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The Shakur Stevenson-Teofimo Lopez fight will take place on January 31

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Author: Sean Crose

It looks like 2026 will start with a bang for boxing fans as news has broken that Shakur Stevenson will face Teofimo Lopez on January 31 at a yet-to-be-determined location in Novel York. Lightweight king Stevenson will move up to junior middleweight to challenge Lopez for the WBO world title.

“This fight between two enormous talents will provide an exhilarating start to our plans for 2026 and allow us to create another great year of boxing events around the world,” stated promoter Turki Alalshikh via . “We look forward to returning to Novel York in January and producing another great world title fight that fans have been waiting for.”

Needless to say, both men are excited to face each other in a legal superfight. “I have never shied away from a challenge and I have always chased the biggest fights in the sport because I know I am one of the best boxers in the world,” Stevenson said. “Teofimo Lopez will learn this first hand on January 31, when I take the belt from him and show him that there are levels to this game. Novel York, get ready for a spectacular performance as I take over the weight class for the fourth time in a row.”

Lopez is also focused on making the most of his opportunity. “Duck, duck, goose! Are you ready for Novel York? A brick city in a concrete jungle, so let’s get ready to fight!” he stated. “The takeover is here to stay, not to play. Making boxing great again is my forte. Shakur will fall in the ninth.”

After a disappointing 2025, boxing needs some good matches in the coming 12 months, and the Stevenson-Lopez fight is indeed one of those fights. While there’s no guarantee it’ll be a thriller – Stevenson is a skillful boxer rather than a strongman – it’s always critical to see the best fighting the best, and both fighters are some of the best the sport has to offer.

The fight also takes place on each fighter’s home territory. It doesn’t matter where the exact location is, what matters is that the fight is taking place in Novel York. After all, Lopez is from Brooklyn and Stevenson is from nearby Newark.

Fans have been waiting for this to become a reality for a long time. It’s good to see that – at least sometimes – boxing still knows how to make substantial events happen.

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Boxing

Jarrell Miller Targets Long-Awaited Heavyweight Fight After Pero Victory: ‘Let’s Do It’

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Jarrell Miller targets long awaited heavyweight fight after Pero win: “Let’s make it happen”

Jarrell Miller defeated Lenier Pero this weekend at Las Vega to fulfill his world champion dreams, although he may first want to end a long-running feud beyond the title picture

The controversial American heavyweight fighter defeated Olympian Pero over the distancelanding an incredible number of punches en route to a clear unanimous decision victory.

Although winning the final elimination puts him close to a chance to fight champion Oleksandr Usyk, after the fight Miller saw the appeal of an all-American fight with Deontay Wilder.

I’m talking to Fighting Hub TV“Substantial Baby” called for the fight to continue.

“I think if the fans call him out enough, they’ll want to make this fight happen. Everyone says Deontay will beat me, knock me out – there’s only one way to find out. He’s been knocked out multiple times, I haven’t. Let’s make this fight happen. We’re two of the top American heavyweights. We can both get people tuned in. Me and my brilliant speech, him and his weird, dramatic speeches and entrances… I think it would be fun.”

With Miller unlikely to be on Usyk’s radar as the Ukrainian only has a narrow number of fights remaining before he retires, Wilder presents an opportunity to settle a dispute – including claims related to weighty sparring and personal grievances – that has been brewing for years.

Wilder revitalized his career earlier this year with a hard-fought victory over Derek Chisora ​​and will likely miss the opportunity to fight Anthony Joshua as the Briton focuses on a warm-up fight for his fight with Tyson Fury.

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Boxing

Ryan Garcia signals doubts about Benn’s fight, calling Rolly to reserve

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Image: Ryan Garcia Won’t Accept Terms For Stevenson Fight

In recent comments, Garcia said that Benn is the fight he wants. At the same time, he openly announced the emergency plan.

“If Conor doesn’t want it, we’ll go back to it with Rolly,” Ryan Garcia told Ring Magazine, referring to Rolando Romero.

That alone was revealing. Players who believe that an agreement is imminent tend to limit their message. When alternative opponents are publicly mentioned, it often means that there are still obstacles related to money, timing, broadcasters or promotional control.

Then another wrinkle appeared when Óscar De La Hoya publicly supported a completely different fight.

“I’m most interested in a rematch with Devin Haney,” De La Hoya said, adding that it could be massive enough to accommodate Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Now Garcia’s public trail includes three separate names: Benn, Romero and Devin Haney. Rarely does a finalized fight sound like this.

Benn’s matchup still makes sense on paper. Benn has become one of the more recognizable names in the UK and has now added to his profile after signing with Zuffa Boxing. Garcia remains one of boxing’s biggest social media attractions and continues to attract attention regardless of the results.

Put these names together and you have clear commercial value.

But picking a fight and liking the fight are two different things. Garcia has ties to the Golden Boy. Benn’s modern setting creates fresh business layers. Place also matters. An event in the US, an event in the UK, or support from Saudi Arabia would change the economy.

This helps explain why backup options are already provided.

A rematch with Haney also remains valuable as unfinished business continues to sell. Their first meeting generated headlines, controversy and debate. Whether fans loved the event or not, they remember it. In state-of-the-art boxing, remembered fights are often easier to sell than fresh ones.

Meanwhile, Romero proposes the simplest, practical way. It is known, accessible and connected to Garcia’s recent history.

Ryan may really prefer Benn, but preference doesn’t always dictate the schedule. This is usually what promoters, networks and time do.

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Ryan Garcia and Oscar De La Hoya disagree on who he should fight next

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Ryan Garcia and Oscar De La Hoya disagree on who he should fight next

Ryan Garcia and Oscar De La Hoya have offered conflicting perspectives on a potential rematch with Devin Haney, while rumors of a Conor Benn fight become more likely.

Garcia won the welterweight world title in February, dethroning Mario Barrios by unanimous decision following a first-round knockout.

Since then, his name has been most closely linked to Benn, the WBC No. 1 contender at 147 pounds, whose last fight was at 150 pounds against Regis Prograis.

In a recent interview with Fighting Hub TVGarcia confirmed that this is the fight he wants.

“Devin Haney never wanted this. He doesn’t want a rematch at all… [I’m going to return in] August. Can’t wait. I just want Conor [Benn]”

Unlike Garcia, said Golden Boy promoter De La Hoya Fight the noise that he “would like” to make a rematch with Haney a priority.

“I’m most interested in the rematch with Devin Haney. It could be a blockbuster event.

“I would love for this fight to take place in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium – it could be such a substantial fight.

“I believe this fight is the best fight that can be had right now.”

Garcia reached a majority decision against Haney in April 2024, but the result was declared a no contest after he tested positive twice for the banned substance Ostarine. It remains one of the most intriguing fights in boxing, especially considering the doubts surrounding the first result and the fact that it is currently a unification fight in the welterweight ranks.

But it appears Benn will take his shot despite recently signing a contract with Zuffa Boxing, the latest major promotion of the sport whose frontman Dana White has no interest in working with the four customary sanctioning bodies.

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