Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson has long been a fight fans demanded, and now it appears closer than ever. Lopez, the WBO super lightweight champion, confirmed that talks are moving forward and suggested the bout could land in early 2026.
Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson
Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) has carved his place as one of boxing’s most dynamic fighters. His upset win over Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2020 launched him into stardom, and his recent victory against Arnold Barboza Jr. showed his continued dominance at 140 pounds.
Stevenson (24-0, 10 KOs), the current WBC lightweight champion, has impressed with his technical brilliance, including a recent win over William Zepeda.
The rivalry has grown with both fighters openly addressing each other. “In order for people to see, and to make boxing great again, you have to fight the best,” Lopez said. “If he’s the best at 135 and willing to come up to 140, we lace it up and make it happen”.
Stevenson, too, has expressed interest. While respectful, he sees the matchup as a chance to cement his place at the top of the sport.
The fight carries weight beyond belts. For Lopez, it would reaffirm his claim as the leader of the new generation. For Stevenson, it would be the boldest move of his career.
If finalized, Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson could be remembered as the defining clash of their era—two champions, both unbeaten in their primes at this level, with everything at stake.
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