Teofimo Lopez revealed it last night “the meat” (Shakur Stevenson) is still marinating for their planned January 2026 mega-fight. It is still going through the negotiation phase. He did not say what the delay was, but the money and stock market divide is believed to be the issue delaying the announcement.
Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) would be the B-side in the fight as he is not at the popular level of WBO light welterweight champion Teofimo (22-1, 13 KOs). The Newark, New Jersey native would also move up in weight to 135 to challenge Teo for his belt at 140, likely in New York, on his home turf at Madison Square Garden.
The meat is still marinating
“The meat is marinated in the fridge. Let it marinate,” said Teofimo Lopez Battle hype about his fight with Shakur Stevenson. “You have to stay tuned.
Lopez’s power advantage is going to be a nightmare for Stevenson, who has nothing to match him. He is coming off a grueling fight against William Zepeda on July 12, 2025 in Queens, New York, in which he was lucky to get the decision. Zepeda trapped Shakur against the ropes the entire fight and pounded him with non-stop punches.
The judges gave it to Stevenson by a 12-round unanimous decision. It was far from an easy fight. In the third, Zepeda dropped Stevenson with a right hand, but the referee didn’t count it. The knockdown was clear. The missed call showed what Mexican fighter Zepeda is up against.
Shakur’s brittle-hand apology
Shakur’s brittle hands are the reason why the fight with Lopez has been moved to 2026. He said on X that he will now fight Teo before the end of 2025 but he wants his hands to be “100%.”
Boxing fans aren’t buying the excuse, as Stevenson has been dragging his feet trying to get a better cut. Some see it as him hoping to stall the fight to increase the chances of Lopez losing his form due to inactivity, waiting for his glass hands to finally heal.
The Wolves on 135
Many see Shakur moving up in weight as a sneaky, spider-like way for him to evade these hungry wolves who are at his door at 135, ready to snatch his WBC lightweight belt:
- Andy Cruz
- Floyd Schofield
- Raymond Muratalla
- Abdullah Mason
- Sam Noakes
Last updated on 19/10/2025
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