Shakur Stevenson makes frank admission on Teofimo Lopez bout as he prepares for The Ring 6 showdown

Shakur Stevenson admits both he and Teofimo Lopez are "bad styles" for each other, but believes it means both will try "something out of the ordinary" when they meet.

The former steps up in pursuit of the latter's WBC super lightweight belt atop The Ring 6 at New York's Madison Square Garden on Saturday, January 31, live on DAZN.

Set to be an early fight-of-the-year contender in the Big Apple, Stevenson is bidding to become a four-division world champion against his rival across the Hudson River.

Speaking about their imminent clash, the current WBC lightweight champion believes the pair's similar approaches will force them out of their comfort zone for the bout.

"We’re both bad styles for each other," Stevenson told DAZN's Inside the Ring. "He’s not going to win coming forward. He’s going to try and sit back and bring me to him.

"That style is something he is going to try to make me do, something out of the ordinary than what I am used to doing. I do the same thing. We are kind of similar in style.

"His style is a bad matchup for me and my style is a bad matchup for him. It’s all about execution, who comes in on their A game on fight night, who is focused and willing."

Stevenson added that he was impressed by Lopez's performance against Arnold Barboza Jr. earlier this year, and acknowledged it made him want to pursue a bout too.

"I thought Teo looked good in his last fight," he added. "Once I saw how on point he was, it made me get up for the challenge. I reached out to the people I needed to.

"I have so many things in my arsenal. I can do everything to come out victorious. Teo is going to be the best version of himself come fight night. I have to take him seriously.

"I can’t look past him. I am going to be a lot faster and stronger, a lot better than he thinks. He's a great fighter but makes a lot of mistakes and I see a lot of holes in his game."

Stevenson confident in pathway to four-weight glory 

DAZN News correspondent Andrew Steel

Few pound-for-pound operators are moving like Shakur Stevenson these days, and the American has a chance to add another string to an impressive bow in New York City.

The star is a powerhouse inside the ring, and arrives as the favourite to dethrone Teofimo Lopez and score a historic title in a fourth division to underline his top-tier status.

Stevenson is under no falsehood that his opponent will give him one of the toughest nights of his career - but he has the record and pedigree to back up his confidence too.

Nevertheless, he will need to pull on the full range of his skillset against a slippery foe that will be determined to keep his strap under wraps, with possible unification plans.

Whatever the result, this will be a defining occasion for both men - and as they prepare for the festive season, they will have only one thing on their mind past the presents.

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