Shakur Stevenson maintains dominance while seeking greater challenges.

After delivering a performance akin to a near no-hitter in the MLB World Series by defeating Teofimo Lopez Jr. to capture the WBO junior welterweight title in front of 21,324 spectators at Madison Square Garden in New York, Shakur Stevenson has distinguished himself from his contemporaries. Once considered an outsider in boxing’s modern iteration of the “Four Kings” (Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Gervonta Davis, and Lopez), Stevenson has established his own legacy, dethroned a king, and achieved the status of a four-division champion.

He exhibited patience, awaiting the right moment to act. All he required was a willing adversary, which he found in Lopez. Stevenson, 28, secured the bout by moving up in weight, placing himself at a size disadvantage against Lopez. Unfortunately for Lopez, a few extra pounds could not compensate for the considerable skill disparity, as Stevenson lost only one round on all three judges’ scorecards.

“Finally, someone took the bait,” Stevenson remarked during the post-fight press conference. “I’ve been yearning for this moment, and I finally got it.”

The immediate inquiry now is what his next steps will be. After conceding weight, financial terms, and a headlining position to validate himself in earlier bouts, Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs) no longer needs to undervalue himself to secure fights with the sport’s prominent figures. However, as he continues to pursue greatness and ascend the pound-for-pound rankings, Stevenson will keep challenging himself.

While he could aim to become undisputed at 140 pounds by pursuing matchups against titleholders Richardson Hitchins (IBF), Gary Antuanne Russell (WBA), and Dalton Smith (WBC), the question remains whether any of those names would genuinely enhance his legacy. None would be expected to defeat him and would likely enter as considerable underdogs. For Stevenson, his forthcoming move will probably necessitate placing himself at another perceived disadvantage to create a level playing field.

Enter Conor Benn.

Benn may not hold a world championship, but the fact that he recently ascended two divisions from welterweight to middleweight to defeat Chris Eubank Jr. is something that intrigues Stevenson.

“There’s a fighter in here right now, and he motivated me tonight too. Where is Conor Benn?” Stevenson inquired in the ring after his victory. “Conor Benn, we could make it happen. I want that same rehydration clause that you imposed on [Chris] Eubank Jr., and I want the fight.
“Sign the contract. Let’s get it done.”

There is a rationale behind Stevenson’s approach, and it has little to do with amassing world titles.

“People often compare Floyd Mayweather to Terence Crawford, but Floyd was never an undisputed champion,” Stevenson stated to ESPN prior to the Lopez fight. “I’m not initiating a debate because, in my view, neither is superior to the other, but people insist that Floyd is better than ‘Bud,’ even though Terence was undisputed in three weight classes and moved from 147 pounds to 168 pounds.

“Do the belts hold as much significance for the public as they do for us?”

Stevenson raises a valid point. In terms of legacy, it has been more about embracing significant challenges than merely accumulating world titles. The casual fan often lacks awareness of which world titles are at stake and is more focused on the matchup itself.

“I’m interested in major fights,” Stevenson expressed. “I enjoy lucrative fights. I like demonstrating that I’m the best and accomplishing things that people claim I cannot do. There are those who say that I’m too small for Conor Benn, and that sets the stage for an exciting fight.”

Stevenson also mentioned to ESPN that he sees potential opponents at 147 and 154 pounds whom he believes he could defeat, so it is not outside the realm of possibility for him to move up another weight class or two for his next bout. He has long sought a fight with current welterweight champion Devin Haney, and if Ryan Garcia triumphs over Mario Barrios to become the WBC welterweight champion next month, that is another contender who could find himself in Stevenson’s sights.

At this pace, Stevenson will eventually transition from the hunter to the hunted. His victory over Lopez has demonstrated that he is nearly unbeatable on an equal playing field. Throughout his professional career, he has seldom lost a round, let alone come close to losing a fight. He has proven to be almost too skilled and must seek ways to place himself at a disadvantage to test his limits.

We are witnessing greatness as Stevenson continues an impressive streak, asserting his claim as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Is there anyone who can prevent him from reaching his objective?

At present, it appears quite improbable.