Lopez, Stevenson Trade Verbals At Kick-Off Presser

Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson’s kick-off presser took place, with both fighters exchanging verbals before their January 31 fight from Madison Square Garden.

Lopez, the WBO and Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight Champ, defends his belts for the fourth time. Lopez defeated Arnold Barboza Jr. this past May to set up the Shakur fight. The Takeover has said he wants to move up and take on three-weight undisputed champion Terence Crawford. In order to do so, he must get past the undefeated Stevenson.

For Stevenson, this fight represents a massive opportunity to solidify his legacy. Stevenson, who last fought in July, securing his WBC Lightweight Title with a dominant win over William Zepeda, is making the jump from the 135-pound division to challenge Lopez at 140 pounds. A victory makes Shakur a four-weight world champion.

The Presser

“I mean come on, now. He’s saying this, he’s saying that, the third, but in reality this guy is the best and we’re here to face the best. And that’s just what it is, forget the rest…We’re defying the odds, we’re against all odds, and to Draft Kings and to all the betting odds out there, make sure you keep the odds highly favored in Shakur. I got a lot of people that are starving and they need to make their money,” Lopes said

“I think that he did some great things against [his past opponents]. I seen a lot of weakness is his game, too. I didn’t see Lomachenko throw no punches for six rounds. I will be 100x better on fight night against Teofimo Lopez than I was against Zepeda, 1000x better, faster, sharper, stronger and mentally more on point and I can’t wait…A lot of his weaknesses is in his mental. I think it’s more mental than anything and I’m going to expose it,” Shakur said

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