The Lopez – Stevenson fight died in the water: how Shakur’s dream game collapsed and what next

Discussions for a Theofimo Lopez against Shakur Stevenson struggle failed to “progress”, and the Saudi is reportedly going to Lamont Roach for Stevenson.

Lopez’s frustration keep talking

Sports Illustrated Senior Writer and Dazn analyst Chris Mannix reports that there was ‘frustration throughout the process’ with Lopez. Interestingly enough Lopez said earlier today X that he “accepted all the fight” and that he would face Stevenson early next year.

Shakur responded to Theofimo’s comment and accused him of it “Try to save face” After the setback on social media about the ghost of him after his exclamation.

A less-than-shining alternative

Roach, 30, is not as well known as Lopez, and it is a more difficult battle to sell on Dazn PPV, if that’s what the Saudi has in mind with a Stevenson-Roach competition. It would be a good underscoring fight on the three or four place on one of Turki Alalshikh’s maps, but it would not be a main or fellow Feature material.

Roach (25-1-2, 10 food) is a pure boxer, and so is Shakur. So it would be two boxers in a chess match battle. The ultra-hardcore box fans who have the Fencing type amateur style The use of Stevenson and Roach would enjoy a fight between them. But for fans who like to see, roast and mix it, it would be a disappointment for a capital letter.

The battle would be similar to when O’Shaqui Foster fought for the first time on July 6, 2024 for Robinson Conceicao in the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The fans at Ringside had the lack of actions of the two defensive fighters.

There was no progress in talks for a Theofimo Lopez-Shakur Stevenson fight and Saudi officials continue, sources said @Sinow. There was frustration with Lopez during the process, I said. The focus has shifted to finding another opponent for Stevenson, W/Lamont …

– Chris Mannix (@sichrismannix) August 22, 2025

Don’t be here, save face, I haven’t heard you accept the fight yet but https://t.co/cps0exun0q

– Shakur Stevenson (@shakurstevenson) August 22, 2025

Mannix did not say what kind of problem the Saudi was negotiating with Lopez. He did not mention whether he had praised himself or asked anything else that stuck the discussions.

WBC lightweight champion Stevenson (24-0, 11 COs) looked forward to fighting Tefimo. He has been calling the Brooklyn, New York, in the Brooklyn since July and is nowhere to come with his efforts.