hurt,” Stevenson told Chris Mannix of NBC Sports. “I felt like the Cuban won. Much respect to him. I just don’t like to lose, so I’m hurt.”
To his credit, Stevenson didn’t dispute the decision, instead blaming himself for not being more dominant.
“I had to make it clear,” he said. “I like all my fights to be clear victories. I felt he got his victory. Much respect to him.”
Asked if he could take some solace in winning a silver medal, Stevenson’s pain clouded the big picture.
“No,” he said. “I don’t like to lose.”
Stevenson is hardly a loser. His silver medal is USA Boxing’s best since Ward in 2004. There were unconfirmed reports Stevenson has agreed to join Mayweather Promotions when he turns professional.
Floyd Mayweather attended Stevenson’s bouts in Rio and was a constant presence, trying to advise and recruit the young southpaw.
It was the first loss Stevenson had suffered in 26 international bouts, but his relative inexperience cost him. Ramirez came out the aggressor in the first round, staying busy winging punches even though Stevenson dodged or blocked many of them.
Stevenson did his best work going to the body in the second round even though he often was interrupted by a referee, who stopped the action several times to issue warnings. Ramirez came out fast in the third, applying pressure and letting his hands go. It put Stevenson on the defensive for the first half of the round. But the American finished strong with a hook to the body, followed by two right hands that landed clean.
Both nervously waited for the decision. Ramirez had his hand raised, while Stevenson pulled his shirt over his head.
As a despondent Stevenson left the ring, he was consoled by Anthony Joshua of Great Britain, the current IBF heavyweight champion and a gold medal winner in London. Soon afterward, Sugar Ray Leonard, a gold medal winner the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, posted this video on Twitter.