WBC urged to strip Shakur Stevenson’s lightweight belt

Shakur Stevenson took to social media to brag that 2026 will be his “best year yet” with him beating Teofimo Lopez on January 31 and then facing Conor Benn at 147.

Teo might ruin his plans

Conor Benn contacted Shakur about fighting him in April 2026, and he agreed. For the fight to happen, Stevenson will have to beat Teofimo first. That’s the problem. He may not get past Teofimo (22-1, 13 KOs) when he moves up to 140 to challenge him for his WBO light welterweight title.

Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) looked victorious last summer in his last fight against William Zepeda on July 12th. There was no power in Shakur’s shots, and he took a lot of body shots in that fight that the judges looked like when they scored them.

Teo —> Conor 2026 will be my best year yet! https://t.co/Odiw9zKWpX

— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) 25 November 2025

What happens to his belt?

Question: If Newark, New Jersey native Stevenson does move up to welterweight to face Conor Benn next April, what will happen to his WBC lightweight title?

Does the World Boxing Council allow Shakur to freeze their 135-lb title to get paydays at 140 and 147?

Fairness to the Top Fifteen

How does that fair to the contenders in the WBC’s top 15 at lightweight? Their careers would be put on hold while Stevenson enriches himself, earning millions in prize fights outside his division. What about them? Can they get their beaks wet for a little taste of the booty Shakur is about to get? If these contenders lose a year of their careers because of Stevenson fighting at 140 and 147, they need to be paid.

Strip Him the moment he moves

The WBC must strip Shakur of his WBC lightweight title once he moves up to light welterweight in early 2026 to challenge Teofimo for his WBO belt. It’s abandonment.

Stop rewarding belt hoarding

Stevenson can’t just let go of his WBC lightweight belt, clinging to it like a memento, like a family heirloom he keeps lying around on his mantle at home. The WBC belt is supposed to be defended, not just kept at home while a greedy champion pursues paydays in other divisions.