That can change emphatically Saturday.

Stevenson is scheduled to move up to 140 pounds to face Ring and WBO 140-pound champion Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden in the main event of The Ring 6 on DAZN PPV. Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) enters the bout as a three-division champion and former unified titleholder at 130 pounds, while Lopez has won world titles in two divisions, including being a unified champion at lightweight.

Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs), 28, looked like the version of himself who is one of boxing’s top talents in his last fight, a unanimous decision victory over Arnold Barboza on May 2 at Times Square in New York. The Brooklyn native has made three successful defenses of his Ring and WBO titles since winning the belts from Josh Taylor via unanimous decision in 2023.

Stevenson, a slick southpaw from Newark, New Jersey, is the WBC lightweight champion and defended it for a second time in his last fight, a unanimous decision over William Zepeda. Stevenson, 28, is The Ring’s No.1 lightweight and No. 7 fighter pound-for-pound.

Last fight: Defeated Zepeda by unanimous decision at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York on July 12.

Odds: Stevenson is a clear favorite at minus-330, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

How does Stevenson win? He's a master of managing distance and countering his opponents. Both skills will need to be on full display if he’s going to beat Lopez.

Lopez’s blend of athleticism and explosiveness, combined with his unorthodox style, makes him a tough out for anyone. Keeping him at the end of his reach will be imperative for Stevenson if he’s going to mitigate those aspects of Lopez’s game.

Taking away Lopez’s lead hand will help Stevenson maintain range. Whether it’s Stevenson establishing his own jab or taking Lopez’s jab and left hook away by countering it, whoever finds more success with their lead hand will gain an advantage.

If Stevenson can take away Lopez’s jab and left hook, it’ll make him much more predictable, which, in turn, will make it easier for him to see what’s coming. That could cause Lopez to try to close range recklessly, which could leave openings for him to be countered.

Stevenson also boasts an underrated body attack that could prove vital. The straight left hand is a particularly important weapon that could slow Lopez down if Stevenson can find success with it.

What does it mean if Stevenson wins? He would be a four-division champion and will have achieved the feat by beating the top guy in the division.

That achievement is nothing to scoff at, as it’d also give Stevenson the signature victory he has long sought. It should also lead to him ascending even higher on pound-for-pound lists given Lopez's caliber.

Stevenson also would be in the driver's seat at 135 and 140 pounds with titles in both divisions. He’d have many options, particularly when it comes to unification bouts, which range from moving back down to face undefeated IBF champion Raymond Muratalla or staying at junior welterweight and potentially facing unbeaten WBC champion Dalton Smith.

Regardless, you’d be hard-pressed to pick against Stevenson no matter who is standing across from him.

What they’re saying: “This is my moment. I've been waiting for this moment for years and years. I finally got the opportunity to show who I am. Teofimo will bring the best out of me. I know what I can do. I know what he can do. I just have to up the level.”

TV/Stream: “The Ring 6” is available via pay-per-view for $69.99 in the United States and £24.99 in the United Kingdom. It is included for subscribers to DAZN’s Ultimate plan ($44.99 per month in the U.S.; £24.99 in the UK).