The result in New York may not have been a huge surprise, but the fact that Stevenson chose to call Conor Benn up to the ring and issue him a challenge certainly was.

Stevenson had just become a four-weight world champion while Benn has yet to win a world title, but the former clearly knows where the bigger pay cheque lies and recognised the financial benefit of a bout with the Englishman.

It is thought the potential bout would be at welterweight, but Benn is fresh from a pair of stadium shows against Chris Eubank Jr. at middleweight and hasn’t made 147lbs since 2022, while Stevenson has only just moved up to junior welterweight.

The Ring

So, there is work to be done for that contest to take place, and Matchroom’s Frank Smith suggested a welterweight title battle with Rolly Romero could be next for Benn instead.

“Anything's possible,” Smith told TalkSPORT Boxing.

“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.

“I don't think it's the favorite 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.”

As for Stevenson, his superb performance against Lopez was the last for a three-fight deal he signed with Matchroom in August 2024, and it remains to be seen if he continues to work with the promotional outfit for his next fight.

His performance against Lopez at a sold-out Madison Square Garden ensured he became one of the biggest names in the sport, and there is no shortage of potential opponents for the man from Newark, New Jersey.

Smith is hopeful they can work together again and even mentioned the possibility of Stevenson stepping up another division to face WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney.

“I think that was towards the end, but we're working on and looking at what the opportunities next are in terms of fights,” Smith said when asked how long Stevenson has left on his contract.

“Devin Haney has done amazing things as well in the sport. We’ve worked with him since he was 18, 19 years old. That's a great fight. There's so many fights in that mix now in that grouping that can be made, and that’s definitely one, but Shakur called Conor into the ring. That's a fight Shakur is interested in.”

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