New Year's Resolutions for Boxing: Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson needs to be big for American boxing

The boxing world is three weeks away from a mega fight January 31 when WBO and The Ring super lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez clashes with undefeated Shakur Stevenson at Ring 6 in New York City, and live on DAZN PPV.

After each man tried in earnest to land a fight with Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis to no avail during recent years, they looked to each other and locked in this super bout.

That brings us to DAZN News’ tenth and final New Year’s Resolution for boxing in 2026.

Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson needs to be big for American boxing

Stevenson, the WBC lightweight world champion, moving up to 140 pounds to challenge for Lopez’ title is big for boxing. Specifically, it is vital for American boxing which recently experienced the sudden retiring of Terence Crawford, the only man in boxing history to reach undisputed glory in three different divisions.

Box-office sensation ‘Tank’ Davis is coming off a strange 2025 as he first fought Lamont Roach Jr. to a draw and then his planned fight against Jake Paul was scrapped.

A fight between undefeated super welterweight interim champions Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jr. has been discussed, but the fighters’ sides have yet to be able to come to terms and make the bout official.

All this being said, American boxing needs this Lopez-Stevenson fight to be big. Madison Square Garden being the host makes sense, considering Lopez is from Brooklyn, New York and Stevenson is a Newark, New Jersey native. Being on DAZN PPV gives it a global streaming audience.

Now, all that is left is for Lopez and Stevenson to continue to sell this fight up until the bell and for the fighters themselves to deliver a stirring bout.

Perhaps Lopez said it best during last month’s launch press conference for this fight.

“This is two of the guys that they say is the best of the best about to lace it up in beautiful Madison Square Garden,” Lopez said, “‘The Mecca of Boxing.’”

Lopez also said in a Ring Magazine segment, where he was joined by Stevenson: “In reality, man, this guy is the best and we’re here to fight the best.”

During the same interview, Stevenson offered: “This dude is in my way. I’m chasing greatness. You’re the guy, you fought kings, you’ve been the guy for years and years.”

The mutual admiration society of sweet science aside, the pair of 28 year olds have a massive notch to add to their respective fighting profiles with this pivotal bout.

Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) has shown a penchant to rise up to his competition in big spots as the underdog. He stunned boxing technician Vasiliy Lomachenko at his own sweet science game to claim a unanimous decision upset and the unified lightweight crown that came with it in their October 2020 bout. A few years later in June 2023, Lopez moved up and soundly defeated a then-unbeaten Josh Taylor to become the WBO and The Ring super lightweight world champion. As of January 10, Lopez is also installed as the underdog against Stevenson, despite entering the bout as the reigning champ.

Through signature wins like that, a two-division world champion like Lopez gives Stevenson the opponent he has long coveted to prove his own greatness.

Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs), a three-division world champion, took a step toward that in delivering a boxing masterclass to defeat previously-unbeaten knockout artist William Zepeda by unanimous decision in July. Defeating Lopez convincingly could detonate his superstar liftoff into orbit.

Furthermore, a convincing win and Stevenson could fully step into the shoes of being the heir apparent of Crawford, his mentor, and carve out his own legend as the possible next face of boxing.

The Lopez-Stevenson winner could also lure either ‘Tank’ Davis or Haney in for an even bigger bout in the near future as they work to leave one man standing tall amongst this generation’s four kings.

All being said, plenty is riding on this bout in this high-stakes matchup January 31 and it makes perfect sense. Lopez and Stevenson rose through the amateur ranks, having even crossed paths in sparring, before beginning their pro ascensions with Top Rank.

Now is the perfect time for this long-anticipated collision course to converge. It could not be a bigger moment for each man and American boxing as a collective.

This mega fight will not only decide the WBO and The Ring super lightweight titleholder but perhaps also anoint boxing’s next king.