Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson Set For January 31st

In a move that’s already sending shockwaves through the boxing world, WBO super lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez will defend his title against undefeated contender Shakur Stevenson on January 31, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The bout, exclusively on DAZN PPV, marks the first major U.S. boxing event of the new year and promises to be a stylistic clash for the ages.

The announcement, first teased by Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh and confirmed today by promoters, pits two of America’s most talented 28-year-olds against each other in a fight that’s been brewing for months. Lopez, the Brooklyn native known as “The Takeover,” has held the WBO belt since 2023 after unifying titles at lightweight earlier in his career. His most recent defense came in May 2025, a dominant decision win over Arnold Barboza Jr. in Times Square, showcasing his sharp counterpunching and resilience.

Stevenson, moving up from lightweight to challenge at 140 pounds, brings an Olympic pedigree and a perfect 22-0 record into the ring. The Newark star, who recently bulked up in training to add power to his elite footwork, views this as his ticket to a fourth divisional title. “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 in a statement. “Teofimo Lopez will learn that firsthand on January 31 when I take his belt and show him that there are levels to this game.”

Not one to back down, Lopez fired back with confidence, dismissing Stevenson’s style as overhyped. “What he does is a facade,” Lopez told Yahoo Sports. “Shakur is getting a push that is not deserved… I feel like I am the one who will take that away. I’ve fought better fighters as a pro than he has. Look at my résumé.” Lopez’s path includes upsets over Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor, wins that cemented his status as a pound-for-pound force, even if his power has waned slightly since his lighter days.