Shakur Stevenson Hopes to Give Teofimo Lopez a Boxing Lesson
WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson has aspirations of becoming a four-division world champion by challenging WBO junior welterweight titleholder Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez at Madison Square Garden on January 31. If Stevenson is to emerge victorious, it will be because of his elite boxing skills rather than raw power.
To say these two fighters are familiar with one another would be an understatement. They traveled in the same amateur circles and have sparred numerous times over the years. Stevenson and Lopez both have a clear understanding of what they’ll be dealing with once the bell rings.
Lopez (22-1, 13KO) is the more explosive fighter and clearly carries the advantage in power. Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) knows he cannot afford to be lured into a reckless stand-and-trade battle.
SKILLS PAY THE BILLS
One of the premier craftsmen in the sport, Stevenson understands this must be a contest of guile and intelligence. Armed with a sharp jab, superb defense, and superior ring IQ, he’ll look to control the tempo and dictate the terms of engagement. It won’t be easy, as Lopez elevates his performance when he feels genuinely threatened.
Still, Stevenson is supremely confident that if he executes his game plan and stays disciplined, he can neutralize Lopez’s strengths and deliver a boxing lesson on the sport’s biggest stage.
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