Forty-three years ago, undefeated Davey Moore was scheduled to defend his WBA junior middleweight title against legendary former lightweight and welterweight champ Roberto Duran on May 27, 1983, in South Africa. It was to be the co-main event of a supercard that also included Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini defending his lightweight title vs. Kenny “Bang Bang” Bogner.
But Mancini suffered a fractured collarbone in training, canceling the South African event altogether. But the Moore-Duran fight survived – rescheduled for June 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. And when that happened – the fight took on a whole new life.
Moore was raised in the Bronx and was a four-time Golden Gloves amateur champion. He was among the most accomplished New York fighters of the era. Duran, from Panama, had made New York his adopted home through his many ferocious appearances there throughout his career, including his first title-winning effort over Ken Buchanan at the Garden in 1972.
The timely, regional pairing created an uncontainable, super-charged, sold-out atmosphere that could not have been possible in South Africa. And when Duran harnessed the crowd’s energy and demolished Moore to earn redemption for his infamous “no mas” debacle to win his third world title, the night earned a spot as one of the most electric and most memorable in boxing history.
On paper at least, Saturday’s junior welterweight showdown between WBO champ Teofimo Lopez and lightweight king Shakur Stevenson is better than Duran-Moore. It matches two young, confident pound-for-pound fighters who are multi-division world champions fighting in their respective primes, at a weight that is comfortable for both. Even better – it’s hyper-local: Lopez is from Brooklyn; Stevenson is from nearby Newark, NJ.
Like Duran-Moore, this matchup doesn’t belong in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, or Saudi Arabia. It belongs in New York.
With boxing failing to consistently create big fights – and in the midst of a potential seismic shift in its power structure – Shakur-Teo is stunningly refreshing – like finding a Gatorade plant in the middle of the Mojave. Seemingly out of nowhere, these ultra-talented world champion superstars managed to ignore the petty pitfalls that befall modern great matchups – purse beefs, social media banter, promotional holdups – and just fight.
As a result, we have one of the best junior welterweight matchups in recent boxing history. A matchup that hopes to have the tension of 1982’s Aaron Pryor–Alexis Arguello and the drama of 1990’s Julio Cesar Chavez–Meldrick Taylor – probably the two best fights in 140-pound history.
Stevenson, 24-0 (11 knockouts), is the stylistic virtuoso and three-division world champ who will be fighting at junior welterweight for the first time – perhaps a contemporary Pernell Whitaker (who also briefly competed in the 140-pound division).
A southpaw who is proficient both offensively and defensively, many of Stevenson’s fights are so dominant that they’re boring. Since turning pro in 2017, Stevenson has rarely lost rounds, much less fights, controlling opponents with his long arms, superb boxing skills, and discipline. Fighters as touted as Oscar Valdez and William Zepeda were shut out (or close to it) on the judge’s scorecards.
Lopez, 22-1 (13 KO’s), a.k.a. “The Takeover,” is the charismatic boxer-puncher, who is aggressive and smart – a Chameleon who boxes when he’s expected to punch and punches when he’s expected to box. He shocked the boxing world in 2020 when he outboxed Vasyl Lomachenko via decision and, in 2023, returned with vengeance (after suffering his first defeat to George Kambosos) with a comprehensive decision over Josh Taylor, where he won his current WBO strap. In his last fight, he beat another undefeated fighter – Arnold Barboza Jr.
The stage is set for a great, throwback, perhaps history-making fight.
January 27, 2026. Photographed by Cris Esqueda/Matchroom Boxing
Besides the greatness of the first Pryor-Arguello and Chavez-Taylor fights, the junior welterweight division has boasted a profound history. In 1976, the great Puerto Rican Wilfred Benitez became the youngest world boxing champion ever, outpointing Antonio Cervantes over 15 rounds at the unreal age of 17 – a record that, given today’s trend of boxers beginning and ending their careers later – will likely never be broken.
Could we see a boxing exhibition like that from Benitez, where one fighter elevates himself to supreme heights? Or could it be a rock’em, sock’em surprise like 2001’s Kostya Tszyu–Zab Judah matchup, where Tszyu stopped Judah in round two of the most anticipated 140-pound fight of that era?
Whatever happens – the site is right. Tickets are selling, and buzz is building. And whenever you get local bragging rights involved, especially in the Apple, you can expect the unexpected. Like the night 43 years ago when adopted son Duran stopped native son Moore in one of the greatest atmospheres the sport has seen.
After a hiatus of big fights, boxing fans deserve this.
Time to fight.
Matthew Aguilar may be reached at maguilarnew@yahoo.com
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