Shakur Stevenson: American boxer dominates Teofimo Lopez to become four-weight world champion before calling out Conor Benn
Shakur Stevenson outclassed Teofimo Lopez to become a four-weight world champion and remain unbeaten; Stevenson then called out Britain's Conor Benn with the pair both seemingly keen to fight each other next; Benn has not fought since beating Chris Eubank Jr in November last year
Sunday 1 February 2026 07:40, UK
Shakur Stevenson dominated Teofimo Lopez to become a four-weight world champion, before clashing with Britain's Conor Benn.
Stevenson won by unanimous decision to win the WBO super-lightweight title as he claimed 11 of the 12 rounds on all three judges scorecards.
The 28-year-old remains unbeaten following his victory at Madison Square Garden and was keen to say a few words to Benn, who was watching from ringside.
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"We're gonna go back to the drawing board, but hold up, there's a fighter here tonight and he motivated me. Where's Conor Benn?! I want that same rehydration clause you put on [Chris] Eubank Jr and I want to fight!" said Stevenson.
Benn entered the ring and responded: "You're too small for me, bro, you're tiny. You can't punch, you can't keep me off you."
The pair exchanged words for over a minute with both fighters seemingly keen to face each other next as Stevenson told Benn's promoter Eddie Hearn that his fighter was "food".
Benn added: "You think I'm scared of you? I'm not scared of you, bro. We can do it next. Come up to welterweight with the big dogs. You're a little man."
Benn last fought in November when he beat Chris Eubank Jr by unanimous decision to seemingly end their family's feud.
How Stevenson outclassed Lopez
Stevenson entered the ring and reunited with Terence Crawford, the retired multi-division champion who is an adviser to the Newark, New Jersey, fighter.
There was then a lengthy wait before Lopez's ring walk turned into a dance performance, as he was joined by the Jabbawockeez. Lopez kept up with them better than with Stevenson.
The Brooklyn product came aggressively out of his corner when the fight began, but Stevenson was mostly able to keep him from getting close enough to land much and soon began to find openings to score with lefts.
He knocked Lopez off balance with one of them in the fourth round, caught him right on the chin with a couple of right jabs in the sixth, and by then it was becoming no longer a question if Lopez would win the fight but if he would even win a round.
Unable to match what might be Stevenson's best-in-boxing foot speed, Lopez was often forced to lunge forward in hopes of connecting, putting himself at risk for shots that came back faster and even most times harder. The area around his left eye was red by the eighth round and blood streamed down his face after a cut opened in the 10th.
"I felt good, I picked him apart, I did what I was supposed to do. Hey, listen, I said I boxed guys like this my entire career. This is the art of boxing: hit and don't get hit," said Stevenson.
"I told y'all I'm the best fighter on the planet, and I stand by that."
