Keith Idec reported Friday in The Ring that Stevenson seems increasingly likely to face Valenzuela next if a fight with WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney remains off the table.
Rayo Valenzuela (16-3, 10 KOs) strengthened his position with a second-round knockout of Edwin De Los Santos in their June 28 rematch in Las Vegas. De Los Santos stopped Valenzuela in three rounds in 2022 before later losing a decision to Stevenson.
De Los Santos had been out of the ring for a lengthy period before the rematch, but Valenzuela still produced the type of finish that makes him an attractive choice. Rayo carries real one-punch power and already competes at 140 pounds.
His loss to WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell remains the obvious criticism. Russell dominated Valenzuela in March 2025, using constant pressure to prevent him from settling into the fight.
Valenzuela, 27, has since returned with wins over Diego Torres and De Los Santos. Russell also presents a much different style from Shakur, making that defeat an imperfect guide for how Rayo would perform against the WBO titleholder.
Russell would offer Stevenson the chance to add another belt, but Valenzuela gives Zuffa an easier fight to make internally. His one-punch power brings danger while avoiding the difficult negotiations that have stalled Stevenson’s attempt to set up a fight with Haney. It’s a different type of contest for Shakur from the ones he’s been taking lately against Teofimo Lopez, William Zepeda and Josh Padley. Those guys don’t possess the same power as Valenzuela.
The fight would also allow Stevenson to make his Zuffa debut before the end of 2026 instead of remaining inactive while waiting for a bigger fight.
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