Shakur Stevenson has four next fight options after dominant victory over Teofimo Lopez

Shakur Stevenson gave Teofimo Lopez a boxing lesson last weekend to claim the WBO super lightweight title.

The New Jersey technician was given all-but one round on the three judges’ scorecards as he cruised to a dominant, unanimous decision win at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden.

In victory, he becomes a four-weight world champion and a two-weight simultaneous title holder.

Stevenson is still in possession of the WBC lightweight belt and confirmed before his bout with Lopez that he intends to drop back down to 135lbs if he can’t land a big fight at a higher weight.

At present, it seems unlikely that any of the other three super lightweight champions (Dalton Smith, Richardson Hitchins or Gary Antuanne Russell) would have the required name value to be considered a ‘big fight’ in Stevenson’s eyes.

In all likelihood, the slick southpaw would have to move up to welterweight (147lbs) in search of high-profile matchups.

The welterweights

Conor Benn (24-1)

Getty

One 147lber Stevenson could face is Benn.

After all, he was the first name on Stevenson’s lips after his victory over Lopez.

“Conor Benn, we could get it banging, boy,” said Stevenson. “I want that same rehydration clause that you put on [Chris] Eubank Jr, and I want the fight.

“Sign the contract. Let’s make it happen… I am a businessman at the end of the day, and he did a rehydration clause with Chris Eubank, who was in the ring half-dead. Why can’t he do the same thing?

“I’m into big fights. I’m into big fights; I like big-money fights. I like proving that I’m the best, and I like doing things that people say I can’t do.

“There’s a lot of people who say I’m too little for Conor Benn, and I can’t do it. It makes for a tremendous fight.

“It’s going to be a good beef. I like the story behind it, and it’s a tremendous fight.”

While Benn seems mightily confident that he will be ‘too big’ for Stevenson, it is unlikely he would take such a risky fight, given his current position with the WBC.

Benn is the mandatory for the winner of Mario Barrios vs Ryan Garcia, who square off for the green and gold strap in February.

Garcia would also be considered a ‘big fight’, but given that his next steps are already set in stone, his name is unlikely to be floated around when Stevenson meets with his handlers over the coming weeks.

Devin Haney (33-0)

Getty

While ‘King Ry’ is out of the mix, at least for now, his fierce rival, Haney, could be a potential dance partner for Stevenson.

Haney last fought in November when he snatched the WBO welterweight title from Brian Norman Jr in a boxing masterclass.

He is currently without an opponent and isn’t massive for the weight, having previously competed as low as lightweight.

Lightweight unifications

Abdullah Mason (20-0)

GETTY

If Stevenson can’t land a fight with Benn, Haney or someone of that calibre, then he can focus on collecting belts at lightweight.

Boxing’s youngest active male world champion, 21-year-old Abdullah Mason, picked up the vacant WBO lightweight strap with a hard-fought victory over Sam Noakes at the back end of last year.

If Stevenson wants to get this fight over the line, however, he will have to move fast, as Joe Cordina is currently in pole position to box Mason next, with a mandatory order expected soon.

Raymond Muratalla

Getty

As the WBA belt is currently vacant following Gervonta Davis‘ recent legal troubles, the only other champion Stevenson could face is Raymond Muratalla.

The Californian was upgraded from interim to full IBF lightweight champion in June following the retirement of Vasyl Lomachenko.

He then defended his belt with a tireless majority decision victory over Olympic gold medalist and three-time world amateur champion Andy Cruz last month.

Muratalla will likely return in the same timeframe as Stevenson and would be free to unify after seeing off his mandatory.

Getty