High class fight instead of trash talk: Shakur Stevenson and Teofimo Lopez meet on Saturday at “The Ring 6” in Madison Square Garden.
Shakur Stevenson has already collected three world titles in three weight classes in nine years as a professional – but the next step should be more than just another belt. On Saturday, January 31, the unbeaten WBC lightweight champion will headline “The Ring VI” card against Teofimo Lopez, The Ring and WBO light-welterweight champion, at Madison Square Garden. Stevenson is moving up a limit for this one and announces that he has been waiting a long time for this exact stage: “This is my moment. I’ve been waiting for years to finally show who I am.”
The focus is also on a comparison of their CVs: Lopez’s signature victories against Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor are considered the tougher references. Stevenson sees this as a mission and believes that Lopez will only realize in the ring how high the Stevenson bar really is. At the same time, the lightweight champ wants to shake off a prejudice: his alleged lack of punching power. He speaks of “underestimated power” and says that eight ounces of gloves change a lot of things.
Lots of tactics, little knockout power
Because Lopez has not stopped anyone in his last five fights and Stevenson tends to win on points overall, many expect a high-class “chess match” in which timing, footwork and ring control will be decisive. Should Stevenson win, he would then be spoilt for choice: however, he has already emphasized that the lightweight division does not have the right opponents for him.
“The Ring 6” will be available in Germany via DAZN pay-per-view and will cost 20.99 euros.
Text by Robin Josten