Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson: Fight preview, breakdown and prediction
On Saturday, January 31, at Madison Square Garden, Shakur Stevenson competes for the WBO super lightweight world championship in one of the biggest fights on the boxing calendar.
With both fighters firmly established as elite names in the sport, this matchup has captured the attention of the boxing world.
In this article, Sports News Blitz’s Jonathon House breaks down the key talking points, form and stylistic matchups ahead of a fascinating title clash.
Fight background and stakes
Stevenson enters the fight with a record of 24 wins, 11 of which have come by knockout.
Teofimo Lopez brings a record of 22 wins and one loss, that defeat coming against Australian boxer George Kambosos Jr. Lopez has also secured victories against the likes of Ukrainian star Vasyl Lomachenko.
Stevenson’s most recent outing came against William Zepeda, who entered the fight undefeated with 33 wins, including 27 knockouts.
Stevenson delivered a masterclass performance, winning by unanimous decision to retain his WBC lightweight title.
Widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted fighters in the sport, Stevenson combines unmatched defence, sharp hand speed and excellent ring IQ.
However, on Saturday, January 31, Lopez represents what could be the toughest challenge of his career to date.
Lopez was last seen in the ring on May 2, 2025, when he defeated Arnold Barboza Jr by unanimous decision, retaining his WBO super lightweight and junior welterweight championships.
This will take place at the super lightweight championship level. Lopez is a former unified lightweight champion, having held the WBA, WBO and IBF titles after defeating Vasyl Lomachenko in 2020.
With both men considered among the best in their division, the magnitude of this contest cannot be overstated.
Shakur Stevenson: Technique, discipline and control
Stevenson has barely lost a round throughout his professional career, consistently dominating opponents whether by knockout or through technically flawless performances.
This stretches back to an outstanding amateur career, where he was tipped by his coaches as a future star.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, he claimed a silver medal. At just 22 years old, Stevenson took his first major step up against Christopher Diaz, who held a 24-1 record at the time.
Stevenson won almost every round, securing a unanimous decision victory.
He then moved on to his first world title opportunity against Joet Gonzalez, once again winning almost every round.
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Teofimo Lopez: Power, explosiveness and risk
Lopez, while not as consistent as Stevenson, still has an impressive resume.
His victory over Lomachenko remains the standout moment of his career.
In the opening six rounds of that contest, Lopez’s speed and explosiveness proved too much for Lomachenko to handle. Those remain his greatest strengths.
However, his loss to George Kambosos Jr served as a reminder of the dangers of losing focus, as he paid the price after becoming too carried away in the early stages.
Following that defeat, Lopez moved up to super lightweight, where he defeated Josh Taylor in June 2023 by unanimous decision, becoming a champion in two weight divisions.
This fight could be Stevenson’s toughest test yet. Lopez’s explosiveness and power could present real problems.
However, Stevenson is arguably the finest defensive fighter in boxing. Let’s see how this one plays out!
Prediction: Shakur Stevenson to win by unanimous decision
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