Shakur Stevenson took to social media to brag that 2026 will be his “greatest year yet” with him beating Teofimo Lopez on January 31st, then facing Conor Benn at 147.
Teo Might Ruin His Plans
Conor Benn has contacted Shakur about fighting him in April 2026, and he’s agreed. For the fight to happen, Stevenson will need to beat Teofimo first. That’s the problem. He may not get past Teofimo (22-1, 13 KOs) when he moves up to 140 to challenge him for his WBO light welterweight title.
Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) looked beatable last summer in his last fight against William Zepeda on July 12. There was no power in Shakur’s shots, and he took a lot of body shots in that fight that the judges seemed to tune out when they scored it.
Teo —> Conor 2026 Will be my greatest year yet! https://t.co/Odiw9zKWpX
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) November 25, 2025
What Happens to His Belt?
Question: If the Newark, New Jersey native Stevenson does move up to welterweight to face Conor Benn next April, what’s going to happen to his WBC lightweight title?
Does the World Boxing Council allow Shakur to freeze their 135-lb title to get paydays at 140 and 147?
Fairness to the Top Fifteen
How is that fair to the contenders in the WBC’s top 15 at lightweight? Their careers would be put on hold while Stevenson enriches himself, earning millions in prize fights outside his division. How about them? Do they get to wet their beaks to get a little taste of the loot that Shakur will be getting? If these contenders are losing a year of their careers due to Stevenson fighting at 140 and 147, they should be paid.
Strip Him the Moment He Moves
The WBC needs to strip Shakur of his WBC lightweight title as soon as he moves up to light welterweight in early 2026 to face Teofimo for his WBO belt. That’s abandonment.
Stop Rewarding Belt Hoarding
Stevenson can’t just leave his WBC lightweight belt, holding onto it like a keepsake, like a family heirloom that he keeps laying around at home on his mantle. The WBC belt is supposed to be defended, not just kept at home while a greedy champion pursues paydays in other divisions.