Shakur Stevenson has turned his attention to Conor Benn after delivering a dominant performance against Teofimo Lopez in New York.
Stevenson produced a boxing masterclass at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, outclassing Lopez to claim the WBO and Ring Magazine junior welterweight titles. The victory made the American a four-weight world champion and extended his unbeaten record to 25-0.
Moments after the win, Stevenson used his post-fight interview to issue a dire
ct challenge to British welterweight contender Conor Benn.
“There’s a fighter in here right now who motivated me tonight too,” Stevenson said. “Where is Conor Benn? Conor Benn, we could get it banging. I want that same rehydration clause you put on Chris Eubank Jr., and I want the fight. Sign the contract. Let’s make it happen.”
Benn fought Chris Eubank Jr. twice in 2025 at the 160-pound middleweight limit, with a 10-pound rehydration clause. He lost their first bout in April before avenging the defeat with a more disciplined boxing display in November.
Benn, who was ringside at Madison Square Garden alongside Eubank Jr., welcomed Stevenson’s call-out but questioned the size difference.
“You’re too small for me,” Benn told DAZN. “We can do it next. Come up to welterweight with the big dogs. You’re a small little man.”
After competing twice at middleweight last year, Benn has said he plans to return to welterweight and is targeting a shot at the WBC title. Mario Barrios is scheduled to defend that belt against Ryan Garcia on February 21.
Despite those plans, a potential showdown with Stevenson could prove just as lucrative and compelling. Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Stevenson doubled down on his challenge.
“I’m a businessman at the end of the day,” he said. “He put a rehydration clause on Chris Eubank, who was in the ring half-dead. Why can’t he do the same thing with me?
“I’m into big fights and big money fights. I like proving I’m the best and doing things people say I can’t do. A lot of people think I’m too small for Conor Benn. That’s what makes it a tremendous fight.
“There’s real beef, a real story behind it. It’s a great fight.”