NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 11: Shakur Stevenson weighs in ahead of his WBC Lightweight title fight against William Zepeda at Hard Rock Cafe – Times Square on July 11, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images)
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HIGHLIGHTS
- Shakur Stevenson moves up to 140 pounds to challenge Teofimo Lopez for The Ring and WBO junior welterweight titles
- The fight headlines The Ring 6 in New York, streaming exclusively on DAZN
- Stevenson could become a four-division world champion with a victory
Shakur Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) wants all the smoke with anyone who has a name and title. The undefeated WBC lightweight champion is moving up to 140 pounds to challenge The Ring and WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs).
The fight will headline the Ring 6 card scheduled to take place at an as-yet-announced venue in New York. Here’s what we know about the big-time boxing event.
Date, Time, and How to Watch
- Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
- Location: New York (venue TBA)
- How to Watch: DAZN (exclusive)
- Start Time: TBA
The Ring 6 takes place Saturday, January 31 in New York. A venue has not been officially announced, though Madison Square Garden has been mentioned in reports. That could be difficult to pull off considering the New York Knicks are at home on January 30 against the Portland Trail Blazers and on February 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers.
If it can’t be pulled off, Turki Alalshikh, the man behind the Ring cards and Riyadh Season is the guy who can swing it.
The event streams exclusively on DAZN. Start times and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks.
Stevenson-Lopez: The Buildup
This matchup has been brewing for months. When I spoke with Shakur ahead of his dominant victory over William Zepeda, he made it clear he was tired of chasing Gervonta Davis and wanted to fight everyone with a name at the top of the sport. Lopez fits that bill perfectly.
The work behind the scenes has been equally important. In a conversation I had with Eddie Hearn, he discussed securing Shakur a three-fight deal designed to deliver major paydays. The partnership with Alalshikh and the Ring Magazine events has seemingly helped make this clash a reality.
Stevenson-Lopez Stakes and Storylines
Both fighters enter near their prime at 28 years old. Lopez, the Brooklyn native, has rattled off six straight wins since his only career loss to George Kambosos Jr., including a unanimous decision over Arnold Barboza Jr. in May. Stevenson, from nearby Newark, is coming off back-to-back impressive performances—a TKO over Josh Padley and a shutout of the previously undefeated Zepeda.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JULY 05: Shakur Stevenson poses on the scale during a weigh-in ahead of his WBC Lightweight World Title fight against Artem Harutyunyan of Germany at Prudential Center on July 05, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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For Stevenson, a win means becoming a four-division world champion, adding junior welterweight gold to titles he’s held at featherweight, super featherweight, and lightweight. For Lopez, it’s about proving he’s the king at 140 and handing Shakur his first professional loss.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: Teofimo Lopez prepares to throw a punch during a fight for the Ring and WBO Super Lightweight titles in Times Square on May 02, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images)
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Lopez is already looking past Stevenson. He recently told Inside Ring that he would like to take on Terence Crawford next.
Fight Card and Rumored Additions
The undercard hasn’t been officially announced, but if The Ring 6 follows the pattern of previous events, expect star-studded support. One fight that’s been heavily negotiated for early 2026 is Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Hearn has confirmed Ennis signed for the fight, and both Oscar De La Hoya and Eric Gomez have expressed interest in making it happen. Could that land on this card? It would certainly fit the profile.
Potential Additions to the Card
All of the numbered Ring cards have been stacked with big and meaningful fights. The Ring 5 was headlined by David Benavidez’s destruction of Anthony Yarde, but it also featured Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez’s KO win over Fernando Martinez, Devin Haney’s unanimous decision win over Brian Norman Jr. and Abdullah Mason’s win over Sam Noakes.
I’d expect to see a card with similar names fill out the Ring 6 slate. Could we potentially see Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr. on that card? That would make this event even more of a must-see for fight fans.