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Steve KimESPN
Shakur Stevenson will be without trainer Kay Koroma on Tuesday when he faces Felix Caraballo in the main event of Top Rank’s boxing card in Las Vegas.
Although he tested negative for the coronavirus on Saturday, Koroma has been in contact with Mikaela Mayer, another fighter he trains and was planning to corner Tuesday.
Mayer announced her positive test result on Sunday, and as a result, according to policies set by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, members of her team are ineligible to remain in the restricted Top Rank area. Mayer’s fight against Helen Joseph was removed from the card.
“Typically, when a person in any camp tests positive, the contact tracing takes place, and if it’s revealed that the person tested positive from contract tracing, was in contact with that person, than obviously they could be asymptomatic and they would be removed from the event, as well,” said Bob Bennett, the Nevada Athletic Commission’s executive director.
Top Rank COO Brad Jacobs told ESPN that Edward Jackson will replace Koroma in Stevenson’s corner. Stevenson will also have Willie Moses, his grandfather, in his corner as usual.
“I’m feeling good,” Koroma said to ESPN on Monday. “I don’t want nobody to feel alarmed. I tested negative, I’m good, I’m healthy.”
Koroma was supposed to corner Jared Anderson as well.
“I’ll be supporting my guys regardless,” he said. “I’ll be supporting the whole program.”
Stevenson, the 22-year-old 2016 Olympic silver medalist, seemed unfazed by this development.
“We respect the protocols being put in place for this fight,” he told ESPN. “Coach Kay Koroma tested negative upon our arrival here in Las Vegas, but we are following the Nevada commission, Top Rank and MGM Grand guidelines.
“I’m disappointed that he won’t be able to be in my corner, but I am fully focused and locked in on tomorrow night and will put on another great show on ESPN.”
The upcoming cards at the MGM Grand Convention Center require everyone involved to be tested as they arrive and wear masks while inside the venue. For the time being, the general public is not allowed. There will be limited media on site.
“This is a new world, and we’ve got to roll with the punches here,” Jacobs said. “These things happen.”