Lopez Thinks Shakur Stevenson Fights with Fear In His Heart
As he is no stranger to speaking on his fellow fighters, recently WBO super lightweight champion Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez (20-1, 13 KO) supplied his two cents about WBC lightweight champion “Fearless” Shakur Stevenson (21-0, 10 KO’s). In a brief Q&A on Cigar Talk, Lopez outlined his opinion of Stevenson’s significant strengths and weaknesses.
“Shakur is a very talented, skillful technique fighter; can’t take anything away from it. However, he is scared to get hit! He is scared to get knocked out in front of the world, scared to get touched up in front of the world.”
Even better than appraisal, The Takeover left the door open for a potential showdown.
“I am the best. I don’t see no contract sheet that says Shakur’s name on there. So, until then, I am going to say and talk my stuff. And if you want to come that way, then come that way! I mean you have investors with you and that’s great, but they understand they cannot have you come this way because I am too much of a gamble for anybody!”
FEARFUL IN THE FACE OF THE TAKEOVER?
Technically speaking, Fearless and The Takeover orbit side-by-side one another in neighboring divisions. Due to their close proximity though, it’s not beyond the scope of reason to see one migrating to the other division for one big fight.
More than likely, if that happened, Stevenson would be the one to move up. This would actually make for a nifty battle for both competitors as each stand to collect a respectable scalp and handsome payday. Undisputed 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez recently made a similar jump to face WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol. Interim WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez is about to do the same thing to face light heavyweight Oleksandr Gvozdyk.
For his part, Teofimo Lopez has a free dance schedule, having just secured a win over Jamaine Ortiz this past February 8. Since then, there have been insinuations that The Takeover may face Steve Claggett, but there has been no confirmation of this would-be fight. Also, we would have to wait to see how Stevenson fairs in his upcoming July 6 clash with Artem Harutyunyan. If all goes well though, Stevenson versus Lopez could be coming sooner rather than later!
