Conor Benn vs. Shakur Stevenson - who wins?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Conor Benn and Shakur Stevenson agree on fight date and location

Conor Benn and Shakur Stevenson agree on a 2026 fight date and location

Conor Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) and Shakur Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) have agreed to fight in April in a UK stadium.

Benn revealed that he had spoken to the unbeaten Newark star on November 19 and that the American had promised to fight him next year in England after he had gotten Teofimo Lopez “out the way”, in his own words.

29-year-old Brit Benn confirmed, “I spoke to Shakur yesterday and I said, ‘Are you being serious [about fighting]? Because if you’re being serious, then we can do the fight in April and we can do it at a stadium here.’

“He said, ‘Na listen, I’ll get Teo out the way, I’m gonna get the win, for sure, and 100 per cent we can do the fight in April in England’, so the reality is I’ll make the fight happen; I’ll tell Eddie [Hearn] this is what we’re doing, let’s make the fight.”

In reaction to the video clip posted on X, Stevenson wrote: “Sad day in England when I cook him. Got sum business to handle first then it’s go time!!!”

[gregregegg]

This is silly, so fornicating silly . . Shakure is arguably a p4p guy, and he has so many actualy great fights around his weight that he should have.

If Benn wants to fight 147 the easiest 147 belt ever is in the uk right now… go win that then if you wanna fight shakur stepping up at least it means somthing..

Shakur side quest to 147 for no belt would be a waste of time, and throw out shakures natural path through the weights.

[joshj909]

Don't see it happening. Definitely don't see it being in a stadium. Silly move for all involved.

[CaptainSpacerod]

What stadium ? Stockport County maybe.

Shakur would box his head off in a one sided borefest

[stujones]

Decent fight, but suspect a 118-112 Stevenson type scorecard.

[smiling assassin]

Stevenson wouldn’t lose a minute let alone a round, he’s a real sharpshooter. He’s not the most exciting but skill wise he’s one of the best boxers I’ve seen throughout all the weights

[stujones]

Stevenson wouldn’t lose a minute let alone a round, he’s a real sharpshooter. He’s not the most exciting but skill wise he’s one of the best boxers I’ve seen throughout all the weights

Yeah, I think he will be in control all the way through, he might lose a couple of rounds being a bit too negative vs Benn's ineffective aggression.

Its a good fight though cos I don't think Stevenson will hurt Benn and Benn will carry strength / power.

[KiwiRider]

I'm sure they are still aiming for Barios.
Shakur is too much of a challenge.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I'm sure they are still aiming for Barios.
Shakur is too much of a challenge.

According to Garcia. He’s fighting Barrios in Feb

[gilgamesh]

This is silly, so fornicating silly . . Shakure is arguably a p4p guy, and he has so many actualy great fights around his weight that he should have.

If Benn wants to fight 147 the easiest 147 belt ever is in the uk right now… go win that then if you wanna fight shakur stepping up at least it means somthing..

Shakur side quest to 147 for no belt would be a waste of time, and throw out shakures natural path through the weights.

He's going to make more money to fight Benn in a non title Superfight in the U.K. than he would to fight for any title.

This sport is ultimately about making money. Winning belts was always a means to making the big money. If you can make the big money without the belts, the belts don't matter.

[stujones]

I'm sure they are still aiming for Barios.
Shakur is too much of a challenge.

According to Garcia. He’s fighting Barrios in Feb

Where is Manny Pacquiao fitting in this equation I do not know. I thought at one stage he was going to rematch Barrios, then he was supposed to fight the other champion, now there is Mayweather talk.

[gregregegg]

This is silly, so fornicating silly . . Shakure is arguably a p4p guy, and he has so many actualy great fights around his weight that he should have.

If Benn wants to fight 147 the easiest 147 belt ever is in the uk right now… go win that then if you wanna fight shakur stepping up at least it means somthing..

Shakur side quest to 147 for no belt would be a waste of time, and throw out shakures natural path through the weights.

He's going to make more money to fight Benn in a non title Superfight in the U.K. than he would to fight for any title.

This sport is ultimately about making money. Winning belts was always a means to making the big money. If you can make the big money without the belts, the belts don't matter.

Firstly, I don’t think I agree there. Lopez, tank, Garcia, Haney all likely pay as well or better.

Secondly, it’s about getting paid now but also getting kid in the future… yo-yoing weights is bad long term. And this adds very little to his legacey and future earnings in think…

Ifff Benn got a 147 belt first completly different equation. It would make this fight bigger, it would make it a worthy side trip for 5 weight world champ (assuming shakur is beating teo first)

[gilgamesh]

Boxing in general is hotter in the U.K. so even if Lopez and Haney and people like that SHOULD be bigger stars than Benn, I don't know that they are.

If Shakur makes the move successfully to Welterweight, I don't think he needs to yo-yo back down, he needs to wait for them to come up to him. Haney has already mentioned things like he believes he'll be a Middleweight someday, so it's reasonable to assume a stop at Welterweight along the way is quite likely.

[gregregegg]

Boxing in general is hotter in the U.K. so even if Lopez and Haney and people like that SHOULD be bigger stars than Benn, I don't know that they are.

If Shakur makes the move successfully to Welterweight, I don't think he needs to yo-yo back down, he needs to wait for them to come up to him. Haney has already mentioned things like he believes he'll be a Middleweight someday, so it's reasonable to assume a stop at Welterweight along the way is quite likely.

Shakur is not a welter though. He can venture there but it’s not where he should be looking to live (not for another 5 years at least).

Gotta go where the money is clearly, I just don’t know if I think benn no belt in the uk brings ungodly money without eubank..

[gilgamesh]

I don't know if Shakur brings money against anybody either

[Ruthless-RKO]

CONOR BENN: SHAKUR STEVENSON AGREED TO FIGHT ME, IF HE BEATS TEOFIMO LOPEZ

Conor Benn has been linked to a who’s who of the welterweight division since evening the score with bitter rival Chris Eubank Jr.

Ten days ago, 60,000 fans flocked to London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to see Benn (24-1, 14 KOs) outpoint a flat Eubank Jr over 12 rounds in their middleweight rematch.

The 29-year-old Londoner has been insistent that he will now draw a line under his time at 160 pounds and make a concentrated assault on the welterweight division.

Last weekend, Benn was in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to see Devin Haney relieve Brian Norman Jr of his WBO 147-pound title on the excellent Ring IV show. WBC titleholder Mario Barrios, IBF champion, Lewis Crocker and Ryan Garcia have also been named as potential opponents.

You can add the name of The Ring's No. 1-ranked lightweight and WBC champion, Shakur Stevenson, to that list.

The three-weight world champion is rumoured to be closing in on an early 2026 showdown with The Ring and WBO junior welterweight beltholder Teofimo Lopez, but is clearly planning a busy year. Benn told The Ring that Stevenson gave the thumbs up to a direct approach about a future fight.

“I messaged Shakur. I said, "Listen, if you're really about it, let's do it next". I don't just do the social media thing for bants," Benn said.

"I said we can do that next in April and he said, 'Cool. Let me get Teo out the way, we'll do it in April," so you may see be seeing me and Shakur next.”

Beating the mercurial Lopez at his natural weight would be a remarkable achievement for Stevenson. Stepping up a further seven pounds to fight Benn just a couple months later seems extremely unlikely but the groundwork for a potential fight in the future has definitely been laid.

Benn believes that Stevenson needs to concentrate on the task at hand before looking too far ahead.

“I think he’s in a hard fight, Teo's a great fighter. I think it'll be a close, 50/50 fight.”

[gregregegg]

Shakur should fight teo, then Crocker, then Benn…

If he is going to 147 might as well pick up a title.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Shakur Stevenson ‘finalising’ major promotional deal that could have big repercussions in the sport

Shakur Stevenson is reportedly finalising a promotional deal that could have significant repercussions on the future of his career.

The 28-year-old is already considered one of boxing’s premier stars, certainly a top five pound-for-pound operator, but whether he maintains this lofty status is another matter entirely.

Based purely on his talent, many have tipped the American to go down as a first-ballot Hall of Famer and, quite possibly, one of the 21st century’s most gifted fighters.

In order to realise his full potential, though, Stevenson must prove himself against a selection of elite competitors in and around his current weight class of 140lbs.

He has already done so to a certain extent, dethroning Teofimo Lopez to claim the WBO world super-lightweight title by unanimous decision earlier this year.

But now, it remains unclear as to whether he will secure further world titles, or just simply be involved in fights that make the most financial sense.

This is because boxing journalist Chris Mannix has reported that Stevenson is close to inking a promotional deal with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

“140[lb] titleholder Shakur Stevenson is finalising a deal with Zuffa Boxing. Stevenson [is] set to join Conor Benn as [one of] the most high-profile names in the Zuffa stable.”

It is unclear whether or not Zuffa’s original plan to recogne only eight weight classes remains. If it does, Stevenson would likely campaign at 135 or 147lbs if he is to sign with the promotional outfit.

Additionally, UFC boss White has made it clear that, while he is happy to accommodate fighters in certain cases, he would rather they fight for the ‘Zuffa title’ than any sanctioning body belts.

Stevenson has, of course, already become a four-division world champion, but it remains to be seen whether he will enhance his legacy by collecting further titles of such historic significance. With Zuffa’s close ties to the Ring Magazine, Stevenson could well still feature heavily on those cards for the traditional belts.

If the deal comes good, Zuffa have landed one of the best fighters in the sport and a man many want to fight, strengthening their bargaining position.