Nightlife

Family and friends gather with Harlem’s psychologist Phyllis Otera Thomas NEWARK’S SHAKUR STEVEN GOING POUND FOR POUND

(Bill Moore photo)

Popular Harlem-based psychologist Phyllis Otera Thomas was warmly celebrated by family and friends at Dallas BBQ in Washington Heights. A clinical therapist and social worker, Otera Thomas was honored on a BIG birthday, as folk regaled her, brought gifts, cakes and reminisced about good times.

African American Day Parade awards AmNews photog Bill Moore

African American Day Parade 2022 awardee Slyvia Alston; Adeyemi Oyeilumi, parade founder; Yusuf Hassan, AAD parade chairman; Bill Moore, AmNews photo-journalist (Isseu Diouf-Campbell photo)

The Amsterdam News’ very own veteran photographer was recognized and awarded at this year’s Harlem African American Day Parade. A community photographer and former sports writer with the paper for over 40 years, Bill Moore was acknowledged for his dedication to capturing the community with his magnificent photo-journalism.

‘Coffee with Congressman’ Adriano Espaillat with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity

(Bill Moore photo) (Bill Moore photo)

“Coffee with the Congressman”—Cong. Adriano Espaillat in collaboration with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Epsilon Sigma Chapter held an event speaking to issues of the upper Manhattan community (Harlem). The Hon. Inez Dickens and the Hon. Eddy Gibbs listened to comments about a range of community issues. The event was held at Common Good Harlem owned by Domingo Mejia on Frederick Douglass Blvd. Here Chapter President Anthony Sanford and Steve Miller Chapter VP stand with the congressman.

PRESSURE!! It can burst pipes or make diamonds, right? It’s a relative condition, however. For instance, one would think that an Olympic silver medalist, current undisputed boxing champion and currently recognized as one of the ten best fighters in the world, wouldn’t have a care in the world. However, when a homecoming is thrown in the mix, a heightened addition of anxiety would be understandable and perhaps expected. Such was the case for Shakur Stevenson, who Friday, Sept. 23 returned to his hometown of Newark to defend his WBC, WBO and Ring Magazine championship belt against former Brazilian gold medalist Robson Conceição.

This was the first time Stevenson would fight in his city as a champion and Newark was there in full throttle to show support. The Mayor’s Office of the City of Newark presented Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) with a proclamation declaring September 21, 2022, as Shakur Stevenson Day in the city. That was followed up by a special plaque from Quitman Street School students; Stevenson attended Quitman Street for elementary school, and the building sits less than a mile from Prudential Center. Additionally, Stevenson hosted a community event at Boylan Street Recreation Center where he hosted 100-150 inner city children to teach them a few boxing basics and talk about the path it took to grow in Newark to becoming a World Champion. While appreciative of the outpouring of appreciation, Shakur had to maintain balance of what the purpose of the weekend really was. “Honestly, I’m just ready to fight. I’m not really focused on the pressure. I don’t care about all that. I’m really focused on putting in the work on Friday night. I’m just ready to fight at the end of the day. All I can think about is fighting and performing. That’s everything that’s on my mind,” he said.

The results were for the new standards for Stevenson a mixed bag. He entered the city as a Champion and left without his titles, which he lost on the scale Thursday afternoon. At 25 years of age, his body is still maturing so making the 130-pound limit of Jr. Lightweight is no longer an option. In his farewell to the division fight, Stevenson bested Conceição by 12-round unanimous decision (117-109 2x and 118-108) in front of 10,107 fans Friday evening at Prudential Center, the largest crowd ever to attend a boxing event at the arena. Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) dominated, landing a careerhigh 199 punches, including a body shot knockdown in the fourth round. He stunned Conceição (17-2, 8 KOs) again in the sixth, but the Brazilian challenger hung tough. Stevenson had a point deducted by referee David Fields for hip tossing Conceição in the ninth round. After the inauspicious ninth, Stevenson closed the show in pound-for-pound form, winning the final three rounds on all three judges’ cards. After missing weight by 1.6 pounds the previous day, Stevenson will now begin his lightweight journey.

“I had a long week. I killed myself to make weight. All I want to do is come in here and perform. I did everything I could to do that,” Stevenson said. “I’m just a dominating individual. With me versus him, the ref, I did everything I could to try and beat [Conceição] up as much as I could. He held me the whole night, but I did everything I could,” said Stevenson, realizing a few of his ardent fans left a little disappointed feeling that the outcome was anticlimactic, but Hall of Fame promoter, Bob Arum offered of the performance, “Shakur was marvelous as always, and he was in there tonight against a tough fighter in Robson Conceição. There are so many great fights for Shakur at lightweight. The Newark crowd was spectacular, and we look forward to many more great fight nights in this arena.”

Boxing looks like it’s about to get fun again!! We’re here for it! Over and out, holla next week. Til then, enjoy the nightlife.