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🔥 Inside The Ring is about to get SCORCHING! 🔥 In this can't-miss episode, sports analysts Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman face off in a heated debate over one of boxing's biggest matchups: Shakur Stevenson vs. Teofimo Lopez! 💥 Watch as both pundits lay their arguments on the line—who reigns supreme in this hypothetical showdown? 🥊 From explosive punches to fight strategies, hear their passionate take on styles, skills, and real possibilities! This fierce exchange will have you on the edge of your seat! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell for more knockout conversations! 🎉
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00:00Say what you're gonna say! I can't believe what you're alluding to, Max! Let it out! Let it out! What are you trying to say?
00:06He is going... This is my hot take. You just calm down.
00:13He is a great, great fighter. A good big man doesn't beat a great little man.
00:19It takes something more than a good big man to do that, and Lopez is more than just good.
00:30Punches are not made. They are born. And this guy, Lopez, was born to punch.
00:36And he's got one other thing going for him, Steven and Max.
00:40He reminds me of Pacquiao Lopez in a way, not just with power in either hand, but his closing step.
00:47His ability to explode. You know, kind of like an athlete in football, basketball, any of those sports where it's not about running a 40.
00:55It's about the quickness. It's about the closing step. The burst. He's got that burst. Not everybody's got that burst.
01:02Steven A. Smith and Max Kellerman clash over Shakur Stevenson versus Tiofimo Lopez, debating skill, power, and resume.
01:10New York City, January 31st. Shakur Stevenson, Tiofimo Lopez.
01:14I always say it. When boxing gets it right, no other sport comes close. And this is boxing getting it right.
01:23The best fighting the best. Both fighters believe that this matchup settles the argument about who leads the new era.
01:32So what do we think of the Styles matchup, guys?
01:34Is this a high-speed chess match a la Sugar Ray Leonard or Pernell Whitaker, you know, Leonard and Benitez, or Pernell Whitaker, Buddy McGirt, or is it a Jerry versus Jerry fight?
01:47Steven A. Smith praised Tiofimo Lopez's quick defense, highlighting his fast reflexes and ability to slip punches in tight exchanges.
01:54And he made sure to show the world that at 23 years of age, I'm a champion, and you're going to have to come take this from me.
02:00I'm not giving you a damn thing. I loved his quickness. We know about Lopez's power, but I'm talking about his quickness defensively.
02:07But I saw Lopez being elusive, and I love that because it's one thing for you to have the power and the quickness to go along with the power.
02:16Offensively, a lot of guys can look good until they get hit. There were times where he got hit, and there were other times where he was slipping.
02:23He consistently points to Tiofimo Lopez's history of rising to the occasion on the biggest stages.
02:28Smith emphasizes that Lopez is not intimidated by elite competition, citing his dominant win over Vasily Lomachenko.
02:36And we all know that Lomachenko's footwork is exceptional. It's practically unrivaled.
02:41So you could see what he's done to numerous fighters, which contributed to them quitting, like Nicholas Walters and others.
02:47He tried that with Lopez. It didn't work. Lopez's footwork worked.
02:50His speed was there. Some power, obviously. But his elusivity is what impressed me most.
02:57The fact that he was able to slip a number, not all, but a number of those pitches.
03:01No, he turned good Lomachenko. He wouldn't let Lomachenko establish his outside foot.
03:04And I loved it.
03:05Yeah, for me, coming into this fight, I always talk to Max about fighting. I love it.
03:10I was thinking, and Lopez mentioned it pre-fight.
03:13Everybody thought it was going to be very Mayweather-Canelo when they fought and that he would be outclassed.
03:19If you look at the first six rounds, it was about patience. He was patient. He didn't rush himself.
03:23He used this jab, which is something that we aren't used to seeing him do.
03:27Teddy Atlas joined Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman, arguing that Teofimo Lopez's biggest challenge is facing the best pound-for-pound fighter.
03:36Atlas stressed Shakur Stevenson's elite fundamentals, saying Teofimo's athleticism alone won't be enough against a technician of that level.
03:44What challenge lies ahead for Lopez this upcoming weekend?
03:49What challenge? The challenge of fighting, for me, my estimation, the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world.
03:56Either him or Crawford. You choose it, it doesn't matter. You can flip-flop either one of them.
04:01They're the two top guys. The challenge is to get his bomb to the target.
04:05Yeah, like Customato, my mentor, used to say, you know, Teddy, having power is great, but if you don't have a means to get it to the target, it has no value.
04:16It's like a military weapon. He used to say, if you don't have a missile, it just blows up and makes a big hole in the ground.
04:22So, that's the challenge. Get it to the target. Get it to the chin or the body.
04:29It might be a good idea with a guy who moves his head so much, but get it to the target with Lomachenko.
04:35So, keep yourself together mentally with all that going on, with all the chaos stuff coming at you,
04:42and don't get discouraged. Don't get frustrated if he's hard to hit.
04:47Kellerman repeatedly emphasizes that Stevenson doesn't merely win fights.
04:51He neutralizes opponents. His footwork, distance control, and anticipation allow him to dictate the pace of every bout.
04:59Shakur is one of those guys who comes along, and I think this is really the question about him.
05:05I said he is one of those guys. Is he one of those guys?
05:08Like Purnell, like Roy, like Floyd, their defenses were so good,
05:14and they boxed in a way where they weren't going to take unnecessary risks.
05:19They weren't running and holding.
05:21You know, I had a problem with the second half of the Haney-Norman fights.
05:24I felt like Haney's... They continue to box.
05:26Purnell did, Roy did, and Shakur does now, right?
05:31But when a guy has those advantages in boxing skill and speed,
05:36and they don't take risks, they are almost impossible to beat.
05:40So, no matter who Purnell was fighting, no matter who Roy was fighting,
05:43if someone would have asked me who they're going to be, they're fighting Godzilla, Purnell.
05:46They're fighting... Roy.
05:48Shakur has that look to me, and the style to me.
05:52He acknowledged that both fighters are highly skilled,
05:55but emphasized that Shakur Stevenson is not a puncher.
05:58He argued that Shakur wins through precision, defense, and control, rather than knockout power.
06:04And the difference here is that they're both twitchy, they're both fast, they're both excellent boxers.
06:09Tails is a puncher.
06:09I know it hasn't shown up in recent fights, but we have watched both of their careers.
06:15Shakur is not a puncher.
06:16Tio is.
06:17Tio is a... It can be an explosive, I hit you with a shot you don't see,
06:23and you are out cold type puncher.
06:25And talking about power, strength too.
06:28I think Tio's going to be the much stronger guy in there.
06:30Shakur Stevenson is not a strong guy.
06:32I think he's getting stronger.
06:33Me too.
06:34I was about to say, great.
06:34So this is his first fight at 140, though.
06:36That's what I'm saying.
06:37I'm not disrespecting his strength.
06:38I feel like...
06:38But I also feel like he's...
06:40That Shakur might surprise you, Mike, with his physical strength.
06:44Physical strength, as we all know, doesn't always translate to punching power.
06:46Sure, of course not.
06:47But when he was a younger fighter, he looked like he could be moved around by his opponent.
06:52He doesn't look like that anymore.
06:53No, he's definitely matured in his body.
06:56But first fight at 140, Tio's what?
06:58I think it's his...
06:59Maybe his fifth fight at 140?
07:00Yeah.
07:00Something like that?
07:01That's true.
07:02But he has...
07:02Shakur has a frame where he can put on 140 very comfortably.
07:06Max Kellerman points out that Shakur enters the fight with more to lose
07:10because of his technical reputation and undefeated image.
07:13Teofimo, on the other hand, has more to gain as an underdog
07:16where pressure is lower and opportunity is higher,
07:19making the fight dangerous and unpredictable.
07:21Is there an advantage there where Shakur is fighting to protect that perfect record,
07:27to protect that kind of sense that he's the next guy?
07:30On the other hand, Tio is like...
07:33Like he can fight with more abandon against Shakur
07:36because there's so much for him to gain.
07:39And if he loses, he's lost before.
07:40He's lost to Kambosis.
07:41Stevenson has openly discussed how significant this contest is to him,
07:45framing it as a chance to prove he's among the very best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.
07:50You know, people think the fight with Tio is either going to be you delivering a masterclass...
07:55Or a knockout by Tio.
07:56Yeah, or you getting into some type of brawl with Tio and end up getting knocked out, right?
08:00What are fans getting wrong about the matchup?
08:02I think the fans getting wrong about the matchup is where I'm not sleeping on that I know about Tio.
08:08Tio's a good boxer.
08:09He's boxer first.
08:11So we can say, oh, he's just going to knock you out.
08:13He's just going to...
08:14That's not him.
08:15He's boxing first.
08:16He's going to want to establish distance and range on the outside
08:20and try to beat me up on the outside.
08:23So I think that's the main thing.
08:24And also the biggest thing that everybody don't realize with me, I can punch.
08:29Everybody say, oh, he can't punch and then boom, crack somebody.
08:33And then they laying down or something may happen to where they hurt or something like that.
08:37So I think that's two big things.
08:39Many experts see Shakur Stevenson versus Teofimo Lopez as a fascinating tactical puzzle
08:44where strategy, energy, and timing could decide the outcome.
08:48Because I don't think that Shakur is going to come out and try to fight or take the fight to Tio
08:54in the first six rounds at all.
08:55So if he's fighting off the backflip, if Tio can make it so that he's convincingly
09:01or he's convinced at least Shakur that he may have won four of the first six rounds.
09:07If it's four of two in Shakur's mind going into the second half of the fight
09:11or if I'm looking at him stealing those first six rounds,
09:14then it's an interesting fight going into the tail end because Tio, to me, is a frontrunner.
09:19I want to see if he can carry his energy and his explosiveness late in the fight
09:23and not wear down.
09:25And then when Shakur starts to open up, can you steal some of those championship rounds from him
09:30and make it like a close fight?
09:32I think if Tio comes out and does what he usually does,
09:35which tries to swarm Shakur early and keep Shakur on the defensive early,
09:40then he can try to steal a lot of those early rounds.
09:43And if he does that...
09:44Lopez is often described as a fighter who starts fast and relies on mid-range explosiveness,
09:50sharp counters, and bursts of pressure early in fights.
09:53If he can't sustain that intensity for all 12 rounds,
09:56some analysts wonder whether his output might taper in the later championship rounds,
10:00opening the door for Stevenson to turn the tide.
10:03If I'm looking at the first three rounds, first four rounds,
10:07and Tio looks like he's losing those rounds convincingly,
10:09then it's an easy night for Shakur.
10:11Unanimous decision, in my opinion.
10:12You know what I mean?
10:13Because I don't think Tio is going to bring anything late in the game,
10:17you know what I mean, to this fight.
10:18I think he's...
10:19If he is who he's always been,
10:21you know, he's going to get gassed after like the seventh round
10:23and then take some rounds off.
10:25And when he does that,
10:26Shakur will open up and start to try to pick him apart,
10:29pot shot him and do things like that.
10:31But this is the perfect fight narrative-wise for Shakur
10:35because I've been waiting for Shakur to get into that fight
10:38where, you know, he doesn't have the fight where...
10:40He doesn't have his Diego Corrales fight,
10:42you know what I mean?
10:43Where you think he's actually in danger.
10:46Shakur has been the...
10:49He's been outclassing everybody he's in the ring with,
10:52you know what I mean?
10:52Then the guys that you think could give him some word like De Los Santos.
10:55I know people hate when I bring that fight up,
10:56but I want to see him actually in danger.
11:00Insiders believe fights like Shakur Stevenson versus Tiofimo Lopez
11:04are exactly what boxing needs right now.
11:06Legendary former champion Roy Jones Jr.
11:09described the potential matchup as a true skill-for-skill battle,
11:13comparing it to elite-level showdowns
11:15such as Canelo Alvarez versus Terrence Crawford.
11:17According to Jones,
11:18bouts of this caliber restore credibility to the sport
11:21by putting the best fighters against one another in their prime.
11:25We're going to start with you, Pierre.
11:27Shakur and Tiofimo Lopez.
11:29Shakur Stevenson getting it on
11:30in about three and a half weeks or something like that.
11:34Also on the undercard is Keyshawn Davis.
11:37But the main event, let's jump into the main.
11:40Tell me what you're thinking.
11:42You know, you got an ultimate skill fighter
11:46versus a boxer who's twitchy.
11:50And twitchy sometimes beats out skills.
11:54Sometimes.
11:56That's the side that can really beat a straight-up boxer to me,
12:00somebody who's twitchy.
12:03You know, because they don't fight, you know,
12:05as normally as most boxers fight.
12:07They give you angles, body movements, bouncing around.
12:10Like a Lomachenko would done, even a Crawford does.
12:13You know what I'm saying?
12:14Moves, different angles and so forth.
12:15That's why they can beat a lot of boxers.
12:18Analysts agree, noting that both Stevenson and Lopez
12:21bring championship experience, star power,
12:24and something to prove.
12:25Their contrasting styles,
12:26such as Stevenson's elite technical precision,
12:29defense, and ring intelligence
12:30against Lopez's explosive power, speed, and aggression,
12:34create a high-stakes, must-see clash.
12:37This type of matchup naturally fuels debate,
12:39builds anticipation, and captures casual and hardcore fans alike
12:43when prime fighters take real risks against elite opposition.
12:47Boxing thrives, delivering the competitive drama
12:50and memorable moments that reignite fan passion.
12:53But I don't know who's going to show up what day.
12:55What's Shakur showing up, or what T.O.'s going to show up?
12:58You get what I'm saying?
12:59No, you know, we're going to always...
13:01Shakur going to always be Shakur.
13:04The offense that we saw from him in his last fight
13:08was just...
13:10He knew what he had in front of him,
13:13and eventually he knew that he was going to be in a position
13:16where he could have his way
13:17with the kid who was in the ring.
13:21I'm losing his name off the top of my head.
13:23Right, I know you're talking about...
13:24But I believe he fought that way
13:26because he started hearing all the call of him running, running.
13:29He started saying, you know what?
13:30Let me stay in the pocket
13:31because he stood in the pocket a lot more
13:32than he normally stood in the pocket with that fight.
13:35You know what I'm saying?
13:35It took some unnecessary shots.
13:37Huh?
13:37It took unnecessary shots while doing it.
13:39Well, okay, right, right, right.
13:40But you see what kind of fan base he got after that too.
13:44The doubters started saying, you know what?
13:45I'm going to roll with him more
13:46because we were getting tired of him running
13:48and skillfully beating people.
13:50That gets boring,
13:51like Mayweather did his last 10 fights damn near.
13:55Stevenson's boxing style often draws criticism
13:57for being boring,
13:59but that label misunderstands the craft behind his approach.
14:02He relies on elite footwork, precise counters,
14:05and defensive mastery
14:06rather than wild aggression or constant exchanges.
14:09Many fans and casual viewers crave dramatic knockouts
14:12and relentless pressure,
14:13which Stevenson rarely prioritizes.
14:16His fights can appear methodical or slow,
14:18emphasizing strategy over spectacle,
14:21yet this cautious cerebral style
14:23has made him exceptionally hard to hit
14:24and highly effective against top tier opponents.
14:27While not flashy,
14:28Stevenson's technique exemplifies
14:30modern boxing intelligence,
14:32proving that control and timing
14:33can be just as thrilling as knockout power.
14:36I think y'all scared of Shakur.
14:37Nobody's scared of Shakur, bro.
14:38I think y'all be ducking Shakur.
14:40Shakur's scared of his shadow, bro.
14:41Relax, bro.
14:41I think y'all be ducking Shakur.
14:43Shakur, you see his last fight?
14:45It's one the fans want to see, though.
14:46No, they don't.
14:47Stop hyping up Shakur.
14:49I want to see Ryan and Shakur.
14:50I've not heard that at all.
14:52Yeah.
14:53I've never heard that.
14:53You wouldn't want to see that out?
14:54I've never heard that.
14:55Nobody on the street has ever been like,
14:57yo, Shakur, you would be great.
14:59Who should Shakur Stevenson fight next?
15:01I don't think he should fight at all ever again
15:03because he just puts the fans to sleep
15:04and he's not doing anything entertaining for Dan Swart.
15:07Honestly, just pick him out of boxing, bro.
15:09He's horrible.
15:09God damn.
15:10I'm asking you this.
15:11You think Dano would put up with Shakur?
15:13He would be the first one to get kicked out of the UFC.
15:15Right or wrong?
15:16I will say this.
15:17You're right.
15:17Dana definitely wants it
15:18because it's a promotion.
15:19It's an entertainment company.
15:20Okay.
15:21The boxing's an entertainment company too.
15:23He ain't doing the sport a favor, so kick him out.
15:25How would that fight between him and David Haney go?
15:27Honestly, man, if you want to get off to that,
15:29you better off watching like Gabe.
15:32However, Amir Khan has acknowledged Shakur Stevenson
15:35as a highly skilled, technically gifted fighter
15:38who brings something important to the sport,
15:40even if his style isn't always exciting for casual fans.
15:44Stevenson's precision, defense, and ring IQ
15:47make him exceptionally difficult to hit and beat,
15:49which is the essence of boxing.
15:51While Khan has praised other fighters
15:53like Teofimo Lopez for their aggression and power,
15:56he also respects Stevenson's elite abilities.
15:58He understands that fans often misinterpret
16:01tactical, defensive excellence as boring.
16:04At the highest levels, slipping punches,
16:06controlling range, and out-thinking an opponent
16:08are marks of true mastery.
16:10Stevenson's technique and success against top competition
16:13show that there's beauty in skill, not just knockouts.
16:16What do you think about the criticism that Shakur gets?
16:19Like, people say that he's boring,
16:21like he's not entertaining.
16:22I mean, look, he's like Andre Ward style.
16:24Andre Ward wasn't really that entertaining,
16:26but got the win.
16:27I mean, that's what boxing's all about.
16:28So I used to love watching Andre Ward fight
16:30because it was so perfect.
16:31I watched his footwork,
16:32how he'd move to the right, to the left,
16:33and I trained with him as well, with Virgil.
16:35And I used to watch how he trained and how he fought,
16:37and I thought, how he puts his hands down
16:39and uses it as a defense,
16:40and then pulls your hands down
16:41and catches you over the top,
16:42and them little things.
16:43So this is a fight that people get,
16:44because you've got two different styles.
16:45You've got an offensive, defensive in Lopez,
16:48and you've got a defensive in Shakur.
16:51Stevenson has been outspoken and confident
16:53about both his preparation and mindset,
16:55heading into a potential fight with Teofimo Lopez.
16:58Throughout training camp,
16:59Stevenson has emphasized how sharp,
17:01disciplined, and locked in he feels,
17:03suggesting that this is the best version
17:05of himself fans have seen.
17:07He has repeatedly stated that his focus
17:09is on execution rather than hype,
17:11believing that his skillset will separate him
17:13on fight night.
17:14While Stevenson has shown respect for Lopez's talent,
17:17athleticism, and power,
17:18he has made it clear that mistakes will not go unpunished.
17:22Stevenson believes Lopez's aggressive style
17:24can create openings,
17:25and he plans to exploit those moments
17:27with precision and timing.
17:29Confident in his game plan,
17:30Stevenson says he intends to impose
17:32his own pace and strategy,
17:33controlling the fight from start to finish,
17:35and shocking the world with a performance
17:37that leaves no doubt about his elite status.
17:40You know, your division at that time
17:41and then the one above you,
17:43but it sent a message to the fans,
17:45but I think it also did something for you
17:46to prove to yourself that,
17:48man, listen, that wasn't like my best performance,
17:51but I showed you I can get it out the mud.
17:53What did that performance kind of do for you
17:55now that you look back at it?
17:56Honestly, I think like style-wise,
17:59I think that Zapata's style is the style
18:02that's supposed to give me the most trouble.
18:04Like guys that box and give me time to think
18:07is the guys that's gonna have a fit with me all night,
18:10but the guys who press me
18:12and put me in, put me against the ropes
18:14and throw a million punches,
18:16that's the style that's supposed to give me trouble.
18:19So I went out there and I prevailed against that style,
18:22and now I'm fighting against a boxer,
18:25which for me, it just makes it more fun.
18:28I don't have to deal with a guy
18:29trying to like wear me down so much.
18:33Meanwhile, Tio is approaching this fight
18:36with renewed confidence
18:37and a heightened sense of purpose,
18:39viewing it as a defining moment in his career.
18:41He has made it clear that he feels mentally sharp,
18:44physically powerful,
18:45and fully aligned with his training and preparation.
18:48Rather than being weighed down by expectations,
18:51Tio is embracing the spotlight,
18:53believing this is exactly the kind of stage
18:55he was built for.
18:56His mindset reflects maturity and hunger,
18:58driven by past experiences
19:00that have strengthened his resolve.
19:02Lopez sees this bout not as pressure,
19:04but as an opportunity to showcase his full arsenal,
19:07his speed, strength, ring IQ, and competitive fire,
19:11while reminding everyone why he remains
19:13one of boxing's most dangerous and gifted fighters.
19:15You know, my mind is limitless, though.
19:18You know, so then again, it's like,
19:19I could always succeed to another level with it,
19:22you know, and exceed to it.
19:24So it's really just trying to just keep it going,
19:29you know, keep moving forward throughout the whole time
19:31and throughout the whole process,
19:32and mainly just have fun with it.
19:35You know, you got to have fun with what you do.
19:37You know, I love this.
19:38You know, I haven't stopped doing what I've done
19:41because of the fact that I enjoy what I do.
19:44You know, this has been 20 years in the making,
19:4620 years in this, you know,
19:48and I have so much to do
19:50and so much to prove within myself.
19:52So mentally, I'm prepared.
19:54Physically, I'm more than ready, you know,
19:56and emotionally, oh, I'm on fire.
19:59You know, I'm on fire with it, you know,
20:00because all I ever did was try to be great,
20:04you know, and it's no longer trying.
20:06I am, you know, I am great,
20:08and it's all about just continuing and holding that.
20:11So it's all about just staying humble throughout the process,
20:14keeping myself level-headed,
20:16and really just enjoying each day that we get
20:19because tomorrow's never promised.
20:21Ultimately, a victory over Teofimo Lopez
20:23would be a defining moment in Shakur Stevenson's career.
20:27Beyond adding another world title to his resume,
20:29it would elevate his credibility
20:31and strengthen his leverage in negotiations
20:33for a long-awaited showdown with Gervonta Tank Davis.
20:36Many fans and insiders believe that defeating a proven star like Lopez
20:40is the final statement Stevenson needs
20:42to firmly establish himself as the division's top contender,
20:46making a clash with Davis not just desirable, but unavoidable.
20:50Real hard.
20:51Man, what do you say to that, bro?
20:53Like, do you hear him, bro?
20:55I just can't wait to beat him and shut him up.
20:57T.O. not on his level.
20:59T.O. is a high-level fighter, but he's not on my level.
21:02I'm an elite-level fighter, and come January 31st, I'm gonna show it.
21:06You've shown respect to him for his performances in the past,
21:10what he's done.
21:11He's fought guys like Lomachenko and Taylor.
21:13You say that he's not on your level.
21:15Why do you think you're on just a different level than him?
21:17Because I've seen him at his best.
21:20Against Taylor, against Lomachenko, he was at his very best.
21:23That was the best he can do.
21:25I don't think he can do nothing better than that, so...
21:27Self-projection.
21:28What I've seen from that fight, I feel like I'm way better than them guys.
21:34With Lomachenko, like I said, he didn't throw punches for six rounds.
21:36Objection!
21:38For six rounds.
21:40So, if you ain't throw punches for six rounds, and you get in front of me,
21:44I just don't know, I would have beat Lomachenko that night easy, too.
21:49Will Lopez's power and aggression make the difference and allow him to protect his belt?
21:53Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
21:55And I'll see you next time.
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