On Saturday, January 30, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Shakur Stevenson produced a masterful performance in defeating Teofimo Lopez by unanimous decision. The victory on DAZN Pay-Per-View made Stevenson the new lineal and WBO super lightweight champion.
Victory for Shakur made him a four-division world champion, and straight after the victory, while being interviewed by Chris Mannix in the ring, Stevenson called out one fighter, declaring, “I want him.”
Shakur Stevenson defeats Teofimo Lopez in New York City
Stevenson rose to the occasion, producing a career-best performance to comfortably defeat Teofimo Lopez by unanimous decision, with scorecards of 119-109 x3.
He got into his groove very quickly and began to work impressively off his jab, which was his biggest weapon for the whole fight. Lopez had very small moments of success, and even when he did, Shakur countered him.
Stevenson boxed diligently throughout and was simply too fast and accurate for Lopez, who struggled throughout the fight.
Stevenson calls out Conor Benn after Lopez victory
When asked on the live DAZN broadcast what he wanted to do next, Shakur Stevenson said:
“There’s a fighter in here right now, and he motivated me too. Where’s Conor Benn?”
“Hey Conor Benn, we can get it banging, boy. We can get it banging!”
Stevenson added: “I want that same rehydration clause that you put on [Chris] Eubank Jr. and I want a fight.”
Before anyone could blink, Benn was in the ring to confront Stevenson:
“You’re too small for me,” Benn told the undefeated Stevenson. “You’re tiny, you’re tiny. You can’t punch. You can’t keep me off of you. I’ll rough you up.”
An underterred Stevenson said:
“Sign the contract. Let’s make it happen.
“Eddie (Hearn),” he shouted over to his Matchroom Boxing promoter, “I want him, he’s food.”
Could Shakur Stevenson move up to 147lbs? It’s difficult to see Stevenson-Benn happening unless the Brit wins a world title.
