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🚨 DON'T MISS OUT! 🚨 The boxing world is buzzing with the impending clash between Shakur Stevenson and Teofimo Lopez, but could Shakur be making a BIG mistake? 🤔 In this video, we dive deep into the pros’ insights to discuss crucial strategies and what’s at stake before the epic showdown. 🌟 Get ready for Before Shakur Stevenson VS Teofimo Lopez full fight highlights, including the most thrilling press conference moments, intense face-offs, and exclusive interviews that could change everything! 🥊 Don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for the latest updates and catch our breakdown on who comes out on top!
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00:00New York City, January 31st, Shakur Stevenson, Tiafimo Lopez. I always say it, when boxing gets
00:06it right, no other sport comes close. And this is boxing getting it right, the best fighting the
00:13best. Both fighters believe that this matchup settles the argument about who leads the new era.
00:21So what do we think of the Styles matchup, guys? This is a high-speed chess match a la Sugar Ray
00:27Leonard or Pernell Whitaker, you know, Leonard and Benitez, or Pernell Whitaker, Buddy McGirt,
00:33or is it a Jerry versus Jerry fight, right? Because no one wants to take the lead, or is
00:38it something else? Malik, I'll start with you. I think it's a very special fight. It's the type
00:42of matchups we always are acting for. When it comes to explosiveness, I will have to go with Tia.
00:47Thilistically, man, how does Shakur beat Tia and vice versa? Thilistically, how does Tia beat Shakur?
00:52Thilistically, Tia got to go in and go for broke. He got to go gamble. He got to take something,
00:56get some, and that's just the only way to win. I think you're going to need a couple of rounds,
01:01but the first round is going to be very interesting. Maybe you see some tales, but
01:09I think maybe two or three, you're going to start seeing one lead the other.
01:14Boxing pros are sounding the alarm as Shakur Stevenson is set to step into the ring with
01:19Teofimo Lopez, and many believe the move could backfire badly. According to several seasoned pros,
01:25Stevenson may be making a big mistake by jumping into a fight at 140 pounds, where natural size,
01:31strength, and explosiveness matter far more than pure skill. The concern isn't about Shakur's talent.
01:37Few doubt his elite ability, but about how his body will respond after gaining weight.
01:42Fighters who've made similar jumps warn that Stevenson could look noticeably slower at 140,
01:48losing the sharp footwork and lightning-quick reactions that define his dominance,
01:52while Lopez thrives on speed, power, and physicality at that weight.
01:56Because I don't think that, well, maybe, I mean, Shakur might show some different,
02:03if he has to go after Teofimo, he might show some different type of heart that we haven't seen
02:07or different type of fighting we haven't seen, and vice versa.
02:11You know, whereas Teofimo's hitting him with different shots off the angle,
02:14that is kind of giving, you know, Shakur Stevenson trouble, we'll see about that.
02:23So we just don't know.
02:25Yeah, the thing is, I think people overlook of Teofimo is he can box when he wants to.
02:31Like, he's shown he has a slick style, too, when he wants to do that.
02:34When he wants to do that.
02:35So if you have a slick style and you got power and you got speed, too, and you're fighting at 140,
02:42so let's see, I don't know if Shakur Stevenson's going to get slower moving up in weight or not,
02:48where Teofimo can hit him.
02:51Maybe he was really fast at 130, 26, 30, maybe 35, but 40, you put on a little bit more weight.
02:58I think that he holds the weight probably really, really good, but you just don't know.
03:05Yeah, then, okay, let me put this in here.
03:07What if it's the Teofimo that beat Lomachenko?
03:10What if that Teofimo shows up?
03:12Like I said, at Lomachenko, it's not easy to fight.
03:15Teofimo's able to be in the ring with different type of fighters and figure it out.
03:20The fighters that Shakur Stevenson was in with, they couldn't figure it out.
03:25They couldn't figure it out or get close to figuring it out.
03:29Whereas Teofimo had to figure out that type of style,
03:34and Lomachenko's a hard fight to fight.
03:36So that's why this fight is so interesting.
03:40And for Shakur Stevenson to move to 140 to fight him is definitely a hats off to him.
03:47Do you have a favorite on paper in that fight at all, Shane?
03:51I believe it's a 50-50.
03:53It's a fight that I just have to sit down and watch
03:56and just want to see, like I said, who imposed their will on the other.
03:59Many boxing pros are leaning toward Teofimo Lopez as their favorite in this fight,
04:04and their reasoning goes beyond hype or popularity.
04:07Fighters and trainers point to Teofimo's natural size and strength as major advantages,
04:12especially against a skilled but lighter opponent like Shakur Stevenson.
04:17Pros also highlight Lopez's explosiveness,
04:20fast twitch power, and ability to hurt opponents early,
04:23traits that can change a fight instantly.
04:25While they respect Shakur's defense and ring IQ,
04:28several insiders believe Teofimo's physicality and timing
04:31could disrupt Shakur's rhythm and force him into uncomfortable exchanges.
04:35Experience at junior welterweight combined with a championship pedigree
04:39has many professionals believing Teofimo is better suited for this matchup
04:43and more likely to impose his will over 12 rounds.
04:46Max Kellerman points out that Shakur enters the fight with more to lose
04:50because of his technical reputation and undefeated image.
04:53Teofimo, on the other hand, has more to gain as an underdog
04:56where pressure is lower and opportunity is higher,
04:59making the fight dangerous and unpredictable.
05:02But Teofimo, he's a very special athlete.
05:05And as a competitor, he is one of those guys
05:08who saves his A-game for a fellow elite opponent.
05:11That's when he really rises his game
05:14and shows us the Teofimo Lopez that everybody thought he was
05:19when he was a prospect.
05:19People used to look at him and say, oh, this guy is going to be the star in boxing.
05:24It didn't really play out that way.
05:25But every now and then, he reminds us how special he is.
05:28Teofimo is a two-time, two-division ring magazine champion.
05:33In both fights where he won the ring magazine championship,
05:37he was the underdog.
05:38Four-to-one underdog against Lomachenko.
05:40People forget, Lomachenko was taking elite fighters in the lower divisions
05:45and they were quitting.
05:46He was beating them into something.
05:48They were like, I can't do this, right?
05:50And Teofimo beat him, right?
05:52He outboxed him.
05:53Yeah, he didn't.
05:53It was by physically imposing himself on him.
05:56He outboxed him.
05:57He outfought him.
05:58He had speed, power.
05:59And then again, against Josh Taylor at junior welterweight,
06:03he was the underdog.
06:04So he saves his best for his biggest moments.
06:06Yes, Max.
06:07And look, I give Shakur a lot of credit, right?
06:09Because we see fighters like Boots Ennis that want to do a tune-up fight
06:12at their first fight at the new weight.
06:13And like Devin Haney, he's, of course, saying, I'll go right to the top dog at 140.
06:17So props to my best friend, of course, Stephenson, Max.
06:20Yes.
06:20But look, I do.
06:21What is the beef with you two?
06:22I think it's fun, you know?
06:23I think we, I don't think it's real hate.
06:26You are, you are, you have this ability to bring out a certain kind of animosity
06:32in people in the boxing world.
06:34Does this extend to outside the boxing world?
06:36Yeah, it does.
06:36It does.
06:36It does.
06:37I've had that ability since I've been like four years old, Max, growing up.
06:39But you're acting about Teofimo, I actually think this fight is about Teofimo
06:43more than it is about Shakur Stephenson.
06:45And the reason I say that is, it's what Doug said.
06:47Both Shakur Stephenson and Teofimo Lopez bring elite skills to this January 31st showdown,
06:54and many boxing insiders are calling it a genuine 50-50 matchup
06:57rather than a one-sided affair.
06:59Stephenson's technical brilliance, defensive mastery, and ring IQ
07:03make him one of the most difficult fighters to hit,
07:06while Lopez's power, athleticism, and experience at 140 pounds
07:10give him serious upside if he can land his big shots.
07:14Malik, I'll start with you.
07:14I think it's a very special fight.
07:16It's the type of matchups we always are acting for.
07:19When it comes to explosiveness, I would have to go with Teofimo.
07:22When it comes to actual rapid speed, I would have to go with Teofimo.
07:25But when it comes to body punching, when it comes to good timing,
07:27when it comes to craft, I would have to give all of that to Shakur Stephenson.
07:31What do you think, Doug?
07:32They're both boxers.
07:33I look at Stephenson as a versatile technician.
07:38I look at Teofimo.
07:40He's a boxer puncher, but his specialty is his counterpunching.
07:44Listen, if Stephenson wants to be on his stick-and-move game,
07:48very difficult style matchup for Teofimo,
07:50and maybe not that entertaining to the fans.
07:52Because Stephenson's longer.
07:54Exactly.
07:55Stephenson's defense is probably the best in the game, and he's longer.
07:58And great reflexes and timing, and so does Teofimo.
08:00That's why he's a great counterpuncher.
08:02Experts like Andre Ward believe the smallest margins, execution on fight night, timing,
08:07and conditioning could decide the winner, because stylistically there's little to separate them
08:12at the top level.
08:13Ultimately, both fighters are highly skilled, and this fight might come down to who shows
08:17up sharper and more composed under pressure.
08:20Many experts see Shakur Stephenson versus Teofimo Lopez as a fascinating tactical puzzle where
08:25strategy, energy, and timing could decide the outcome.
08:29Lopez is often described as a fighter who starts fast and relies on mid-range explosiveness,
08:35sharp counters, and bursts of pressure early in fights.
08:38If he can't sustain that intensity for all 12 rounds, some analysts wonder whether his
08:43output might taper in the later championship rounds, opening the door for Stephenson to turn
08:47the tide.
08:48Conversely, if Stephenson drops the opening rounds while feeling out Lopez, he could be
08:52forced into a more offensive posture later, potentially creating an exciting, high-tempo
08:57finish.
08:58If Lopez clearly loses the first few rounds, Stephenson could then settle into a rhythm and
09:03cruise to a comfortable, unanimous decision.
09:05Because I don't think that Shakur is going to come out and try to fight or take the fight
09:10to T.O. in the first six rounds at all.
09:12So if he's fighting off the backflip, if T.O. can make it so that he's convincingly or
09:18he's convinced at least Shakur that he may have won four of the first six rounds, you know,
09:24if it's 4-2 in Shakur's mind going into the second half of the fight, or if I'm looking
09:29at him stealing those first six rounds, then it's an interesting fight going into the tail
09:33end because T.O. to me is a frontrunner, right?
09:36I want to see if he can carry his energy and his explosiveness late in the fight and not
09:41wear down.
09:42And then when Shakur starts to open up, you know, can you steal some of those championship
09:46rounds from him and make it like a close fight?
09:49I think if it go, if T.O. comes out and does what he usually does, which is try to swarm
09:53Shakur early and keep Shakur on the defensive early, then he can try to steal a lot of
09:59those early rounds.
10:00And if he does that, then Shakur has to fight in the tail end of that fight now to make
10:04it real interesting.
10:05If I'm looking at the first three rounds, first four rounds, and T.O. looks like he's
10:10losing those rounds convincingly, then it's an easy night for Shakur, unanimous decision
10:14in my opinion, you know what I mean?
10:15Because I don't think T.O. is going to bring anything late in the game, you know what I
10:19mean, to this fight.
10:20I think he's, if he is who he's always been, you know, he's going to get gassed after like
10:25the seventh round and then take some rounds off.
10:27When he does that, Shakur will open up and start to try to pick him apart, pot shot him
10:32and do things like that.
10:33But this is the perfect fight narrative-wise for Shakur because I've been waiting for Shakur
10:39to get into that fight where, you know, he doesn't have the fight where he doesn't have
10:43his Diego Corrales fight, you know what I mean, where you think he's actually in danger.
10:48Shakur has been the, he's been outclassing everybody he's in the ring with.
10:54You know what I mean, then the guys that you think could give him some word like De Los
10:57Santos.
10:57I know people hate when I bring that fight up, but I want to see him actually in danger.
11:02Insiders believe that fights like Shakur Stevenson versus Teofimo Lopez are exactly what boxing
11:08needs right now.
11:09Legendary former champion Roy Jones Jr. described the matchup as a skill for skill fight on par
11:15with elite showdowns like Canelo versus Crawford and said bouts of this caliber bring credibility
11:20and excitement back to the sport. Analysts also point out that having two accomplished
11:24prime fighters with contrasting styles, Stevenson's elite technical boxing against Lopez's power
11:30and aggression creates the kind of high stakes competitive clash that can reignite fan interest
11:35and deliver memorable moments.
11:37This person's going to win that night and that'll be Teofimo.
11:39Teofimo, did you learn anything stirring down with him?
11:42Yeah.
11:44Beat him up.
11:45Beat him up.
11:46And we know at one point you contemplated retirement.
11:48Seems like you're in a good place now.
11:50You're active.
11:50Where are you at right now?
11:51Where are you feeling about your career?
11:53Mentally, I'm in the Bahamas somewhere having a coquito or something, bro.
11:58Although I don't drink a virgin version, but nah, man, I'm just, I'm in a good space, bro.
12:03I'm happy. I'm content with everything that's going on. Thank you guys for everything.
12:08Thank you to his excellency, Turkey Al Sheik, Priscilla, Madison Square Garden, The Ring,
12:15so on and so forth, WBO, Gustavo. I'm just happy, man.
12:18Teofimo Lopez shows intense determination ahead of his fight with Shakur Stevenson.
12:23Confident and focused, he declares he will dominate in the ring, ready to prove his skill,
12:28power, and strategy.
12:29Lopez's mindset is clear.
12:31He is fully committed to winning and leaving no doubt about his abilities.
12:35Teofimo Lopez makes it clear that he will not allow Shakur Stevenson to take the belt
12:39he worked so hard to earn. He emphasizes the sacrifices behind his success, explaining that
12:44the title represents years of struggle, pain, and dedication. For Teofimo, this fight is about
12:50protecting what he built through hard work and perseverance. He believes strongly in himself
12:54and is determined to defend his position in the ring. Lopez views this moment as personal,
12:59driven by pride and effort, and insists that no one can take away something he earned through
13:04blood, discipline, and commitment.
13:06With hate, you got to do it with love.
13:08Yeah. Inspire people in and out of the ring.
13:10Exactly.
13:11And talking of being in the ring, Shakur Stevenson, obviously, you guys are both in Las Vegas.
13:17I'm hearing that you did link up today. A face-off happened between the two of you?
13:20Yeah, a face-off happened. Things of that nature, just to create the things that are in motion
13:26already. So we're really adamant about fighting each other next, and I can't wait for us to
13:32really lace it up. And I see him across the ring. And really, when that bell rings, lights
13:37out for him.
13:38What's it like seeing him now, kind of face-to-face? When you look at him, what do you see? Because
13:42obviously, you're not locked in just yet. And the closer it gets to a fight, obviously,
13:47things turn a little bit. But when you do look at Shakur, what do you think of him?
13:52I think, I don't think too much of it. You know, I think that he believes in himself. That's
13:59one thing. But I'm here to destroy his dreams and all that he wants to do and become. You
14:04can't, you know, you can't take this from me. I worked very hard for it. I've bled for
14:09this. You know, and I'm not taking nothing from him. But I just believe that what's going
14:14to happen next is for Destiny and the boxing ring to decide.
14:18How close is the fight between the two of you? And when could we kind of expect to see
14:23you two face each other?
14:24I'm ready to fight. Honestly, I could fight tomorrow. I've been staying in the gym. I've
14:27been really serious about my work ethic, you know, everything. I hear people say this
14:32and that. And I don't, those are naysayers. You know, I've done very well for myself at
14:37just this short period in time. The fight should happen very soon. And as long as the
14:42people on that side, the business side of that side, I just like to fight. So let's
14:46make it happen.
14:47How frustrating is kind of the business side of boxing? Because obviously fighters, as
14:51you say, just want to get in the ring. But there's so many hurdles to go over before
14:55you get there. And we always hear of fights falling through, fights not happening. Ryan
14:59Garcia, for example. How frustrating is it for someone like you?
15:05Um, you know, there's, there's detours for a reason, right? There's sometimes roadblocks
15:10along the path.
15:12Shakur Stevenson has been very vocal and confident about his preparation and mindset heading into
15:16the fight with Teofimo Lopez. He's talked openly about how sharp and focused he's been
15:21throughout training camp and believes he's ready to shock the world on fight night. Stevenson
15:26praised Lopez's skills, but stressed that he plans to capitalize on the mistakes Lopez makes
15:31and impose his own strategy in the ring. Eddie Hearn recently came out strongly in support
15:36of Shakur Stevenson, saying the slick Southpaw is one of the most underrated fighters in boxing
15:41today. According to Hearn, fans and critics alike often overlook just how difficult Shakur
15:46is to beat because his style isn't built on knockouts, but on elite fundamentals, ring IQ,
15:51and defensive mastery. Hearn emphasized that Stevenson's ability to control distance,
15:56neutralize dangerous opponents, and dominate rounds makes him a nightmare matchup for anyone,
16:02regardless of weight class. He also pointed out that winning cleanly and consistently at the
16:06highest level requires a special kind of greatness that often goes unappreciated. In Hearn's view,
16:12Shakur's resume, discipline, and technical brilliance deserve far more respect than he currently
16:17receives from the boxing public. I think Shakur is massively underrated in terms of his achievements
16:23and his ability. Everyone in boxing knows how good Shakur is. He is pound for pound, top five in terms of
16:29quality. But look at the achievements of the young man. At 28 years of age, he's already a three-division
16:35world champion. This is to become a four-division world champion. Quite remarkable. And Teofimo always
16:41rises to the occasion. Sometimes you see a little bit of a lackluster performance when he's not
16:46motivated, when there isn't kind of any legacy on the line. This is different. This is a sold-out
16:51Madison Square Garden between two of the elite fighters of our generation. And the best thing
16:56about this fight is we're seeing them in their prime. Bruce Carrington believes that one of Teofimo
17:01Lopez's most significant challenges against Shakur Stevenson will be dealing with constant movement
17:06and unpredictability in the ring. While Lopez is undeniably athletic, explosive, and capable of bringing
17:12pressure, Carrington notes that Stevenson's superior footwork and patience could frustrate
17:17him if he can't comfortably set his feet and establish his rhythm. When Lopez has faced slippery,
17:22elusive opponents before, such as Sandor Martin and Jermaine Ortiz, he struggled to execute his
17:28offense effectively, especially when he couldn't pin them down. In those bouts, Lopez became visibly
17:33frustrated, which allowed his opponents to take advantage of his indecision. Carrington emphasizes
17:38that Stevenson's defensive skill and ability to control distance make him one of the hardest
17:43fighters to hit consistently. For Lopez to succeed, he must manage his frustration, adjust his tactics,
17:49and find ways to cut off the ring against a constantly moving opponent.
17:53I feel like Teal is going to bring the fight. He's very athletic. He has a lot of explosiveness,
18:01but I do feel like when it comes to Shakur, bro, his movement may frustrate him. The only thing that
18:07worries me when it comes to Teofimo is his frustration. Is he going to be able to work
18:15well with a mover? We've seen difficulties that he had with Sandor Martin. We've seen the
18:20difficulties that he had with Jermaine Ortiz, guys that's been moving around and not staying
18:24still. If you keep Teal moving around and he can't plant his feet, what can he do? We're going to have to
18:32find that out on January 31st. I think Shakur, he's probably one of the best guys to move his feet,
18:41be on defense, being hella patient and frustrating on Friday, bro. I don't know. We've seen Teal get
18:48frustrated to the point where he's asking himself, do I still got it? You know what I'm saying?
18:52Yeah. We got to see what his mentality is going to be like come January 31st.
18:57Do you, but do you think that his experience on the biggest of stages, you know, his two biggest
19:04wins, he was an underdog. And both guys, ironically enough, were southpaws like Shakur. Did that play
19:12any factor to you, bro?
19:14Nah, styles is different. The styles are totally different. Lomachinko don't fight like Shakur.
19:18Josh Taylor don't fight like Shakur. I don't, I don't see just because of southpaw that that
19:24same thing will happen. I feel like certain techniques will be used to fight Shakur. Yeah.
19:28But in terms of like that approach of the fight, nah, like Shakur fights totally different. You
19:35got to be able to do some out of pocket stuff with Shakur. You got to throw while he's throwing.
19:39That's probably some of the only times that he's able to get hit.
19:42Who do you think has the edge? Stevenson's slick movement and ring IQ or Lopez's power and
19:47explosiveness? Drop your prediction in the comments.
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