Teofimo Lopez said last Saturday night that he has a “big gift” waiting for him in 2026. When asked to confirm that his fight with Shakur Stevenson is a done deal for January 2026, he chose to keep the fans waiting for the official announcement of the news.
Teofimo, Speaking in Riddles
The details of the fight have already been leaked by DAZN commentator Chris Mannix, who revealed that Teofimo (22-1, 13 KOs) will defend his WBO light welterweight title against Stevenson on January 31, 2026. The rumored venue is Madison Square Garden in New York City.
“So they say. So they speak on,” said Teofimo Lopez to Fight Hub TV when asked about his thoughts on his fight with Shakur Stevenson being confirmed for early 2026. “I say just wait a couple of weeks from now or less. I know I’ve got a big gift in 2026 waiting for me, and I’m excited for it.”
Teofimo is waiting for the event organizers to announce the fight between him and Stevenson before he speaks publicly about it. Boxing fans want to know if it’s happening or not, as they’ve seen Lopez’s fights in the past fail to materialize for various reasons.
The Career Lifeline for Shakur
This fight is a career-saver in a way for Shakur, because if it didn’t come along, he would be forced to defend his WBC lightweight title against the contenders waiting to dethrone him: Andy Cruz, Ricardo Nunez, and Jadier Herrera. Those are contenders that could finish what William Zepeda started last summer on July 12th.
Teofimo works well for Shakur because he’s a low-output counter-puncher who rarely connects. So his style is perfect for Stevenson’s pure boxing approach.
Lopez could receive a career-high purse for the fight. So, it’s understandable why he views the Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) clash as a “big gift.” It’s less risky for Teofimo than if he were to face one of the champions at 140, like Gary Antuanne Russell, Subriel Matias, or Richardson Hitchins.
The only thing Lopez would have to worry about against the pure boxer Shakur is losing a 12-round decision in a fight that will likely resemble an amateur-style point-scoring affair. That’s how Stevenson fights due to his brittle hands.
Lopez, Dodging the Wolves
Entertainment-wise, there are better fights out there for Teofimo than Shakur. But those are ones that he would have a high chance of losing, like against these wolves:
- Gary Antuanne Russell
- Keyshawn Davis – *Teo’s WBO mandatory at 140
- Subriel Matias
- Brian Norman Jr.
- Devin Haney
- Ryan Garcia
