The new year will kick off with a 50-50 marquee matchup featuring two of boxing\u2019s brightest and most talented stars in the prime of their careers.<\/p>\n
Teofimo Lopez<\/a> and Shakur Stevenson<\/a> will square off in the main event of “The Ring 6” on January 31 in New York, exclusively on DAZN, it was announced on Monday. But before any fists can fly, the promotional buildup between the 28-year-olds should be brash, as it features fighters who take pride in pressing each other. <\/p>\n \u201cI have never shied away from a challenge and 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 that firsthand on January 31 when I take his belt and show him that there are levels to this game. New York, get ready for a spectacular performance as I take over a fourth straight weight division.\u201d<\/p>\n Lopez, meanwhile, has different plans.<\/p>\n \u201cDuck, Duck, Goose! Are you ready for New York City?” he said. “Brick city in the concrete jungle, so let\u2019s get ready to rumble! The Takeover is here to stay, not play. Make Boxing Great Again is my forte. Shakur will fall in line.\u201d<\/p>\n Lopez, a former Ring and unified champion at 135 pounds and a 2016 Olympian, is coming off a unanimous decision win against Arnold Barboza Jr.<\/a> in May as part of The Ring’s “FATAL FURY” show in New York’s Times Square. <\/p>\n Lopez has been competing at 140 pounds since August 2022 and after stopping Pedro Campa on his debut at the weight, has notched five consecutive victories when going the distance against Sandor Martin, Josh Taylor, Jamaine Ortiz, Steve Claggett and Barboza.<\/p>\n Lopez has fought only once since June 2024. He has a career-best win against Vasiliy Lomachenko<\/a> in October 2020, and his lone career loss came against George Kambosos Jr.<\/a> in November 2021 by split decision. Stevenson, a former 126 and 130-pound titleholder and a 2016 Olympics silver medalist, should come in as the smaller-framed fighter, even though his measurables of height and reach are nearly the same as Lopez’s. But just like his career-long confidant Terence Crawford proved against Canelo Alvarez<\/a>, Stevenson is looking to show that superior skills will reign supreme<\/a>, and not size, against the equally talented Lopez.
Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs), the WBC lightweight champion and The Ring<\/a>‘s No. 1-rated contender at 135 pounds, will move up to 140 pounds to challenge The Ring and WBO junior welterweight champion Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs).
Lopez, from Brooklyn, and Stevenson, from Newark, New Jersey, have been linked for an all-East Coast showdown<\/a> for several months. Stevenson, The Ring\u2019s No. 8-rated pound-for-pound fighter, could become a four-division champion if he were to beat Lopez. <\/p>\n
Stevenson last fought in July, beating William Zepeda<\/a> by unanimous decision as part of \u201cThe Ring III\u201d card in New York. Five months earlier, Stevenson stopped late-replacement opponent Josh Padley<\/a> in nine rounds.
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring\u2019s lead writer. Follow him on X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>: @ManoukAkopyan.