Commentator Chris Mannix mentions that Shakur Stevenson will fight on a Saudi card in January, possibly against Theofimo Lopez or another opponent. Mannix says the representatives of Theofimo will “paved” with Shakur for early 2026.
(Credit: Golden Boy)
Turki Alalshikh’s interest
“Shakur is in a fairly good place at the moment, because he’s in a very good place with Turki Alalshikh. When I’m talking about Shakur Stevenson, it sounds for Turkish and Saudi officials involved in boxing,” the commentator Chris Mannix said to be about the WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson.
Shakur fought against William Zepeda in Queens in 2025, July 12, on two of Turki’s maps, and February 22 against Josh Padley. Stevenson’s fighting was not exciting to look at fans, but he achieved the victories to hold his WBC lightweight title.
Theofimo is a dangerous battle for Shakur. If it is the man who negotiates Turki for Stevenson, he will require him to use all the tricks in his arsenal to be victorious. Lopez is a fighter who can box and punch. As we saw in his fight against Arnold Barboza Jr. on May 3, he can mimic Shakur’s fighting style and still strike with great power.
Negotiation road blocks
“There’s a lot of talk about Shakur against Theofimo. It’s something that both tweeted about the guys over the past four or five days. Theofimo was not very easy to handle the Saudi,” Mannix said. “He initially rejected what told me, an offer of $ 6 million to fight Shakur. I think now, he is willing to take it, which is why he has tweeted a storm for the past few days.
“I think it is unclear whether Turki Alalshikh and the Saudi are willing to come back and accept an offer. My understanding is that the Aofimo’s representatives have worked hard over the past few days to try to rabble this battle again,” Mannix said.
Lopez hinted at it social media Today he will fight against Shakur next. Lopez said, “More like Spike against Tom.”
Theofimo’s last fight against the defending Arnold Barboza jr. On May 3, 2025, was an excellent match to prepare him for Shakur. Barboza jr. Is a fighter with low output, difficult to hit, similar to Stevenson, and Lopez won a unanimous 12-round decision by the scores 116-112, 116-112 and 118-110.
Shakur’s profitable Saudi struggle
“It will be for January. This is the pencil date for Shakur and Theofimo. Either way, Shakur will fight on a Saudi card in January, make a pile of money and be in a high-profile fight,” Mannix said.
Chris did not mention what Plan B is for Shakur to fight if the Saudi is unable to negotiate or is not interested in the Theofimo battle. Stevenson mentioned that he wanted to fight Lamont Roach if he couldn’t get the Lopez fight. It is not a game that would resonate with fans because it could be two defensive fighters with below average.
Roach (25-1-2, 10 food) has a 40% rateand he would go up with his against Stevenson 45.83% rate. With his Retro Mayweather style, Shakur would be interesting to watch these fighters if Turki couldn’t land the Theofimo fight:
- Andy cruz
- Abdullah Mason
- Ernesto Mercado
- Floyd Schofield
If the fight is fed, Turki and the Saudi may be quickly interested in Shakur if he has been beaten healthy by Theofimo Lopez. Stevenson’s value will fall if he was blown out by thee, especially if he was knocked out.
Shakur’s last performance against William Zepeda on July 12, 2025 in Queens, New York, showed his vulnerability. He worked out and surpassed Zepeda in that battle. It was against a non-puncher. Lopez hit harder than Zepeda and has the kind of boxing skills that Stevenson would expose.
Shakur has not faced any of the dangerous punchers since moving up to 135, apart from Edwin de Los Santos on November 16, 2023, and he did not do well in the fight. Stevenson moved all night and was thrown by fans at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Stevenson won the battle with a unanimous 12 -round decision, but many fans felt it was a closer battle than the indicated scores. The scores were 116-112, 115-113 and 116-112.
Last updated on 08/28/2025
