Shakur Stevenson Vows to Drop Belt to Sidestep Ex-Stablemate After Teofimo Lopez Clash

Fresh off his spectacular victory over William Zepeda, WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson is pushing hard for a showdown with WBO super lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez. While nothing has been signed yet, the potential clash looks promising, as the Newark native is prepared to pack on extra pounds to challenge ‘The Takeover’ in his own backyard at 140 pounds, aka super lightweight. But there’s one fighter Stevenson has no interest in facing in the division. Who?

Back in June, Keyshawn Davis failed to make weight for his fight against Edwin De Los Santos, weighing in at 139.3 pounds for what was meant to be a 135-pound contest. The bout was scrapped, and Davis lost his WBO 135-pound strap in the process. “I outgrew the weight,” Davis explained. “I’ve been making this weight for four years now. I was up late last night and early this morning trying to make the weight, but I outgrew it.” The setback hinted at a move up to 140 pounds – and now Stevenson has confirmed it.

“I told y’all 100 times. I’m going to keep telling y’all the same thing,” Stevenson said when asked about the possibility of facing his longtime friend and former promotional stablemate Davis at 140 after Lopez. “What I’m going to do, I’mma tell y’all in advance, and y’all can call it whatever y’all want. I’m going BTO. Get the title, and I’m going to vacate, and Keyshawn can get that belt. That’ll be his.” Shakur Stevenson officially parted ways with Top Rank following his July 2024 fight against Artem Harutyunyan. 

His contract with the promotional company expired and was not renewed. He later became a free agent before signing with Matchroom Boxing. Keyshawn Davis remains under Top Rank’s banner. Regardless, Shakur Stevenson doesn’t even plan on staying at 140 pounds once his fight against Teofimo Lopez is done and dusted. “Hell no. That’s Keyshawn’s division. Nah, that’s his division. I want him to go and do everything,” he said when asked whether he would vie for undisputed at super lightweight. 

“I’m a 35-pounder, bro. I’m not a 40 [pounder]. Yeah, I’m just moving… I’m barely a 35 [pounder] to be honest with y’all,” Stevenson said during the interview. While Stevenson plans on handing the super lightweight division to his brother from another mother, a veteran trainer has shared his prediction for the potential fight between Stevenson and Lopez. 

Shakur Stevenson won’t like this prediction for the Teofimo Lopez fight

Stevenson has proven time and time again that predicting a fight to go against him doesn’t end well. However, trainer Robert Garcia doesn’t want to bet against Teofimo Lopez if the fight does happen. Speaking to ES News recently, Garcia shared his candid view of the potential fight, a prediction that might not sit well with the Newark native. 

“Man, I love that fight, but I don’t know, I pick Teofimo. I like Teofimo, that’s why, because I like him,” Garcia told the reporter. “Shakur’s cool too… but I think Teofimo, with his dad, I kind of get along very well.” Garcia did acknowledge Stevenson’s elite skills, saying, “Talent-wise Shakur is probably better, but I just like Teofimo’s heart and mentality, more like a true warrior.”

Even though Shakur Stevenson has said he’d be willing to give up the belt to Keyshawn Davis if he beats Teofimo Lopez, Robert Garcia isn’t convinced Stevenson will even get the chance. Do you agree with him? Who do you think takes this fight?