Teofimo Lopez’s next title defense is a champion vs. champion clash with the undefeated Shakur Stevenson.
Ring Magazine announced Monday that Lopez (22-1) is set to put his WBO and The Ring light welterweight title on the line against Stevenson (24-0), the WBC lightweight champion, at an event scheduled to take place in New York on Jan. 31.
Matchroom Boxing serves as the promoter for The Ring 6, with the live broadcast scheduled to air on DAZN. A venue is still to be made official.
Both fighters have ties to the New York area, with Lopez hailing from Brooklyn and Shakur hailing from nearby Newark, N.J.
Lopez competed once in 2025, winning a unanimous decision over Arnold Barboza Jr. in May competing at The Ring’s Times Square event. It was the sixth straight win for Lopez since his lone loss to George Kambosos Jr., and third straight defense of his light welterweight belts.
“Duck, Duck, Goose!” Lopez said in a press release. “Are you ready for New York City? Brick city in the concrete jungle, so let’s get ready to rumble! The Takeover is here to stay, not play. ‘Make Boxing Great Again’ is my forte. Shakur will fall in nine.”
Moving up to 140 pounds for the first time, Stevenson is coming off of a successful 2025 campaign that saw him defend his lightweight belt twice, outpointing William Zepeda and earning a ninth-round TKO victory over Josh Padley. The 28-year-old has also held titles at featherweight and super featherweight.
“I 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 in the release. “Teofimo Lopez will learn that firsthand on Jan. 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.”
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