Stevenson Dominates Teofimo, Josh Kelly Pulls Upset, Carrington, Davis, and Zayas Win

The Stevenson-Lopez fight took place on January 31, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, serving as a highly anticipated clash in the super lightweight (junior welterweight) division. In the main event, undefeated Shakur Stevenson delivered a dominant, technical masterclass to dethrone Teofimo Lopez and claim the WBO super lightweight title (along with recognition as a four-division world champion).

Stevenson, moving up to 140 pounds for this bout, showcased elite footwork, defensive prowess, pinpoint counterpunching, and superior ring generalship throughout the 12-round contest. He frustrated Lopez’s aggressive style, controlling the pace from early rounds and rarely allowing the champion to mount meaningful offense. Lopez had sporadic moments—particularly in the middle rounds with body work—but was largely outclassed, unable to close the distance consistently or land with authority against Stevenson’s slick defense and movement.

All three judges scored the fight overwhelmingly in Stevenson’s favor: 119-109, 119-109, and 119-109 (a 11-1 round margin on each card). This result improved Stevenson’s record to 25-0 (11 KOs), cementing his status as one of boxing’s pound-for-pound elite technicians and a four-division champion (having previously held titles at featherweight, junior lightweight, and lightweight). Lopez fell to 22-2 (13 KOs), suffering his second professional defeat in a performance that highlighted challenges in adapting to Stevenson’s style.

The victory has significant implications: it positions Stevenson as a dominant force at 140 pounds, potentially setting up future high-profile matchups, while Lopez may need to regroup to reclaim his standing in the division.

Full Fight Card (Brief Results)

The card featured several notable bouts across weight classes (primarily under the main event promotion at MSG, with some parallel or related high-profile fights mentioned in coverage around the same weekend):

• Main Event – WBO Super Lightweight Title: Shakur Stevenson def. Teofimo Lopez via unanimous decision (119-109 x3)

• Other bouts on the MSG card included undercard action (specific details like Keyshawn Davis or others appeared in some reports, but the focus remained on the headline clash).

• IBF Super Welterweight Title (separate card in Newcastle, England): Josh Kelly def. Bakhram Murtazaliev via majority decision (115-111, 114-113, 113-113) — Kelly captured the title in a major upset with smart, disciplined boxing.

• WBO/WBA Junior Middleweight Title Unification (separate event in San Juan, Puerto Rico): Xander Zayas def. Abass Baraou via split decision (116-112, 116-112, 112-116) — Zayas unified belts in a competitive, high-volume performance.

Josh Kelly’s Victory

In a separate but contemporaneous world title fight on January 31, 2026, in Newcastle, England, British boxer Josh Kelly achieved a career-defining upset by dethroning previously unbeaten Bakhram Murtazaliev to win the IBF super welterweight (junior middleweight) title. Kelly used intelligent, tactical boxing—leveraging jabs, counters, and movement—to neutralize Murtazaliev’s power punching. He scored a knockdown in round four and weathered a ninth-round knockdown himself before pulling ahead on the scorecards.

The majority decision (115-111, 114-113 for Kelly; 113-113 draw on one card) marked Kelly’s first world title and highlighted his resilience and skill against a dangerous opponent. This win adds depth to the 154-pound division and opens doors for future unification or cross-promotional bouts.

Xander Zayas’ Win

Puerto Rican phenom Xander Zayas also shone on the same weekend, unifying the WBO and WBA junior middleweight titles in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with a hard-fought split decision over Abass Baraou. The 23-year-old Zayas (now 23-0, 13 KOs) displayed improved maturity, outworking Baraou with higher volume, cleaner combinations, and effective pressure while absorbing some solid counters.

Scores were 116-112 and 116-112 for Zayas, with one judge scoring 116-112 for Baraou (17-2, 9 KOs). This unification makes Zayas one of the youngest active unified champions and the first from Puerto Rico to achieve the feat, boosting his profile as a rising star with potential for bigger names like Vergil Ortiz Jr., Sebastian Fundora, or even a cross-division clash.

Overall, January 31, 2026, proved a landmark night for boxing with multiple title changes and standout performances, underscoring the sport’s depth at the super lightweight and junior middleweight levels. Stevenson’s dominance, Kelly’s upset, and Zayas’ unification provided fans with thrilling, high-stakes action across continents.