In Newark…
when I was young…
and mad people from my school came to see me.
I fought this kid from Philly, and he beat me in front of everybody. I was lost. I guess my love for boxing made me keep going. As I took them losses, I felt like people were out there working harder than me. The drive to want to be great actually came to me, I guess. Sometimes I’ll be doubting myself, like what if I don’t do it…
what if I go somewhere and I lose but… when that times comes when I’m starting to walk toward the ring… and I remember all of my people basically back home watching me and what I’m doing this for… I don’t know, I guess I love the moment.
I get nervous but I shine.
My alter ego tells me, man, you can do anything. You’ve already proven that you can do more than what people expect, being that you’re from Newark.
SHAKUR STEVENSON reveals his deep seated motivation and drive to succeed on behalf of his family and underdog community. The two-time Youth World Boxing Champion and Newark-native has been boxing since the age of five under the mentorship of his grandfather Wali Moses. Shakur brought home the Silver Medal at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics in the bantamweight division, and has since turned professional, signing with Top Rank Boxing. Shakur kicked off his professional career in the featherweight division with a bang – winning his bouts in impressive fashion, and remains undefeated (as of November 2018).
Directed and edited by Paul Cerqueira
Follow Shakur Stevenson #ChasingGreatness on Instagram.
#ShakurStevenson
For more on Shakur, including his quest for greatness, check out this excellent “in his own words” profile in The Player’s Tribune.
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