Teofimo Lopez is arguably embracing the role of underdog as he prepares to defend his WBO junior welterweight title against Shakur Stevenson on January 31. The two champions went face-to-face at a lively press conference in New York’s Madison Square Garden, where both acknowledged that their opponent still has plenty to prove in this high-stakes 140-pound clash.
Stevenson, the undefeated WBC lightweight champion moving up in weight, made it clear he doesn’t believe Lopez has ever faced a fighter of his calibre. Meanwhile, Lopez’s team argued the opposite - that their best performances have come against southpaws. Lopez’s father and trainer, Teofimo Sr., reminded the crowd that his son has beaten elite left-handers before, including Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor.
The back-and-forth quickly escalated between Stevenson and Lopez Sr., with Stevenson firing back that he, too, has never lost to the opposite stance. “I think he did some great things against them guys,” Stevenson said, “but I’ve seen a lot of weakness in his game too.”
Lopez himself struck an interesting balance between respect and provocation. He openly called Stevenson “the best fighter on my résumé to date,” while also mixing in crude jokes and verbal theatrics reminiscent of old-school boxing press conferences. Stevenson kept his responses within the realm of boxing, insisting that Lopez is underestimating just how sharp he will be on fight night. “I’m gonna take it to another level that he has never seen before,” Stevenson promised.
Despite being a significant betting favourite, Stevenson found little room for complacency in Lopez’s unpredictability. Lopez welcomed his +250 underdog status, saying it only fuels him further. “We’re defying the odds,” he said. “Keep the odds highly favored for Shakur. I got a lot of people that are starving and they need to make their money.”
Image Credit: Matchroom Boxing