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Shakur Stevenson responds to offer to face world champion in old weight class: “Perfect”

Oscar Pick

17th April, 2026

Shakur Stevenson responds to offer to face world champion in old weight class: “Perfect”

Shakur Stevenson has expressed an interest in moving back down to 135lbs, eager to collect two titles he never previously had the opportunity to claim.

The 28-year-old is lining up his next outing after comprehensively outpointing Teofimo Lopez, who he dethroned to become a four-division world champion in January.

Immediately after securing the WBO super-lightweight title, Stevenson called out Conor Benn, but has since set his sights on a potential move down in weight.

This is seemingly because the likes of Benn, and indeed WBC world champion Ryan Garcia, are unlikely to face him at a catchweight of 144lbs.

Instead, it appears as though the pair are set for a welterweight showdown in August, while Stevenson explores the possibility of facing Raymond Muratalla.

The IBF lightweight champion comes off a majority decision victory over Andy Cruz, successfully defending his world and Ring Magazine titles in January.

Since then, Stevenson has flirted with the idea of becoming a three-division Ring Magazine champion, to which Muratalla’s trainer and manager, Robert Garcia, has responded via social media.

Taking to X, Garcia confirmed that discussions regarding Muratalla’s next title defence are ongoing, but refused to rule out a potential encounter with Stevenson.

“If you listen to the full interview [with BoxingScene] I said Raymond will have one more fight at 135[lbs] and Top Rank is working on locking in a date and opponent. And we will be at 140[lbs] after.

“But if our next fight is [against] you we can do it [at] any weight. We don’t have anything set yet so let’s make it happen.”

If you listen to the full interview I said Raymond will have 1 more fight at 135 and Top Rank is working on locking in a date and opponent. And we will be at 140 after. But if our next fight is vs you we can do it any weight. We dont have anything set yet so lets make it happen https://t.co/H1BHVs33GW

— Robert Garcia Boxing (@GarciaBoxing) April 16, 2026

In response, Stevenson said that such an outcome would be “perfect”, despite knowing he would need to adhere to the IBF’s 10lb rehydration policy.

This, therefore, represents unfamiliar territory for the American, whose previous campaign at 135lbs saw him reign supreme as the WBC champion.

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