Teofimo Lopez sits down with DAZN to talk about his upcoming WBO 140 lb title defense against Shakur Stevenson on January 31, saying he’s expecting to reveal the flaws in Shakur’s game and demonstrate he’s not the technical genius he’s portrayed to be.
“The mentality part of it is going to really be the key moment for who wins that night,” Lopez would say. “We were stable mates, me and Shakur, Top Rank. He talks about this and that and about I was jealous of him — no. You were a 2016 USA silver medalist, you’re going to get your signing bonus and all that extra stuff.
“The thing was, they were trying to secure him in a different route because they had put a lot of money in him. Me, I think I was just supposed to be an opponent eventually. Now we’re back. This plan is against me, absolutely. But I think that those that have the billions and have powers here on earth, I think they have high hopes for me. I do. I think rightfully so, I think they have high hopes with me.
“People say I perform best when people underestimate me. Although partially it can be true, I think I just always had it in me…Shakur’s stepping up because he had nobody else to go after. He’s stepping up to try to prove a point…I’m going to show everyone his defense is not as [immaculate] like they say it is. That’s my job, is to show the true flaws that the world cannot see.”
Lopez will have a chance to prove himself right in just about two weeks time as he looks to hold onto his world title while adding another name to his resume.
