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The Lomachenko version of Lopez
It’s not too late for him to adopt the pressing style he used against Loma five years ago. This approach will make it difficult for Stevenson to distinguish him with his throwback approach from Mayweather.
If Teo can mentally and physically return to the way he fought that night against Loma, Russell believes he will defeat Stevenson.
In none of Lopez’s seven fights since the Lomachenko clash has he fought with this approach. That’s not to say he hasn’t looked good in those fights. Rather, it is a lack of aggressiveness that he showed against Lomachenko.
The Kambosos fight changed Teo
Lopez’s loss to George Kambosos Jr. in 2021 appears to have changed him, turning him into a boxer who only fights occasionally. Plus, not having the size advantage at 140 that he enjoyed at 135 took something away from him.
“I’m going with Teo. But Teo can’t fight Shakur’s fight. That’s the only way he can win,” Gary Antuanne Russell told MillCity Boxing on the fight between Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson.
Lopez’s form against Lomachenko would be a problem for Shakur, as he would chase him around the ring if he chooses to return to the style he showed against Edwin De Los Santos in 2023.
Although Shakur has quick feet, he is not as fast as the fighters Teofimo has fought over the past five years. Jamaine Ortiz and Lomachenko had quicker feet and more offensive tools than Stevenson.
Shakur lives by distance and control
“If Teo fights like he did against Lomachenko, I have him winning. Other than that, Shakur is going to put him on a rope,” Antuanne said. “He’s going to put him on a leash and walk him like a dog. He’s going to time him. He’s going to find his range with him, and he’s going to separate him.”
Lopez will have seen what happens to fighters who choose to box Shakur. He will know he can’t do that and will focus on the one approach that gave Stevenson problems. It’s the pressure.
Why Shakur Power scares no one
“The one thing no one can take away from Shakur,” Russell said. “He knows his distance. He has good punch selection and a lot of people underestimate his power. Shakur will take it hands down. I think naturally Shakur’s punching power is less than Teofimo Lopez.”
Stevenson hits the body well, but he didn’t show any power going to the head. His KO rate of 45.83% is an indication of his lack of pop in his shots. I don’t see it changing overnight to turn him into a retro Julian Jackson. Shakur’s power has resisted change. It doesn’t seem realistic that he’ll make improvements that will allow him to hold off Lopez with his shots.
“As far as IQ goes, I feel like it’s a toss-up. It’s a 50-50 as far as IQ goes. What puts Teofimo Lopez right over the top is his athleticism. Shakur is simplistic. Simply put, he plays by the rules. If you do something irresponsible, he’ll make you pay for it,” Russell said.
Shakur throws single punches at them with little speed. Interestingly, some fans think he is fast, but that is not the reality. He has average speed. His success in the professional ranks is due to a combination of defense, footwork and matchmaking.
Shakur’s promoters at Top Rank and Matchroom never faced him against opposition that could test him and possibly beat him. There are quite a few fighters at 135 and 140 who would have an excellent chance of defeating Stevenson if his promoters chose to tag him with them. Antuanne is one of them.
