A Self-Proclaimed Heir: Scrutinizing Shakur Stevenson’s Claim To The Throne

Shakur Stevenson says the winner of his fight against Teofimo Lopez in early 2026 will determine who is the runner-up to be the next ‘Face of Boxing’ after Terence Crawford is gone. In other words, the next ‘Face.’

(Credit: Matchroom)

Shakur (24-0, 11 KOs) states that whoever emerges the winner in his clash against WBO light welterweight champion Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) will be “the leader of the next generation.”

That would sound reasonable if either of these fighters were taking on the top fighters from their weight class to give that made-up title some meaning. They haven’t been doing that, though. So, it makes no sense for either of them to call themselves “leader of the next generation.”

What Makes a True Leader

To be a true leader and not a poseur, Shakur and Teofimo would have to fight the top fighters in their weight class. That hasn’t happened with either. Since Stevenson moved up to lightweight in 2023, these are the fighters he’s fought: William Zepeda, Josh Padley, Artem Harutyunyan, and Edwin De Los Santos.

Empty Words, Empty Victories

“I think it becomes who is the leader of the new school. So, the winner of that fight becomes the leader of the next generation,” said Shakur Stevenson to The Arena about his belief that the winner of his clash against Teofimo Lopez in 2026 will be the next leader to carry the sport at least in his mind.

I don’t know what Shakur is talking about. His fight against Teofimo won’t prove who the next “leader” is, “the next generation” at all. That fight is just about money if it happens. If Shakur wins, he has already said he’ll gift the WBO 140-lb title to his friend Keyshawn Davis and return to his original weight class at 135.

A victory for Teofiimo won’t mean much because he’ll have beaten a lightweight who has no power, even in that division. Since defeating Josh Taylor in 2023 to become the WBO light welterweight champion, Teofimo has defended the title against these non-elite fighters: Arnold Barboza Jr., Steve Claggett, Jamaine Ortiz, and Sandor Martin.

The Fighters They Ignore

Fans and fighters have criticized Lopez for ignoring the top fighters in the 140-lb division. They feel he’s cherry-picking his opponents to extend his reign as WBO champion for as long as possible. It would mean something if Teo turned over a new leaf and started fighting the top talents in the 140-lb division that have been calling him out. There are

Top 140-pounders pursuing Lopez with no luck

1. Gary Antuanne Russell
2. Richardson Hitchins
3. Subriel Matias
4. Ernesto Mercado
5. Keyshawn Davis

“Everyone knows that me and Teo are bad mother f***** when it comes to that boxing. The winner, I’m not going to say The Face of Boxing, because that’s Terence Crawford. But behind him, who’s next? I think that fight is going to tell the difference,” said Shakur.

The winner of the Lopez vs. Stevenson fight isn’t next in line behind Crawford as the next ‘Face of Boxing.’ To be the true next guy, Shakur and Teofimo would have to fight and beat the top fighters that they’ve chosen not to face in their respective weight classes. I named the fighters that Lopez, for whatever reason, has consistently chosen not to fight.

At lightweight, these are the fighters that Shakur has ignored:

1. Andy Cruz
2. Abdullah Mason
3. Jadier Herrera
4. Raymond Muratalla

If Shakur chooses to fight those guys, any self-proclaimed title like ‘Face of Boxing’ that he decides to give himself has a high chance of evaporating. I don’t believe Shakur can beat any of those four fighters. I don’t think he would defeat Floyd Schofield either. I didn’t include him on the list because Shakur attempted to fight him earlier this year on the February 22nd card in Riyadh. Schofield withdrew from the fight due to illness.