Shakur Stevenson delivered the most complete performance of his career on Saturday night, outclassing Teófimo López over 12 rounds to win the WBO and lineal junior welterweight titles and become a four-division champion. The unbeaten southpaw from Newark, New Jersey, secured a unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden with all three judges scoring the fight 119-109.
In front of a record crowd of 21,324 for boxing at the present-day Garden, Stevenson dictated the tempo from the opening bell. His educated jab, delivered with blinding speed, neutralised López's attempts to close distance, while his disciplined foot positioning prevented the champion from establishing any rhythm. By the fourth round, the contest had tilted decisively in Stevenson's favour.
López, born in Brooklyn's Sunset Park to Honduran parents, showed flashes of competitiveness in the middle rounds, particularly in the eighth and ninth when Stevenson eased off the gas. However, the champion struggled to land cleanly, often lunging at empty air as Stevenson exited exchanges at sharp angles. Stevenson reasserted total control in the 10th, delivering a masterclass in distance management.
By the championship rounds, the physical toll on López was visible. Blood trickled from a cut over his left eye that Stevenson had opened in the sixth. Despite López's attempts to press forward, he repeatedly ran into counters, and his corner's chaos between rounds did nothing to stem the tide. Stevenson said after the fight: 'Tonight I went out there and used my jab over and over and made it a weapon – and he couldn't stop it.'
Stevenson improved to 25-0 with 11 knockouts, while López dropped to 22-2 with 13 stoppages. The victory cements Stevenson's status as one of the premier fighters in the sport, having now won world titles in four weight classes. 'I studied them all,' Stevenson added. 'Everything I saw on tape was there tonight. There is benefits from watching tape.'
