NEW YORK, NY — Teofimo Lopez entered the lower bowl of Madison Square Garden Wednesday afternoon without an outlandish outfit and dressed for the occasion. He threw punches with his fists and had no drama taking the podium.
Lopez was here for the long awaited mega-fight that was officially announced versus Shakur Stevenson for Lopez’ Ring and WBO Junior Welterweight titles. Two 28-year old boxing names that go along with stardom and accolades meet January 31st of 2026 in The Garden—streamed live on DAZN.
Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson met face to face outside of Madison Square Garden earlier this week ahead of their press conference – Image Credit: Matchroom Boxing
A 12-round main event that pits Lopez of Brooklyn and Stevenson from nearby Newark, New Jersey, whom are friends out of the Top Rank Boxing stable but when the bell rings, all of that courtesy is decided in the ring. Matchroom Boxing won rights to stage the fight and card all in conjunction with Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority.
Turki has delivered again, a fight for the fans. At first, the fight was headed to Saudi Arabia, which has developed into a boxing paradise and host to other major events on the sports calendar. But all along, the fight belonged at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” in New York.
“This place is special but the icing on the cake is to see the fight at Madison Square Garden,” said Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn. “This is the absolute mecca of boxing, and speaking to the incredible team at the Garden the pre-sale numbers are through the roof. You’ve got Newark against Brooklyn, more importantly two generational great fighters.”
Eddie Hearn speaking to the media on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden during the Teofimo vs. Shakur press conference – Image Credit: Matchroom Boxing
And two fighters who have the potential of adding illustrious history at The Garden, capable of putting on a show with early and best fight of the new year. It has that aura and MSG filled with 19,000 fans have no time to blink. Lopez, though, is no stranger to The Garden, fighting for the fifth time at the venue, three previous in the adjacent Theatre.
Advantage? Take your pick as both are fighting for superiority, believing they are at the prime of their careers and a win provides major proportions of more stardom. What remains are the weeks leading to the end of January in New York City.
“This guy (Shakur) is the best and we’re here to face the best,” said Lopez, who has been an undisputed lightweight champion and looking to another takeover at junior welterweight.
Indeed the fight has shades of the 1980’s era of Hagler, Hearns, Durán, and Leonard, a golden time for boxing. Lopez will talk and reminisce about boxing history, his fight with Stevenson could be memorable and discussed in years to come.
Then again, this is boxing. I always say between now and fight time, anything can happen. Words can get stronger. In the ring, they become adversaries and not friends who crossed paths and trained at the Top Rank Boxing Gym in Las Vegas. Stevenson is no longer property of Top Rank, and neither is Lopez except for some of his purse money from contract obligations that conclude after this fight.
Both will earn and also, a second fight is always possible if one is warranted based on the outcome. Can we say trilogy? Probably not with all the other principles involved in this tightly contested junior welterweight division of talent.
Lopez, though, did not want Devin Haney, the recently crowned WBO Welterweight champion. He said prior to the Stevenson fight becoming official on my Keep It In The Ring YouTube broadcast: “Why should I fight Haney, he doesn’t have a title at 147.”
Teofimo Lopez was locked in and full of confidence during Wednesday’s press conference at Madison Square Garden – Image Credit: Ring Magazine
And this had nothing to do with Lopez avoiding a possible opponent, Haney and his dad Bill are rivals with Teofimo. Also, Lopez, a two-division champion is comfortable at 140, though moving up in weight would not pose an issue. It’s the basics of boxing and being a fighting champion.
Lopez will always be outspoken, a showman for sure. His prior fight with Arnold Barboza Jr. highlighted a dud Ring event in Times Square of NYC in early May, there winning a 12-round unanimous decision and retained the WBO Super Lightweight title.
But there appears to be more focus this time. He continues to pull no punches, however that adversarial mood was not as evident on the podium or with the media at the MSG press conference. It was simply Teofimo Lopez locked in.
Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson previously crossed paths early on in their careers as both trained at Top Rank’s Boxing Gym in Las Vegas, Nevada – Image Credit: Matchroom Boxing
“There are no friends in boxing,” he said about his boxing relationship with Stevenson. “When they presented the fight with Devin a lot of things came in my way, but it all appeared in perfect alignment.”
He said, “Devin doesn’t have motion, but Shakur has motion, He did his thing. He looked outstanding against William Zepeda at the Louis Armstrong Stadium,” (Ring event in Flushing, NY, in July of 2025).Then Stevenson won a 12-round unanimous decision and retained his WBC lightweight title.
“And this is what you guys need,” he said. “This is what boxing needs. This is why we’re here. We’re here to take over, Now we have this lightweight coming up to super lightweight to come over here and dethrone the champ. And this is why this fight is happening in early 2026.”
Lopez said everything he learned facing opponents at 140 will come into play against Stevenson. He reiterated the significance his opponent and friend is the obstacle.
“My hand will be raised once again, and they will say the takeover,” said Lopez. To which Stevenson responded, “He’s going to realize that I’m gonna take it to another level that he has never seen before.”
In Shakur Stevenson’s last bout (July of 2025 in Queens, NY), the 28-year-old defeated William Zepeda by unanimous decision – Image Credit: Ring Magazine
In other words to Stevenson, Teofimo Lopez is not fighting Vasiliy Lomachenko or Josh Taylor who were dethroned in his takeover at lightweight. Lopez has the height advantage, skills of both fighters do epitomize why this is billed as a mega fight.
No animosity, just friends outside the ring, But Teofimo Lopez, the underdog this time, comes in the ring and it’s business as usual. Different focus is evident, style change to be determined and legacy building more with a win.
THROWING THE PUNCHES: This Saturday on DAZN, Matchroom Boxing presents super middleweight Diego Pacheco vs. Kevin Lele Sadjo from Stockton Arena in Stockton, California.
Diego Pacheco will face off against Kevin Lele Sadjo this Saturday at Stockton Arena in Stockton, California – Image Credit: DAZN
Pacheco (24-0, 18 KOs) at 24-years old is possibly facing his toughest opponent in Lele Sadjo (26-0, 23 KOs) who is of 25-years of age with an opportunity.
Pacheco hits hard to the body, the young Mexican-American superstar making a mark in the division. A win in line to face Mexican Jaime Munguía and possible opponent for Terence Crawford who holds most of the titles at 168, once on the waist of Canelo Alvarez.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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