Shakur Stevenson Jumps Into Boxing vs. MMA Beef

The Weight Gap

Stevenson just captured The Ring and WBO super lightweight titles with a dominant win over Teofimo Lopez on Jan. 31, weighing in at 138 pounds after moving up from lightweight (135).

Topuria, meanwhile, competes at 155 pounds in the UFC  and has even floated the idea of chasing a third title at 170. Physically, Stevenson would be giving up significant size in any potential boxing match. But history suggests size alone wouldn’t tilt the scales inside a boxing ring.

We’ve Seen This Movie Before

The blueprint for boxing–MMA crossovers is well established. In 2017, Conor McGregor stepped into the ring against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in “The Money Fight,” one of the most lucrative events in combat sports history.

The buildup was global. The hype was nuclear. But when the bell rang, the difference in pure boxing pedigree was clear. Mayweather stopped McGregor in the 10th round.

“I thought McGregor did good, but I think Floyd let him look good,” Stevenson said during the stream. “… Floyd was trying to entertain y’all make it fun.”

Crawford echoed the sentiment: “(Mayweather) carried him.” Topuria differs from McGregor stylistically his right hand is his primary weapon, and many consider him the best boxer in MMA today. There are parallels between the two UFC stars, including Topuria once admiring McGregor before later distancing himself.

But boxing is a sport of layers: footwork nuance, punch selection, defensive rhythm, distance control. Stevenson, often compared stylistically to Mayweather for his defensive IQ and composure, would enter any ring as the vastly more refined technician.