LAS VEGAS — Shakur Stevenson was watching closely Saturday night and he liked what he saw. After Ryan Garcia captured the WBC welterweight title with a dominant win over Mario Barrios, Stevenson made it clear he’s open to facing the newly crowned 147-pound champion later in 2026.
“We’re gonna meet in the middle,” Stevenson said on the DAZN broadcast, suggesting a catchweight bout. “Two big stars; big fight; we don’t need a belt for the fight.”
Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs), the reigning WBO champion at 140 pounds, is coming off a dominant victory over Teofimo Lopez. The 28-year-old from Newark appears willing to move up slightly or have Garcia move down to make the fight happen.
Garcia, 27, improved to 25-2 (20 KOs) with his performance against Barrios, arguably one of the finest of his career. But questions still linger around consistency and past controversy. Stevenson didn’t ignore that history.
The VADA Question
Garcia previously served a suspension after ostarine was detected in his system following his bout with Devin Haney. He also suffered a loss to Rolando Romero in May 2025 before rebounding. Referencing Garcia’s uneven performances, Stevenson raised a pointed question.
“Was VADA involved in this fight against Barrios? Because I seen him against Rolly and he didn’t look like that,” Stevenson said. “If he’s fighting me next, I’m all for the challenge but VADA will be involved.”
DAZN’s broadcast team confirmed that VADA testing was in place for Garcia-Barrios.
Face-to-Face
The tension didn’t stop on camera. Backstage, Stevenson and Garcia crossed paths and exchanged words and a handshake.
“I’m ready,” Stevenson said.
“Let’s do it,” Garcia replied.
“Make it happen,” Stevenson added. “I thought you were bigger than this.”
“You know I’m not big,” Garcia shot back.
The exchange felt less hostile than competitive two young stars recognizing the magnitude of the moment.
Also in attendance was Terence Crawford, who didn’t hesitate when asked how he sees the matchup playing out.
“I think Shakur wipes the floor with him,” Crawford said.
That’s high praise and high stakes.
One of Boxing’s Biggest Fights
Garcia brings speed, power, and star appeal. Stevenson brings defensive mastery, precision, and ring IQ. A catchweight showdown between the two could headline any major platform and would likely rank among the biggest fights of 2026. Belts may not be necessary. But VADA testing apparently is. Now the only question is whether both sides and their networks can make it happen.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
