By Edward Chaykovsky

Middleweight contender Curtis Stevens (25-4, 18KOs) made it a real fight when he tangled with WBA/IBO champion Gennady Golovkin (28-0, 25KOs) on Saturday night at the Theater in New York's Madison Square Garden. After starting well and then getting dropped hard in the second round, Stevens was able to recover and had his moments before fading down the stretch. Stevens' corner stopped the fight at the end of eight.

"I have nothing to be ashamed of," said Stevens. "I'm better than anybody gave my credit for. I've shown more in a loss than most people show in a win. This is not the end for me. I will learn from my mistakes and I'll be back."