Shakur Stevenson has offered a respectful assessment of Teofimo Lopez ahead of their January 31 showdown at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The pair will headline the “Ring 6” fight card live on DAZN Pay-Per-View, with Lopez defending his lineal and WBO super lightweight titles in one of the most anticipated bouts of the year.
Speaking to Boxing Social, Stevenson described Lopez as “the truth,” praising his boxing skills and ring intelligence. Stevenson framed the contest as a genuine meeting of elite fighters, calling it “the best versus the best,” while making clear that he intends to prove he is the superior fighter once the bell rings.
Stevenson also addressed concerns about judging, insisting his focus remains firmly on his own performance. He said he can only control what happens on fight night and refuses to be distracted by external factors, adding that while he hopes the judges get it right, it is not something he can afford to dwell on.
Undefeated at 24-0 with 11 knockouts, Stevenson believes this bout represents a defining moment in his career. He said victory over Lopez would spark conversations about him becoming the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world, describing that status as the ultimate goal he is chasing.
The card supporting Lopez vs Stevenson is stacked with major bouts, including Keyshawn Davis vs Jamaine Ortiz at super lightweight, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington vs Carlos Castro for the vacant WBC featherweight title, and Carlos Adames defending his WBC middleweight title against Austin “Ammo” Williams. Heavyweights Jarrell Miller and Kingsley Ibeh, as well as Ziyad Almayouf vs Kevin Castillo, round out the night.
Watch the press conference live here.
Image Credit: The Ring