This weekend’s fight rankings: From Lopez-Shakur to Zayas-Baraou

Teofimo Lopez Jr.’s highly anticipated matchup with Shakur Stevenson is not the only notable bout this Saturday. Numerous exciting contests are scheduled across five boxing events worldwide.

The junior welterweight title defense by Lopez against Stevenson stands out as the weekend’s premier fight, featuring two of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world as they confront a long-standing rivalry. Additionally, there are two junior middleweight title bouts and the much-anticipated return of Dina Thorslund, a leading figure in women’s boxing, who faced personal challenges in 2025, including a miscarriage.

ESPN highlights eight of the most compelling matchups occurring on fight cards from Newcastle, England, to New York.

All odds by DraftKings Sportsbook.

1. Teofimo Lopez Jr. (+250) vs. Shakur Stevenson (-330) | New York

Lopez has delivered some of his finest performances against elite competitors, such as Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2020 and Josh Taylor in 2023. He will need to summon that level of inspiration once more when he faces Stevenson. However, Lopez has also experienced off nights, including a split decision defeat to George Kambosos Jr. in 2021 and decision victories over Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett in 2024.

The version of Lopez that appears on Saturday to defend his WBO junior welterweight title will significantly influence the fight’s outcome. He holds a size advantage (Stevenson is moving up from lightweight) and has shown the ability to adjust to opponents’ styles during fights to secure victories.

Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) is a proficient, defensive-minded southpaw. He can achieve a decision victory if he maintains a disciplined approach that avoids engaging in exchanges. Lopez would likely prevail if the bout turns into a brawl at Madison Square Garden.

Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) has referred to Stevenson as “The Roadrunner,” but if Stevenson establishes his range with an effective jab early, his footwork and distance control could frustrate the champion. Lopez has had difficulties with counterpunchers, having been knocked down in Round 2 against Sandor Martin in a subsequent decision win in 2021.

Stevenson excelled in his lightweight title defense against William Zepeda last July, but he will need to deliver his best performance to overcome Lopez and become a four-division world champion.

Few bouts this year will match the significance of this one.

2. Keyshawn Davis (-600) vs. Jamaine Ortiz (+400) | New York

Davis has exhibited a fierce determination in his recent fights, demolishing Denys Berinchyk in four rounds nearly a year ago to capture the WBO lightweight title. However, can he replicate that success at 140 pounds?

Davis (13-0, 9 KOs) is moving up to junior welterweight to face Ortiz after failing to make weight in June, which led to the cancellation of a scheduled lightweight title defense against Edwin De Los Santos. Following that setback, Davis aims to make a strong statement, with lucrative opportunities in his new weight class on the horizon.

Ortiz (20-2-1, 10 KOs) has faced top-tier opponents like Lomachenko in 2022 and Lopez in 2024, both resulting in decision losses, and he possesses the capability to match Davis’ speed. Ortiz secured victories in both of his fights in 2025, and his adaptability could lead to an upset. Similar to the Lopez-Stevenson main event, predicting a winner with certainty is challenging.

3. Bakhram Murtazaliev (-350) vs. Josh Kelly (+260) | Newcastle, England

Kelly will benefit from the enthusiastic backing of his home crowd in Newcastle, England, as he takes on Murtazaliev for the IBF junior middleweight title, but he must manage his emotions against the Russian knockout artist. Kelly has the ability to box intelligently, which will be essential to avoid the same fate as Tim Tszyu and Jack Culcay, both of whom were stopped by Murtazaliev in 2024.

Neither fighter has been very active recently. Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) did not compete last year, while Kelly spent only two minutes in the ring during a Round 1 KO of Flavius Biea in June.

Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KOs) was halted the last time he faced a similarly dangerous opponent, suffering a sixth-round TKO loss to David Avanesyan at welterweight in 2021. Kelly has improved since then but must be in peak condition to jab his way to a decision victory. Many viewers will expect a Murtazaliev knockout, but it would not be surprising if Kelly delivers an unexpected outcome.

4. Carlos Adames (-425) vs. Austin Williams (+300) | New York

After achieving a split draw with knockout artist Hamzah Sheeraz in February, Adames needs to deliver a more decisive performance in his second defense of the WBC middleweight world title. Adames (24-1-1, 18 KOs) took time to find his rhythm against Sheeraz, but he became more aggressive and active in the latter half of the fight. Nevertheless, his strong finish was insufficient for victory, as the judges scored it 115-114 for Sheeraz, 118-110 for Adames, and 114-114.

Sheeraz stopped Williams (19-1, 13 KOs) in Round 11 in June 2024, but since then, Williams has secured three victories. If the southpaw can successfully counterattack against Adames, he may make this a competitive bout.

5. Xander Zayas (-400) vs. Abass Baraou (+295) | San Juan, Puerto Rico

While Zayas is familiar with former sparring partner Baraou, this still represents a step up in competition from his previous fight. Zayas, the WBO junior middleweight champion, faces Baraou, the WBA champion, in a unification bout in the main event.

Zayas dominated Jorge Garcia in July to win a unanimous decision and secure his first world title at just 22 years old. Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) displayed excellent footwork and counterpunching, earning scores of 116-112, 118-110, and 119-109.

Zayas’s jab was vital in establishing control, and he exhibited maturity beyond his years by opting to box his way to a comfortable victory. This strategy could be advantageous against Baraou (17-1, 9 KOs), who tends to press forward.

6. Adam Azim (-1000) vs. Gustavo Daniel Lemos (+600) | London

There has been considerable discussion regarding a potential matchup between Azim and English rival Dalton Smith, who recently captured the WBC junior welterweight title. Smith is required to defend his title against Alberto Puello next, but Azim will still aim to deliver an impressive performance following Smith’s surprising victory over Subriel Matias in January.

Azim (14-0, 11 KOs) was strategic as he methodically dismantled Kurt Scoby in November, achieving a Round 12 TKO victory. A win over Lemos (30-2, 20 KOs), anticipated to be faster than his last bout, would position Azim firmly in line for a shot at the IBF title, currently held by Richardson Hitchins.

7. Bruce Carrington (-900) vs. Carlos Castro (+550) | New York

Brooklyn’s “Shu Shu” Carrington will seek to validate the excitement surrounding his ascent as he aims to capture his first world title in front of his home crowd at Madison Square Garden against the seasoned Castro.

Carrington (16-0, 9 KOs) is a strong favorite to win the vacant WBC featherweight belt, but it remains worthwhile to watch a fighter who appears poised to break into the pound-for-pound top 10 in the coming years.

Castro (30-3, 14 KOs) lost a split decision to Stephen Fulton in September 2024 and has not fought since. That inactivity may hinder Castro, and given that he has been defeated every time he faced a quality opponent—against Fulton, Luis Nery, and Brandon Figueroa—this bout could present a challenging matchup for the former title contender.

8. Dina Thorslund vs. Almudena Alvarez | Kolding, Denmark

Thorslund (23-0, 9 KOs) did not compete at all in 2025 after withdrawing from a title unification bout due to pregnancy and relinquishing her WBC and WBO bantamweight titles. The former two-division world champion faces substitute opponent Alvarez (7-3, 2 KOs) for the WBC interim featherweight title in what is anticipated to be a straightforward victory for Thorslund in her first fight since October 2024.