Stevenson moving up to fight Lopez for WBO junior welterweight belt

WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson will challenge Teofimo Lopez for the WBO junior welterweight belt in the main event of The Ring 6 on Jan. 31, DAZN announced Monday.

Stevenson will move up to 140 pounds for the bout at Madison Square Garden.

It'll be Stevenson's first fight since he defended his lightweight title in July in a victory by unanimous decision over William Zepeda and improved to 24-0. The 28-year-old has also held the WBO featherweight and super featherweight belts, as well as the WBC's super featherweight title.

"I have never shied away from a challenge and always chased the biggest fights in the sport because I know I am one of the best boxers in the world. Teofimo Lopez will learn that firsthand on January 31 when I take his belt and show him that there are levels to this game," Stevenson said, according to Ring Magazine's Manouk Akopyan. "New York, get ready for a spectacular performance as I take over a fourth straight weight division."

Lopez, 23-1, has held the WBO junior welterweight belt since June 2023 when he defeated Josh Taylor by unanimous decision at MSG. He's successfully defended the title via three unanimous decisions since, most recently against Arnold Barboza Jr. at Times Square in May.