According to Shakur Stevenson, his upcoming fight with Teofimo Lopez in early 2026 will demonstrate his position as the premier fighter worldwide. Current discussions between the two fighters aim for a January or February bout next year.
Pursuing a Substantial Financial Reward
Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) initiated this fight by consistently challenging Lopez after his victory over William Zepeda on July 12. Reports indicate that Stevenson received a $7 million payout for the Zepeda fight.
The push for a Lopez match stemmed from the desire to secure an equal or larger payday for his next fight. Defending his WBC #1 contender title against Andy Cruz might have resulted in a smaller purse, coupled with a heightened risk of defeat.
“It will be two of the finest going against one another, and I anticipate emerging as the victor. I’ve maintained for a while now that I’m the top fighter on the planet, and I still believe it. When we meet in the ring, I’ll prove it,” Shakur Stevenson told media representatives when asked about his contest in 2026 with Teofimo Lopez.
Whether Stevenson genuinely believes he’s the “best fighter on the planet” remains to be seen, considering he hasn’t consistently faced top-tier opponents. His choices at 135 pounds suggest a lack of complete confidence. His lightweight opponents include:
- William Zepeda
- Josh Padley
- Artem Harutyunyan
- Edwin De Los Santos
- Shuichiro Yoshino
Assessing Shakur’s Ability to Withstand Powerful Punches
Stevenson displays characteristics of a skilled amateur boxer, yet he seems to lack the necessary punching power to confidently confront fighters with significant knockout ability without resorting to excessive defensive movement. He has encountered two notable punchers, De Los Santos and Jeremia Nakathilia, and in both fights, he spent a significant portion of the time avoiding direct engagement, drawing boos from the audience.
Teofimo: “Why the Delay?”
According to Teofimo, “The fight should be officially announced in the near future. More details will be worked out this week. I prefer January. Why the delay? We should have fought before the year’s end, but people have other commitments.”
The advantages of delaying the fight until February 2026 are not immediately clear. Stevenson fought William Zepeda, a high-volume puncher, on July 12 and took multiple body blows. Given that Zepeda landed over 300 punches, one might anticipate that Stevenson would gain more from a lengthy delay than Lopez.
Stevenson has stated that his hand problems are the reason he wants the Lopez fight in 2026. After right hand surgery in 2024, these issues date back to 2023, when he fought Edwin De Los Santos.
