Teofimo at 140
The titles that Lopez won at 140 were against Josh Taylor, who was coming off a questionable win over Jack Catterall, and has now lost three fights in a row. Teofimo just barely edged Taylor by a 12-round unanimous decision, and didn’t look good in his last fight against Arnold Barboza Jr. last May.
Lopez hasn’t shown the identical level of performance at light welterweight as he did at 135, when he had the dimensions advantage over his opposition.
“Select this fight to challenge myself, Daring to be great, and I’m going to do it the one option to true greatness is thru high risk.. These moments will turn me right into a legend, let’s get it!! #ShakurTeofimo,” said Shakur Stevenson on X about his title fight against Teofimo Lopez
“For me and my family, I would like to eat without end. Obviously, absolute confidence,” said Shakur to the Breadkfast Club 105.1 in regards to the money he’ll be getting for his fight against Teofimo Lopez on January thirty first.
“I believe it could take me to an entire one other level,” said Stevenson on what a victory over Teofimo would do for his profession. “On that pound-for-pound, you bought to place me in that top five after I beat Teo.”
What a Win Really Means
Beating Teofimo wouldn’t take Shakur’s profession to a “Whole other level” within the true sense. It could be superficial smoke and mirrors, fighting a man who has looked like a shell of the fighter he once was since moving as much as 140.
Hardcore fans who follow the game closely and examine opposition, as Nation Vegas does, can easily see that Lopez hasn’t been fighting the very best ever since he arrived at light welterweight. Turki Alalshikh can be doing fans an actual solid if he insisted Shakur fight Gary Antuanne Russell or Subriel Matias. Those two hold belts at 140 and are fighting at a high level.
“I feel like Teo must have been undisputed. This guy is achieved and goes to be the most effective fighters on my resume,” said Stevenson about Lopez.
What Shakur is talking about is Teofimo defeating the WBA/WBO/WBC Franchise lightweight champion Vasily Lomachenko in 2020, and never being given credit for being the undisputed champion. He didn’t capture the regular WBC 135-lb belt, which Devin Haney held on the time.
Has Lopez Slipped?
It wouldn’t have mattered if Teofimo had captured the undisputed five years ago. The fact is that he hasn’t looked like the identical fighter since he moved as much as 140 in 2021. Lopez lost to George Kambosos, who was involved in two controversial decisions against Jamaine Ortiz and Sandor Martin.
Higher Tests at 140
More importantly, Teofimo has chosen for whatever reason to not fight these high-level fighters:
- Ernesto Mercado
- Gary Antuanne Russell
- Richardson Hitchins
- Alberto Puello
- Subriel Matias
- Keyshawn Davis
It doesn’t make Shakur pound-for-pound top five worthy if he beats Teofimo. He’s not shown that he’s amongst the very best at light welterweight because he’s chosen to not fight the highest guys.
Lopez’s number of Pedro Campa, Sandor Martin, Josh Taylor, Arnold Barboza Jr., and Steve Claggett suggests that he’s been protecting his profession by facing lesser threats. If Shakur desires to get added to the P4P list, he should concentrate on fighting the above untouchable list above, starting with Ernesto Mercado. Let’s see how Shakur does against him.
