Shakur Stevenson’s effort to take his legacy to new heights is in progress. An individual close to the fighter tells BoxingScene that Stevenson is “very” receptive to fighting WBO 140lbs champion Teofimo Lopez in January.
New Jersey’s three-division champion Stevenson, 24-0 (11 KOs), has been agreeable to terms and a January date presented him for a showdown with two-division champion Lopez, 22-1 (13 KOs), by Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh, said the representative, who is unauthorized to speak publicly on the matter because negotiations are active.
While Lopez is expressing mutual interest in the bout on social media, Stevenson and the Saudis are mindful of how he withdrew from talks earlier this year for a November showdown with unbeaten two-division champion Devin Haney despite being close to the finish line.
Haney will now instead fight for the WBO welterweight belt against champion Brian Norman Jnr.
The individual said Stevenson has verbally agreed to the deal, prompting Stevenson on social media to goad his fellow 28-year-old and former Top Rank stablemate Lopez to do the same.
The bout would give Stevenson the chance to become a four-division champion following his convincing victory over mandatory WBC lightweight contender William Zepeda on July 25 in New York.
Lopez last fought May 2 in Times Square, cruising to a unanimous-decision victory over his top-ranked challenger Arnold Barboza Jnr.
The bout between elite American champions would certainly be a continuation of their current social-media back and forth as each seeks to elevate their position in the top-10 pound-for-pound rankings.
Earlier this week, the WBO moved to ensure Lopez remains active by receiving recent WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis’ petition to become the top-ranked challenger to Lopez.
Should Davis defeat current top-ranked contender Alfredo Santiago, he would be in line to fight for the belt worn now by Lopez.
Stevenson has said it’s his plan to defeat Lopez and then let his friend and fellow U.S. Olympic silver medalist Davis inherit the 140lbs belt.
