Teofimo Lopez prides himself not only on his ability but on his willingness to back himself against the odds.
The larger-than-life and controversial 28-year-old faces a defining examination of his credentials and legacy when he meets Shakur Stevenson on January 31 at Madison Square Garden.
The two-weight champion puts his WBO super-lightweight title at stake, while Stevenson chases glory in a fourth division. Such is the magnitude of the fight that the belt feels almost secondary with reputation, pride and ego dominating the storyline.
Lopez and Stevenson came face to face at Wednesday’s launch press conference in New York for a clash which is the final marquee event of an already packed January featuring the return of Moses Itauma, Amanda Serrano and many more.
The biggest fights in boxing are rarely stitched together without the safety net of a rematch clause. Recently, Usyk–Fury and Eubank Jr–Benn have materialised with return bouts already agreed before a punch has been thrown.
Does Lopez–Stevenson have one? Fight Hub TV posed that question to Lopez after the press conference. His response was unequivocal:
“No, no rematch clause. We risk it all the time. No need for a rematch clause.”
Neither Lopez nor Stevenson has contested a rematch in their stellar careers so far. Of their combined 47 bouts, only Lopez has tasted defeat—his upset loss to George Kambosos Jr in November 2021, when the Australian ripped away three lightweight titles.
