Conor Benn’s two most likely next fights revealed, and it’s bad news for Shakur Stevenson

Shakur Stevenson may not get his wish after all.

The New Jersey technician called out Conor Benn after snatching the WBO super lightweight title from Teofimo Lopez in a boxing masterclass at Madison Square Garden.

Benn was welcomed into the ring post-fight, where the two faced off and exchanged barbs.

While Benn seems mightily confident that he will be ‘too big’ for Stevenson, it always appeared unlikely that he would take such a risky fight, given his lofty position at 147lbs.

Despite not competing at welterweight since 2022, Benn is ranked No.1 at the weight by the WBC and is set to be installed as mandatory for the winner of Mario Barrios vs Ryan Garcia later this month.

He has also been offered a shot at the WBA belt by Rolly Romero.

It is, therefore, no surprise that a fight with Stevenson isn’t at the forefront of his handlers’ minds right now.

Addressing a possible fight with the four-weight world champion, Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith told talkSPORT: “I don’t think it’s the favourite fight right now.

“I think Conor wants to win a 147-pound world title.

“He’s got a Rolly Romero opportunity that we’re working on.

“He’s got the Ryan Garcia against Mario Barios winner — he’s mandatory for the WBC world title — and he’s always wanted to win that WBC belt.

“Look at the position Conor Benn is in, though. He’s got Shakur Stevenson, a four-weight champion of the world, calling him out. That’s what Conor does.

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“Anything’s possible… There’s so many fights we’ve said over the years, ‘We’re not going to see that one happen.’ Originally, Eubank Jr and Benn.

“Who would have said all those years ago that Conor Benn would fight Chris Eubank Jr? It happened twice.”

Stevenson insisted before his bout with Lopez that he would move back down to lightweight if he wasn’t able to land a fight with a big-name at a higher division.

However, his next steps have been complicated by the WBC’s recent decision to make him vacate their version of the 135lbs world title.

WBC rules state that champions are not permitted to simultaneously hold world titles belonging to other governing bodies in a separate weight class.

Stevenson has since taken to social media to hit back at the decision, alleging that he lost his recognition after failing to pay a $100,000 sanctioning fee.

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He tweeted: “$100k to some crooks who don’t deserve it?.

“The WBC didn’t even have s*** to do with this fight, and it’s eating them alive. Take your belt, it don’t make me.”