Coming up at famed Madison Square Garden in New York City Saturday night, three division world champ and current WBC world lightweight title holder Shakur Stevenson goes for another title in another division as he battles WBO 140 lb. champ Teofimo Lopez
The temperatures remain frigid in Manhattan, the atmosphere inside Madison Square Garden will be the opposite coming Saturday night, as former U.S. Olympian and three division world champ Shakur Stevenson goes for more history. The Ring VI Pay Per View has a marquee showdown, as Teofimo Lopez defends his WBO junior welterweight world title against Stevenson, who is the current WBC lightweight title holder.
Lopez, 22-1, 13 KOs, is full of bravado but he's up against unbeaten a true superstar in Stevenson, (24-0, 11 KO. And at Thursday's final press conference Stevenson was making sure the champ knows, he's not backing down against a bigger opponent.
Stevenson responded to Lopez's repeated taunts and insults on the dais with,
"I can't wait to fight you. I can't wait. You gonna see.... I'm 100% focused. I'm 100% ready. He's (Lopez) gonna see."
Stevenson, who won a Silver Medal in the 2016 Olympics, is looking to join all time names in the modern like Mayweather, Pacquiao, De La Hoya and others, chasing history. This, as he attempts to claim a world championship in a fourth weight class.
The battle will be streaming live worldwide, exclusively on DAZN PPV.
When last we saw the Newark, NJ native, he was impressive in dominating consensus #1 lightweight contender William Zepeda in Queens, NY at the U.S. Tennis Center for a special PPV. Shakur was elusive and a tremendous counter puncher over 12 rounds for an easy win in what was the third defense of that title.
As for Lopez, he made the third defense of the WBO crown with a 12 round win over Arnold Barboza on the Ring's PPV from Times Square in Manhattan last May. Clearly, Stevenson is the most accomplished fighter he's faced, since he defeated future hall of famer Vasiliy Lomachenko to win the three unified lightweight titles some five years ago in October 2020.
He propped his new trainer Stacy McKinley for helping him "lock in" for the Stevenson challenge,
"I've been training at his gym....I kid you not. The amount of knowledge that has been bestowed on my skills and on top of that the amount of progress I've been creating. I've been switching things around....I feel very good... I can't wait to display it Saturday night."
This is one of the more highly anticipated bouts of 2026 in only the first month of the year.
Meanwhile, the rest card is stacked with the co-main attraction, WBO No. 1 contender at 140 lb. Keyshawn Davis 13-0, 9 KOs, returning to the ring in a highly anticipated clash against veteran former world title challenger Jamaine Ortiz, 20-2, 10 KOs. Also featured, WBC middleweight Champion Carlos "Bronco" Adames, 24-1, 18 KOs, puts his title on the line against explosive contender Austin “Ammo” Williams, 19-1, 13 KOs.
And, Brooklyn’s own Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, 16-0, 9 KOs, who has the makings of a star, looks to seize the vacant WBC featherweight title against veteran Carlos Castro 30-3, 14 KOs.