Error code: %{errorCode}
Teofimo Lopez vows a fight with Shakur Stevenson would pan out exactly like this
Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson have been parrying verbal jabs off each other in recent weeks.
Lopez is preparing to fight Arnold Barboza Jr on May 2, exclusively on DAZN Pay-Per-View, but has still found time to put down rival Stevenson.
If the two world champions were to actually clash, Lopez believes he has collected all the intel necessary to not only defeat Stevenson but produce an “easy win.”
“I noticed in his last fight against [Josh] Padley, he can’t really punch too many times to the head because it starts hurting his hands,” Lopez told DAZN News.
“How I know this? Because when I was there in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh, I was telling him to go for the body, instead,” he tacked on about being in attendance for Stevenson’s ninth-round TKO of Padley in February.
“I think a lot of people don’t know what they’ll be facing until they face a real guy and that’s Teofimo.”
Stevenson has admitted to having recurrent issues with his hands before.
Melina Pizano/Matchroom
Although Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs), the reigning WBC lightweight world champion, has never tasted defeat and is known for his brilliant hit-and-don’t-get-hit sweet science skills, Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) believes his blend of boxing and power punching would overwhelm the Newark, New Jersey product.
- Read next | Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, and Teofimo Lopez - The race to be the face of American boxing
“I believe with our styles panning out, it’d be a good win,” Lopez, the WBO super lightweight world titleholder, said. “It would actually be an easy win. It’d be an easy win for me.”
He added: “As crazy as it may seem for everybody, everyone says Shakur has this type of defense and is technical … it’s beyond that guys. It’s way beyond that.
“It’s not about the skill set. It’s not about that anymore. It’s about the will to get hurt and the will to see how you react to it.”
To further illustrate his point, Lopez even referenced an analogy made by rapper Cam’ron who has jabbed at Stevenson’s boxing style, branding it boring, on his podcast “It Is What It Is” with fellow rapper Mase.
“You can’t expect to get in water and not get wet, just like Cam’ron said to Shakur,” Lopez touted, suggesting that his style will test Stevenson’s jaw at some point if they ever fight and that the lightweight champ’s defense will not hold up.
“It would be an easy win for me.”
Watch two incredible fight nights this week only on DAZN
Fight fans are in for a treat this week, with two amazing fight exclusively DAZN PPV
- May 2: Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero; Devin Haney vs Jose Ramirez; Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Jr.
- May 3: Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull
Fight fans can purchase either these fight nights individually for $59.99 US; £/€21.99 UK/IRE; ROW - $24.99 per PPV or take advantage of the DAZN Knockout Weekend Bundle where both fight cards can be purchased for $90 US; £34.99 UK and €34.99 Europe.
