Emiliano Vargas says body shots could be the key to beating Shakur Stevenson, a tactic he pointed to after Stevenson’s sharp January win over Teofimo Lopez lifted his profile in the junior welterweight division. Vargas, 21, is already ranked No. 5 by the WBO at 140 pounds and says he sees a future puzzle worth solving if the matchup ever comes together.
Stevenson won the WBO 140-pound title in January by defeating Lopez and controlled the fight from start to finish, winning wide on all three cards. Vargas said Stevenson looked amazing that night and even stronger at 140 pounds than many expected, but he also said Lopez found his best success by working downstairs. “Honestly, Teofimo was doing a great job when he was going to the body, and really, after that, he had his moments to the body, and then Shakur would keep him on the outside,” Vargas said.
That performance is the reason Stevenson’s name has carried so much more weight since January. It also helps explain why Vargas, who is moving quickly at junior welterweight, is being mentioned as a possible future opponent if he keeps winning. Stevenson’s title run made him look sharper and harder to pin down, but Vargas believes the answer may be plain if someone can stay disciplined to the body long enough.
Vargas did not frame the idea as a guarantee, only as a route he thinks deserves attention. He said every fighter requires a different approach and added that if he ever gets a shot at Stevenson, they would have to “solve that puzzle” when the time comes. He also pointed to Stevenson’s own words after the Lopez fight, saying Stevenson admitted he was hit with a body shot once and wanted to throw up. “I have been hit in the body before, and it doesn’t feel good,” Vargas said. “So, I think that no fighters like body shots.”
For now, Stevenson has the belt and the momentum, while Vargas has the ranking and the public challenge. If both continue winning, the conversation may not stay theoretical for long.
