Teofimo Lopez Stuns Boxing World With Explosive KO Comeback—Highlights, Reactions & What’s Next

Teófimo Lopez is back in the headlines after a fiery New York press conference confirmed his WBO junior-welterweight title defense against unbeaten two-division champion Shakur Stevenson on 31 January at Madison Square Garden. The Brooklyn native leaned into his traditional “underdog” narrative, telling bookmakers to keep Stevenson a heavy favorite so “people that are starving can make their money,” while his father boasted that Lopez has “never lost to a southpaw”—a subtle reminder of wins over Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor. Stevenson fired back, claiming Lopez’s vulnerabilities are “more mental than anything” and promising to showcase a new level of speed and sharpness at 140 lbs. Their sharp verbal exchanges—including Lopez’s viral “jigga-ma balls” joke—have already set social media ablaze and boosted early pay-per-view buzz. The bout headlines “The Ring VI” card, streaming live worldwide on DAZN, with Dominican WBC middleweight king Carlos Adames expected to face Austin “Ammo” Williams on the co-main. Madison Square Garden officials anticipate a full house, citing brisk pre-sale demand from both Lopez’s hometown fans and Stevenson’s Newark contingent. For Lopez, 22-1 (13 KOs), victory would add the southpaw stylist Stevenson to a résumé already featuring three lineal champions before age 28. For Stevenson, 24-0 (11 KOs), a win would make him a three-division titlist and bolster his campaign for top-five pound-for-pound status. Early FanDuel odds list Stevenson −350 and Lopez +250, but Lopez insists his unpredictable style—and a perfect record against lefties—will flip the script on fight night. Training camps are scheduled to open next week: Lopez at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas under his father’s watch, Stevenson at SNAC HQ in San Carlos, California, where he is adding strength coach Victor Conte to his team. Expect more trash talk leading into fight week, but the real question SEO-driving fans keep asking is simple: can Lopez’s explosiveness neutralize the slickest defense in boxing, or will Stevenson’s ring IQ cement a new era at 140? All answers arrive under the Garden lights on 31 January.