NEW YORK, N.Y. \u2014 Shakur Stevenson was still in his glittery black trunks at close to 2 a.m. Sunday morning in the bowels of Madison Square Garden looking like the freshest man in the room after a 12-round title fight.<\/p>\n
Stevenson was so energized, he could have gone another 12 rounds after he had just vanquished the best 140-pounder in the world<\/a>, Teofimo Lopez Jr., to become the new \u2014 and best \u2014 super lightweight in boxing, having won almost every second of every round in a 119-109 unanimous decision to claim the WBO super lightweight world championship.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs) put on a masterclass performance \u2014 the signature victory of his career so far \u2014that entertained an MSG record sold-out crowd of 21,324 fans.<\/p>\n The operative word being \u201centertained.\u201d<\/p>\n Stevenson has not always entertained in the ring. He\u2019s had a reputation for hitting and running, not really engaging, not walking down opponents behind what may arguably be the greatest jab in boxing today. But what was unique about Saturday’s victory over Lopez (22-2, 13 KOs) is that Stevenson walked down someone who was believed to be the heavier puncher. Stevenson, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist, was the challenger coming up in weight as the current WBC lightweight world champion.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n He just beat a world champion who had a pristine 6-0 record in super lightweight bouts prior to fighting him.<\/p>\n The perfunctory question of \u201cwhat\u2019s next,\u201d which always surfaces in big victories after a title fight, quickly surfaced.<\/p>\n Conor Benn, who split his two fights with Chris Eubank Jr. in 2025, was in attendance for the Stevenson-Lopez fight and would certainly be an entertaining option before 90,000 at Wembley Stadium in England sometime in the summer of 2026.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n There is also a possible unification title fight with IBF champion Richardson Hitchins down the line \u2014 that is, if Hitchins can first get by Mexico\u2019s rugged Oscar Duarte on the undercard of the Feb. 21 Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia WBC welterweight title bout in Las Vegas. The other option is WBA titleholder Gary Antuanne Russell, or British WBC titlist Dalton Smith.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m into big fights, I\u2019m into big-money fights. I like proving that I\u2019m the best and I like doing things that people say that I can\u2019t do,\u201d Stevenson said post-fight. \u201cThere are a lot of people who will say that I am too little for Conor Benn, and I can\u2019t do it, which would make for a tremendous fight.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he doesn\u2019t agree [to a rehydration clause], then that fight will be dead.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n When asked if he sees himself as the new face of boxing, Stevenson said, \u201cFor sure, I stay steady and have been calling people out my whole career. I told everyone that my moment was going to come. Teo took the bait. Finally, someone took the bait. I\u2019ve been begging for this moment, and we finally got it.\u201d<\/p>\n Brad Goodman, Top Rank\u2019s Hall of Fame matchmaker, goes way back with Stevenson. Goodman was there Saturday in support of Top Rank fighters Bruce \u201cShu Shu\u201d Carrington and Keyshawn Davis, who were on the Stevenson-Lopez undercard.<\/p>\n After beating Lopez in dominating fashion, the demand will be open to greater possibilities for Stevenson, Goodman said. He should know. Goodman was very instrumental in building Stevenson, now a pound-for-pound entrant<\/a>, who in one night transformed from being on the periphery of stardom to now ready to step through.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cI knew it from day one \u2014 Shakur had great things ahead, and he would wind up his career as a full-fledged welterweight or junior middleweight,\u201d Goodman said. \u201cFor years, he was asking to fight Gervonta Davis. He had not turned pro yet when he demanded to spar Nonito Donaire, who was a world champion. Shakur is a special kid. You do not find kids like that today.<\/p>\n \u201cAs time has gone on, his body is developing and he has grown more confident. He has respectable power, but what has changed is that he used to fight off his back foot, and against Lopez, he fought in the pocket. Probably the best fight out there is Shakur and Keyshawn Davis, but that will never happen, because they are very tight, like brothers. Shakur has said he will never fight Keyshawn, not money or anything would get him in the ring. I don\u2019t see him going back down to 135 [pounds]. He wants to chase all the best out there.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n