Shakur Stevenson vows tears for Team Lopez after January 31 masterclass

On Saturday, January 31, 2026, Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson will headline “The Ring 6” fight card in New York City. The main event will be for Lopez’s WBO super lightweight title. Stevenson, the current WBC lightweight champion, is moving up in weight to tackle Lopez.

Ahead of this intriguing matchup, both fighters and their teams have met at the opening press conference in New York City, where Stevenson had a clear message for Team Lopez about how January 31 will go.

Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson recent form

Lopez vs Stevenson will face off early in 2026 at Madison Square Garden. 

Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) was last seen in action on the Times Square May 2 card, where he outpointed Arnold Barboza Jr, with the judges’ scorecard reading 116-112, 116-112, and 118-110. Lopez was the shining light on an otherwise disappointing card

After some lacklustre performances, Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) delivered a dominating performance, beating William Zepeda by unanimous decision (118-110, 118-110, 119-109). It was arguably Shakur’s best performance since defeating Oscar Valdez.

Stevenson vows tears after masterclass

Lopez vs Stevenson is an intriguing prospect. Both have impressed at the highest level and will be determined to record their biggest career win on Jan. 31.

Lopez possesses plenty of speed, and when on form and letting his combinations go, he’s a nightmare for any opponent. He also times his punches well and has proven he has power.

Shakur is a defensive wizard who often makes his opponents miss with ease. His slick footwork also helps him evade attacks and create angles to throw his own shots. Shakur’s timing is exemplary, and it will need to be on Jan. 31 to combat Teofimo’s speed.

When speaking at the opening presser, Shakur was asked how he sees the fight going: “The outcome is me winning, and me putting on a masterclass performance and Teo Sr crying after the fight.”

Stay with Big Fight Weekend for coverage of Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson, including results, video highlights, and post-fight analysis.