Shakur Stevenson, the 28-year-old boxing sensation from Newark, has been stripped of his WBC Lightweight World Championship title just days after his impressive win over Teofimo Lopez. Stevenson initially captured the vacant WBC belt in November 2023, triumphing over Edwin De Los Santos, although his cautious fighting style drew some criticism.
In 2024, Stevenson made only one title defense, showcasing a similar tactical approach against Artem Harutyunyan but later secured a stoppage against late replacement Josh Padley in February 2025. His reputation soared when he faced pressure fighter William Zepeda in July, where he delivered a more entertaining performance to retain the title for the third time.
This past weekend, Stevenson moved up to the super-lightweight division, where he faced Lopez and delivered a masterclass performance, winning all but one round on the judges’ scorecards. While his future remains uncertain—he has hinted at a possible move to welterweight—one thing is clear: he will not be defending his WBC title at 135 pounds.
The WBC released a statement regarding the title’s status, stating:
“On January 31, 2026, WBC World Lightweight Champion Shakur Stevenson delivered an outstanding performance in defeating WBO World Super Lightweight Champion Teofimo López. With this victory, Stevenson becomes a four-time World Champion, joining an elite group of fighters that includes legends like Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez, and Terence Crawford.”
The statement continued, highlighting Stevenson’s historic connection with the WBC, which began with the WBC Continental Americas title in January 2019. He became the WBC Super Featherweight Champion in 2022 and later moved to lightweight to secure the coveted Green and Gold belt, which he successfully defended three times.
In light of his new status as the WBO Super Lightweight World Champion, the WBC has declared its Lightweight World title vacant. They also expressed their best wishes for Stevenson’s future endeavors, both in and out of the ring, and promised updates on the process to crown a new champion soon.
Looking ahead, Stevenson may decide to defend his newly acquired WBO title at 140 pounds but appears to be more interested in high-profile matchups rather than mandatory defenses. Following his victory, he has expressed interest in fighting Conor Benn at welterweight, as well as considering Isaac Cruz and Devin Haney as potential opponents.
In response to the WBC’s ruling, Stevenson has not held back his disappointment, making his feelings known in a recent statement.
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