Shakur Stevenson says that he wants to prove to the audience, that he is the best warrior on “Earth” when he faces Teofimo Lopez in what he thinks will be in January 2026.
Stevenson (24-0, 11 KO) states that his fight with the WBO Teofimo (22-1, 13 KO) welterweight champion is “greater” than anything else in boxing. It will be the main event when it will happen.
28 -year -old Shakur will enhance to 140 for the first time to challenge Lopez for his title WBO Delicate Welter Wweight. I do not plan to stay in this weight class. Stevenson says that after defeating Teofimo, he gives WBO title to his friend Keyshawn Davis. It will be fascinating, and I bet it will be really good with fans.
The king’s throne is waiting
“When business people are ready to seal the contract, the contract will be concluded. The fight is happening. We want to become a king. We want to be where Bud Crawford is. At the beginning of 26. I like January – said Shakur Stevenson to Ariel Helwani The channel about when he will fight Teofimo Lopez.
Without Turk, Alalshikh Shakur and Teofimo will not be able to convey Terenka Crawford. He fought only with two Turk’s cards, but in these fights he received a fortune.
If Turks see Stevenson and Lopez on their favorite list, they will be where Crawford is financially, receiving huge payments. It is unbelievable that Stevenson will become the undisputed champion, such as Crawford, without being in the perfect position to collect all belts at the same time, without accepting any of the risky warriors.
“We could fight anywhere as long as the fight is sold. I just want to prove to the world I am the best warrior on the planet Earth. This is how business people do, “Stevenson said, asked if the location is resolved.
The popularity of heels
It is admirable that Shakur wants to show fans that he is a “best warrior” in boxing in his competition against Teofimo. I think that it is not infected in the style of Stevenson’s fight, which is too defensively concentrated. If Shakur can often publish on X and give many interviews, bragging on himself, it can become a larger star outside the ring in WWE type A way to be a heel or wicked figure. This is probably one of the essential factors why Shakur is popular.
I do not believe that this is happening because of his fighting style, performances or opposition he met during his career. In this way he boasts himself, becoming unbearable narcissus and deprived of self -awareness.
“Yes, for sure. I don’t think anything in boxing would be more than me and Teo,” said Shakur asked if his clash with Lopez would be the main event.
It is good to know that Shakur has returned to the stars once again. His last two fights with William Zeda and Josh Padley were placed on the backlight in 2025. With the popularity of Teofimo, it makes sense that Turks Alalshikh make this main fight. Even if Shakur has no popularity in relation to the mainstream of boxing fans, the power of the Star Teofimo will make up the difference.
Headers without boiling
Shakur must still fight in a stationary style, as he showed in his last fight with Zepeda on July 12, so that he became television, so that they can be a header of programs that do not bombard, causing booing, and make the fans leave the arena early in a gigantic number.
It is essential that Stevenson does not run around the ring, turning the competition into a fight in the style of Tom and Jerry. The way Stevenson was booed in his fights with Edwin de Los Santos and Jeremiah Nakathilia, left fans a lasting impression.
Ken Woods He was a senior writer in Boxing News 24 From 2013, covering sport from every angle. Thanks to the years of reporting of ringists, he provides messages, results and analyzes that cross the noise. Ken’s work consistently distinguishes masters, pretenders and potential clients, giving fans a acute, competent view of the global boxing scene.
Roy Jones Jr believes Moses Itauma is the most “exhilarating heavyweight” since Mike Tyson, but he named one man who would perhaps derail his explosiveness.
Despite not having fought any top-level fighters, Itauma is widely regarded as a future world champion who can reign supreme for many years to come.
In this way, Itauma became a mandatory challenger to the winner of the Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois fight, which will take place on May 9 for Wardley’s WBO heavyweight world title.
However, at this point in his promising career, the precocious talent had yet to prove himself at a world-class level, and his only two notable victories were victories over the faded Dillian Whyte and the overmatched Demsey McKean.
Nevertheless, in both cases, in 2025 and 2024 respectively, Itauma finished in the first two rounds and showed his potential at the world level.
After passing the eye test, heavyweight legend Jones believes Itauma is capable of knocking out anyone in the heavyweight division except Alexander Usyk, who still holds the WBC, IBF and WBA world titles.
I’m talking to Grosvenor CasinoJones explains that Usyk’s elusiveness and experience will likely cause problems for the Briton, presenting him with a style he has never encountered before.
“Is Moses Itauma the most exhilarating heavyweight since Mike Tyson? Right now, yes, I think so. He has the explosive punching power that Mike Tyson had. If you can hit them before they hit you, most of the time you’ll knock them out.”
“That’s what Mike did. So if [Itauma] if he does this, he will knock out most heavyweights. However, in Usyk’s case, he’s a bit difficult to hit.
“Moses gives all the heavyweights a difficult time. You can’t say he beat them until you put them in front of him [him]because you haven’t actually seen it cracked yet, but it’s the only one I can see [giving] For him, Usyk is the biggest problem.”
While many consider Usyk vs. Itauma to be the most breathtaking fight in heavyweight boxing, it’s difficult to imagine the pair ever crossing paths in a competitive sense.
“I want to fight so bad to fight 😩 I feel even more now that I have the belt. CHAMPION wants to fight. SOMEONE RUNS THE SCRAP” said Ryan Garcia on X.
Ryan probably talks a lot so as not to get stuck in a mandatory defense that pays a pittance. By demanding Conor Benn or celebrity rematches, he forces the hand of his promoters.
The reality is that Ryan holds the WBC belt, but the division is currently a waiting game. If someone like Turki Alalshikh doesn’t find Benn worth the investment despite his struggles with Regis Prograis, Ryan could be in for a close fight, which he definitely doesn’t want.
If Ryan had a “fight anyone, anywhere” mentality, he wouldn’t be in this situation. “Sugar Ray Robinson” would have already signed a contract to fight the most perilous guy available to prove his point.
Ryan’s current situation is a perfect example of a player falling into the trap of his own financial expectations. Because he has such a huge fan base, he feels like he can’t make a “normal” title defense if it wasn’t a blockbuster event.
It’s telling that Ryan’s interest in Benn increased right after Benn appeared to be the one to beat against Regis Prograis on April 11. It’s a business-first attitude. He is looking for the highest payout with the least technical risk.
Rejecting Rolly Romero as an option but going after the guy whose eyes the 37-year-old Prograis just slashed, Ryan shows his hand. He wants a name he thinks he can easily beat.
Tomek Galm is a boxing journalist covering the global fight landscape since 2014, specializing in heavyweight analysis, industry trends and fighter psychology.
WBO super lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson is a fighter that many in the sport seem to want to avoid, but there is one other world champion who is hoping to make weight and secure a matchup with the undefeated southpaw from Newark.
Stevenson was expected to return to lightweight and defend the WBC belt in 2023, but the sanctioning body stripped him of his lightweight crown due to unpaid sanctioning fees. As a result, it appears the 28-year-old will remain at 140 pounds, but if he decides to drop back down, WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster wants to meet him there.
I’m talking to Fighting the noiseFoster said facing the pound-for-pound star after his fight with Raymond Ford next month is the “first option.”
“I’m just excited to see what’s next, when we knock him down [Ford] If we lose, we’ll have the gigantic fight that Shakur and I want, and the sky is the limit.
“This [fight with Shakur] would be the first option, but if we can’t get him, maybe a Roach-Zepeda winner.
Foster – Who and Ford will collide in Houston on Saturday, May 30, while Lamont Roach Jr and William Zepeda have been ordered to fight for the vacant WBC lightweight title that Stevenson held until February.
Meanwhile, Stevenson has also been linked with a move to welterweight, but has maintained that a rehydration clause should be included in his contract for any potential 147-pound fights.
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