The environment inside Madison Sq. Backyard was electrical on the closing press convention for “The Ring 6,” a sold-out DAZN PPV occasion headlined by Teofimo Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) defending his Ring Journal and WBO junior welterweight titles in opposition to unbeaten Shakur Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) on Saturday, January 31. Stevenson seeks a fourth world title in a fourth weight class in what guarantees to be a generational showdown.
The undercard is stacked: Keyshawn Davis (13-0, 9 KOs) vs. Jamaine Ortiz (20-2, 10 KOs) within the co-main, WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KOs) vs. Austin “Ammo” Williams (19-1, 13 KOs), Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (16-0, 9 KOs) battling Carlos Castro (30-3, 14 KOs) for the vacant WBC featherweight crown, heavyweight Jarrell “Huge Child” Miller (26-1, 22 KOs) going through Kingsley “Black Lion” Ibeh (16-2, 14 KOs), and Saudi Arabian trailblazer Ziyad “Zizo” Almaayouf (7-0, 1 KO) in opposition to Kevin Castillo (5-2).
Fighters and promoters conveyed pleasure, confidence, and respect, with the sold-out MSG crowd and historic venue amplifying the stakes.
Teofimo LopezLopez radiated calm assurance. “Preparation has been excellent,” he mentioned, crediting assistant coach Stacy McKinley and his father for sharpening his expertise. “The quantity of information that’s been bestowed… has actually made an influence. I really feel excellent, excited, decided.” He declared this the very best he’s felt getting into a combat, including, “Extra importantly, my soul feels nice, like a beacon.”
Supervisor Keith Connolly drew parallels to Lopez’s 2020 upset of Vasiliy Lomachenko: “We’re in the identical precise place 5, six years in the past… He went in and kicked his ass. He’s going to do it once more. Shakur is a superb fighter, however he’s by no means confronted anybody like Teofimo Lopez.”
Shakur StevensonStevenson saved feelings in verify, emphasizing enterprise over private rivalry. “It’s all enterprise… I’m a hundred percent centered.” On Lopez as a problem: “We’ll see. He’s a great fighter.”
He highlighted the significance of bringing children from his New Jersey neighborhood to the combat: “It means every part… to offer them motivation” by seeing somebody from related circumstances succeed.
James Prince praised Stevenson’s uniqueness: “He’s certainly one of a sort… He has taken facets from Andre Ward, Roy Jones, but blended it into his personal combine. Now, he’s Shakur Stevenson.”
Jarrell “Huge Child” MillerMiller’s return to MSG after 19 years carried deep emotion. “The final time I fought on this room was 19 years in the past… Coming house to combat in entrance of my followers and household means a lot.” Sober and centered—“I don’t social gathering, I don’t smoke or drink, I hold my thoughts sharp”—he mirrored on previous setbacks since 2019 however expressed gratitude to promoter Eddie Hearn and Matchroom for the chance. Notably, this would be the first time his youngsters see him combat stay.
On opponent Kingsley Ibeh: “Am I afraid of him? Hell no… I’m from Brooklyn… I’m coming to combat.” He promised aggression: “Come Saturday night time I’m going to make Kingsley’s head roll… I’m fired up and I’m coming to whoop some ass.”
Different Standout MomentsKeyshawn Davis vowed a end: “I don’t wish to depart this within the judges’ arms… The superb Keyshawn Davis, he’s again.” Jamaine Ortiz, decided after shut losses, mentioned: “I realized so much, particularly to not depart it to the judges… I’m going to point out everybody there’s ranges to this.”
Carlos Adames was matter-of-fact: “I stay up for doing what I all the time do.” Challenger Austin Williams brimmed with confidence and artistry: “I’m right here to be probably the most cerebral fighter… I’m prepared to offer the followers the best efficiency they’ve ever seen.”
Brooklyn’s Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington referred to as the vacant title shot a “dream come true” for Brownsville: “That is my second… I’ve to do it.” Carlos Castro countered: “I’m right here to take down the very best… Bruce Carrington is in my means and he’ll understand there’s ranges to this.”
Ziyad “Zizo” Almaayouf, Saudi Arabia’s first skilled boxer, spoke of historic satisfaction: “Gotham has Batman… Saudi Arabia has Zizo. Saturday night time I’ll make historical past” as the primary Saudi to combat at MSG.
Eddie Hearn celebrated the sold-out occasion: “This place is particular… the entire boxing world might be in New York.” He lauded each main-event fighters for chasing greatness over simpler paydays and highlighted private tales throughout the cardboard, from Miller’s redemption to Williams’ journey.
The press convention underscored an evening of excessive stakes, hometown satisfaction, and legacy-defining moments, with Lopez-Stevenson poised to ship a contemporary basic on the Mecca of Boxing.
