00:00Shakur Stevenson is the ultra-competitive. He loves competition. He loves sensing himself
00:11against the best fighters in the world. It's a squaring day so you know these are my favorite
00:15type of days. I'm ready to be smashed.
00:30A lot of people don't realize, see, ever since Shakur was about 13 and he got picked on the
00:53world team, every two and a half years he's gained weight. He's moved up in weight so like
00:59the weight gain and him going now is part of his natural growth process and going on and so you
01:05know I think he's more adjusted and he feels much more comfortable than having to lose so well.
01:10Shakur Stevenson is turning heads in the gym as he ramps up preparations for his
01:14highly anticipated showdown with Teofimo Lopez and one thing is crystal clear,
01:19his hand speed looks absolutely unreal. Training footage has begun circulating showing Shakur
01:24firing off lightning-fast combinations, barely giving the eye time to keep up let alone an
01:28opponent. Every drill seems designed to sharpen his already elite reflexes with rapid fire mitt work,
01:34explosive counter sequences and non-stop movement that highlights just how serious he is about
01:40neutralizing Teo's power.
01:42Shakur, a thoroughbred, a lot of the fighters as quarter horses, you know they're making they run right now,
01:51but we're going to run long and strong and it's just a matter of time.
02:01Best fighter in the world for us bro, boxing, the world.
02:05Training partner Jahi Tucker recently spoke about what he's been seeing from Shakur Stevenson in
02:13training and his comments paint a picture of a fighter locked in on another level. According to
02:18Tucker, Shakur isn't loud or flashy in the gym, he's calm, composed and completely focused on the
02:23task at hand. Every movement has a purpose, from the way he studies his opponents to how he executes each
02:29drill with precision. Tucker noted that there's no wasted energy, no distractions, just a steady
02:34intensity that never drops. He emphasized that Shakur's mindset is what really stands out,
02:40explaining that this level of discipline and concentration is usually seen in fighters who
02:45know they're entering the biggest moments of their career.
02:47I got Shakur right now in the top five pound for pound. Defense. Slippery. And he's so composed,
02:54you know what I mean? Different. He's about to turn up.
03:06He's like a little light-skinned Grim Reaper out there, man. People don't really want to fight him.
03:10The boxing world is buzzing as Shakur Stevenson prepares to challenge Teofimo Lopez on January 31st,
03:342026, in what is set to be one of the most talked about lightweight to super lightweight
03:39championship fights of the year. The bout has been officially confirmed as the main event of the
03:43Ring 6 card at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with tickets set to go on sale and a launch
03:49press conference already held in December, highlighting the fight's status as a marquee
03:53event on both fighters' schedules. What about two? They just had their press conference in New York,
03:58the Teofimo Lopez versus Shakur Stevenson fight. The things that Teofimo is coming out with. I don't
04:04know if I don't think Shakur knows even what to say or reply to it. You know, I don't think I would
04:10even want to repeat the stuff that he's saying, but he's making some really, really fruity comments,
04:14but I suppose that's one way to get in your opponent's head. But I think that's a great fight. I think,
04:19forget all the sort of trash talk and the build up, it's a fight between two genuine elite world
04:25level fighters. We've seen how good Teofimo is. We know how good Shakur is and how dominant and,
04:32you know, just how in control he's been at pretty much every moment of his career so far. And I think
04:37Teofimo is good enough at boxing and moving and fighting to maybe cause him some problems. But for me,
04:44Shakur is as close to a perfect boxer as you can probably get on his day. He makes so few mistakes,
04:52he judges the range tremendously well. He's constantly looking for little ways in to score
04:57as well as staying safe so they don't have a chance to really, you know, win the rounds back.
05:02I would favor slightly Shakur. This fight carries enormous significance for both men. Teofimo Lopez
05:09enters the ring as the defending WBO super lightweight champion in his fourth defense of the
05:14title, boasting a record of 22-1 with 13 knockouts and a reputation as a powerful and aggressive
05:20fighter. He has adopted the bully-style mentality that earned him a two-division world championship,
05:26boldly predicting that he will impose his game plan and make a definitive statement early in the fight.
05:31Lopez's confidence has been vocal and unfiltered, calling Stevenson's style a facade,
05:36and insisting that his own strength and assertive boxing will prevail when the fight starts.
05:41Yeah, that's it, bro. I ain't got too much to see him.
05:44Yeah. Um, we're heading into the biggest fight of your career, right? Like name-wise, um,
05:53accolade-wise, like this is the one, right? I feel like you've been clamoring for a fight for
05:57for so long, like the fight where everybody's like, you know, I get to show my level.
06:01Do you think this is that fight? Like he's going to have to show the level in there?
06:04Yes, yes, yes. I mean, I think Teo the truth, bro. I think that me and him came up together.
06:11He been the truth. He been winning tournaments, tournaments with me, alongside of me. So, um,
06:19I know what I'm dealing with, bro. I know what type of fighter this is. I know I got to up my level
06:24that night because of who I'm in front of.
06:26Yeah, for sure. For sure. I mean, how do you see it, right? Because I hear people saying,
06:31different things, right? Like media pundits and fans. I hear, I brought this up to your
06:35grandfather on live the other day. Some people say Teo is more athletic than you. Do you agree
06:40with that? I don't know. It's hard to say who more athletic. How you going to say, okay,
06:45let's say they say he more athletic than me. If he more athletic than me,
06:49if we go outside and do any sport. Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson first crossed paths in the
06:55amateur boxing scene, meeting during the 2011-2012 Junior Golden Gloves and later at the 2015 National
07:02Golden Gloves. During those early years, they experienced each other not just as competitors,
07:07but also as peers, offering support after losses and consoling one another, showing a sense of
07:12camaraderie that comes with growing up in the sport. However, Lopez makes it clear that the
07:17professional arena is a different world. There's no room for friendship when the stakes are high.
07:21While they did share the ring as amateurs, their sparring was brief and intended primarily for
07:26sizing each other up rather than full-scale rounds, highlighting the contrast between amateur familiarity
07:32and pro-level competition. Are you training? You mean at 140 pounds compared to 135. Yes,
07:38in comparison. Are you training for a knockout? Are you training to do something to not just beat Shakur,
07:44but to beat him in grand fashion? When I say grand fashion, I mean going for the knockout. Well,
07:48I think that the whole thing with the Bible of boxing really is that if you look for the knockout,
07:53you won't get it. I think really it's just all about setting the good pace early in the
07:58beginning rounds and then going from there, setting that tone. I think that I don't see
08:02him going those 12 rounds. This is his first time moving up to 140. A lot of these guys can say
08:08a lot of things about me not knocking them out or whatnot, but they don't come and try to fight
08:13me after they feel this power. So it's for a reason. It carries. It does carry. I mean,
08:18I had a good showing with Arnold Barboza. He was number one, my mandatory, and he didn't. He was
08:24too hesitant trying to commit to punches. So I think that it's just something that's going to be a
08:29rude awakening for Shakur. Hey, Doug, you hear that? He said the Bible of boxing. What else is
08:33called the Bible of boxing? Ring Magazine. And he's a two-time, two-division rather. Ring Magazine
08:39champ. A great ambassador for those championship belts as well. Yep, absolutely. I'm very big on
08:44those things. You know, I did, I claimed two weight divisions, two Ring Magazine belts in just at 25,
08:51you know, and I'm 28 now. I've been defending my belts now. I feel great, you know, and then most
08:58importantly, you know, this will be my fourth title defense with the ring and the WBO junior lightweight,
09:03well, junior weltsweight world divisions. Conversely, Shakur Stevenson,
09:08undefeated at 24-0 with 11 KOs, is betting on his tactical brilliance and elite boxing IQ to
09:15overcome Lopez's physicality and aggression. Stevenson is moving up from lightweight to
09:20challenge for a fourth world title in a new weight class. This historic opportunity would
09:24elevate him into elite company if he succeeds. He has repeatedly emphasized his belief that
09:29discipline, movement, and skill will disrupt Lopez's rhythm, and his preparation reflects a
09:35focus on precision rather than power exchanges. Stevenson has openly acknowledged Lopez's talent,
09:41even comparing aspects of his style to legends, but insists that his technical approach and ring
09:46intelligence give him the upper hand on fight night. Anything today that changed from, like,
09:51the coach's perspective you might say?
09:52No, everything was good. Everything was at one point. My coach did a good job, and I was sure.
09:59Thanks, man. Appreciate your touching.
10:00Hey, coach. What way you fight?
10:05147.
10:06147?
10:07Yeah.
10:09Yes, yes, yes.
10:10You're a lot of good job back, though.
10:12He's as long as a bitch. Watch him.
10:14He's going to be there.
10:16He had the paperwork.
10:18Hey, you speak Spanish?
10:21Yeah.
10:21And you speak English?
10:22Yeah.
10:23What did he say?
10:23What did he say?
10:24No lie.
10:24Can't lie.
10:26Ha, you don't talk to him.
10:28You're your friend.
10:29Ha, don't coach him, don't coach him.
10:31Yeah, don't coach him.
10:32Good stuff.
10:33That was good stuff.
10:35Jeff, can we get a photo with you?
10:36Uh, yeah, come on. Let's go.
10:40Stevenson has made it very clear that Teofimo Lopez better be ready when fight night arrives,
10:45and he isn't sugarcoating it. Stevenson has openly discussed how
10:48motivated and sharp he feels in camp, confidently insisting that Lopez will learn what real skill
10:53looks like when they step in the ring, and that he's prepared to take the WBO super lightweight
10:58title and prove there are levels to this game.
11:00Hey, boy, you ready? Three more weeks? We locked in. Browns in the bank. Khalil, what up, game?
11:15Y'all already know. I promise you already.
11:19T.O. better be working.
11:23Cause I promise y'all put in so much work this camp.
11:27Let's do it.
11:29I'm just checking in with y'all real quick.
11:31Big lady, y'all know.
11:31Bad to be working.
