Shakur Stevenson’s win over Teofimo Lopez makes history as pair achieve 58-year record

Shakur Stevenson’s victory over Teofimo Lopez was the highest attendance ever recorded at the modern Madison Square Garden.

Stevenson and Lopez met in a huge US mega fight for the latter’s 140lbs world title in one of the sport’s biggest events in recent memory.

Matchroom Boxing

The iconic New York venue has played host to some notorious battles over the years including Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier, Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr and many more.

And the super-lightweight talents followed in their footsteps by selling out the venue which was packed to the rafters for their captivating clash.

Thousands of eager boxing fans watched on as Stevenson delivered a punch-perfect masterclass to outpoint and dethrone Lopez.

And it was revealed after the fight by Saudi chief Turki Alalshikh that the event had broken the attendance record for a boxing fight at ‘The Garden’.

Since it’s latest opening in 1968, Stevenson’s win over Lopez is now the highest attended clash in the famous arena.

It surpasses the likes of Joshua’s defeat to Ruiz and other blockbuster events, with a confirmed 21,324 spectators watching proceedings unfold.

Both Stevenson and Lopez quite clearly hold commercial star power in the US, a growingly rare trait in stateside boxing.

When and who could Lopez and Stevenson fight next?

For now after their record-breaking display, the pair will likely take a brief break from action.

Lopez will now need a rebuild after losing his title in such a dominant way, and is highly unlikely to pursue Stevenson again.

The American star has even now suggested he will make the move up to 147lbs after losing his title.

Getty

As for Stevenson, there are a wealth of options at his disposal after inking his name as one of the pound-for-pound leaders right now.

He could look to unify in his new weight class with Dalton Smith one of many others in the running.

But the slick-boxing American used his platform to call out Conor Benn for a potential clash at 147lbs.

The pair clashed in the ring, and he shouted: “It’s a fighter in here right now and he motivated me tonight too. Where is Conor Benn?

“Conor Benn, we could get it banging, boy. 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.”

Getty

On a potential clash with ‘The Destroyer’, Stevenson’s co-manager Josh Dubin added: “If the money is right.

“[Benn is] just in there bullsh***ing and trying to get a headline on [Stevenson’s] big night.

” I thought the whole thing was the same kind of clown nonsense that Teofimo did all week. But listen, if the money’s right then yeah.”