SHAKUR STEVENSON has orchestrated his very own two-horse race, pitting Teofimo Lopez and Lamont Roach Jr against one another as he searches for an opponent.
The WBC world lightweight champion produced a comprehensive performance to outpoint William Zepeda, his mandatory challenger, with a blend of combination punching and slick defensive manoeuvres last month.
But while, naturally, he would have wished to extend his momentum, the 28-year-old has confirmed that he is likely to sit out the remainder of this year.
It is worth mentioning, too, that Stevenson, 24-0 (11 KOs), only recovered from his prior hand injury a matter of months ago, for which he underwent what appeared to have been a successful surgical procedure.
But regardless of that, the American nonetheless expects to return to action at the beginning of next year when, seemingly, he will face one of two names.
Roach, 25-1-2 (10 KOs), unsurprisingly, has emerged as a potential option, yet ‘The Reaper’ could still earn himself a run-out in 2025 following the collapse of his rematch with Gervonta Davis.
The 30-year-old came away from his last outing, against Davis, with a highly controversial draw, while also proving to be a formidable contender at 135lbs.
Stevenson has therefore identified Roach as a solid dance partner, but equally acknowledges that WBO world super-lightweight champion Lopez could beat him to the punch.
“Lamont was getting ready for the rematch [with Davis] so he [is going to] have an in-between fight and then fight me top of the year [early next year],” Stevenson wrote on X just yesterday. “But it’s only if Teo [Lopez] doesn’t accept the fight.”
For a fight with Lopez to materialise, Stevenson would most likely move up to 140lbs, while perhaps clinging onto his WBC strap at 135lbs, in a bid to become a four-division world champion.
In any case, though, it would appear that the crafty southpaw is in talks to face either Lopez or Roach, which can only arrive as encouraging news ahead of his next outing.
