SHAKUR STEVENSON’S pursuit of silencing the critics and dominating the divisions have led him to Teofimo Lopez.
Stevenson jumps up to the 140lb super-lightweight division to challenge for Lopez’s WBO belt on Saturday in New York – live on DAZN PPV.
Devin Haney matched the American’s three-weight world champion feat in November when he dethroned Brian Norman of the welterweight title.
But Stevenson now has the chance to conquer his FOURTH division if he beats Lopez – while continuing to put a middle finger up to his critics.
He told DAZN: “I didn’t have to make this fight. I could’ve stayed at 135lb, sat comfortable. I don’t feel like no fighter at 135lb can beat me.
“I made this fight happen because I know Teo is one of the guys at 140, he’s got a big name in the sport, big resume, big accomplishments.
“I know there’s going to be some doubt with people and fans when I go fight this guy.
“People will really believe this guy’s going to beat me, I’m not on the level that I think I am and I say I am.
“So I made this fight for that reason. My competitive edge kinda kicked in when I wanted to make this fight.
“I don’t feel like size makes fights. I didn’t cherry pick. I didn’t go to 140 and say, ‘I want to fight a guy that’s a tune-up fight or a guy that’s going to get me ready for this challenge.’
Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson – all the info
The biggest fight of the year so far!
Teofimo Lopez will defend his WBO super-lightweight belt against Shakur Stevenson THIS WEEKEND.
Lopez is one of boxing’s form fighters and will make the fifth defence of his title against superstar Stevenson, who is bidding to win a title in a fourth weight class.
The mega-fight takes place on Saturday night in what will be a packed Madison Square Garden.
As well as the mouth-watering main event, there will be two other world title fights, with Carlos Adames taking on Austin Williams for the WBC middleweight title and Bruce Carrington facing Carlos Manriquez for the WBC featherweight title.
Budding superstar Keyshawn Davis is also in action, as is heavyweight contender Jarrell Miller.
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“I just said, ‘Let me get the Ring Magazine champion.’ Let’s fight that guy. Let’s get the guy that is the guy.
“All that pressure’s not going to mean nothing. As long as I’m locked in and focussed on what I’m doing, nothing else matters around me.
“That four-weight champion, it means everything. That’s me separating myself.
“A lot of these guys that they claim are the guys nowadays, none of them can say that they are a four-weight world champion.
“Honestly, for a minute before Devin went and did it, none of them could say they were really a three-weight world champion.
“So now for me to go to the fourth, the next level, it’s a different type of thing. A lot of people have got to respect me.
“If they don’t respect me, they don’t have a choice but to.”
The Home of Boxing in 2026
There’s a massive year of boxing ahead!
It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring.
Tyson Fury is expected to make his return, Conor Benn is closing in on a world title shot and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.
Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also need to defend his straps.
Derek Chisora could fight for the 50th and final time and Daniel Dubois is also on the comeback trail.
A whole bunch of British stars could also take a leap into superstardom, with the likes of Moses Itauma, Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim ready to join the very top of the sport.
Up first we have a massive fight with Stateside superstars Shakur Stevenson and Teofimo Lopez meeting later this month in Madison Square Garden.
Here’s all the big fights coming up…
January
- Sat 24 – Raymond Muratalla vs Andy Cruz – IBF lightweight title – DAZN
- Sat 31 – Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson – WBO super-lightweight title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 31 – Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly – IBF super-welterweight title – DAZN
- Sat 31 – Francesca Hennessy vs Ellie Bouttell – BBC2
February
- Sat 7 – Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa – WBA featherweight title – DAZN
- Sat 21 – Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios – WBC welterweight title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 21 – Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington – DAZN
- Sun 22 – Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn – heavyweight unification – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo Nunez – super-featherweight unification – DAZN
March
