WBC announces final decision on Shakur Stevenson’s world title status ahead of Teofimo Lopez fight
The WBC has revealed its position on whether Shakur Stevenson, who is preparing to face Teofimo Lopez, can retain his world title at 135 pounds.
It was confirmed earlier this week that the 28-year-old would face Lopez, the WBO welterweight world champion, at a New York venue on January 31. Their mouth-watering match will offer Stevenson the chance to become a four-weight world champion.
Until now, there was a lack of clarity over whether the American would retain his WBC lightweight belt, which he won after a points victory over Edwin De Los Santos in 2023.
Often a champion is stripped of his title if he chooses to move up in weight. Stevenson – who will also compete for another sanctioning body’s belt – will nonetheless remain WBC world champion ahead of his jump up to 140 pounds.
The WBC has, however, ordered an interim title fight between Jadier Herrera and Ricardo Nunez, who are expected to battle it out for a possible shot at Stevenson’s belt assuming he decides to move back down.
🚨 HERRERA-NUNEZ FOR WBC INTERIM
✅ The WBC has ruled that Shakur Stevenson can retain his WBC lightweight title as he fights Teofimo Lopez for the WBO super lightweight belt.
📈 The final eliminator between Jadier Herrera and Ricardo Nunez will now be for the WBC… pic.twitter.com/WPa1v9Utcz
— ToutBoxe | Darshan Desai (@EverythingBoxi2) December 3, 2025
The winner will become the WBC’s mandatory challenger and will likely be elevated to full champion if Stevenson chooses to quit, but he has already stated he will move back down to 135 pounds. If he loses to Lopez – who has held his own title since a victory over former undisputed champion Josh Taylor in 2023 – it will be a rare case of a champion retaining a belt despite losing.
