Teofimo Lopez is officially prepared to defend his 140 lb world title against Shakur Stevenson on January 31, 2026. He discusses with Ring Magazine about the upcoming fight where he is currently the betting underdog, his confidence in winning, and other topics. Below is a selection of his thoughts.
Teofimo on his motivation for fighting Shakur at this stage
“The reason this matchup is taking place is because of our shared desire. We strive to be No. 1 in boxing, in a manner of speaking. He’s after my title in the super lightweight division and ultimately, it’s all for the fans.”
On the absence of recent knockouts despite his punching ability
“If you chase the knockout, it won’t happen. It’s really about establishing a strong rhythm in the early rounds and maintaining that vibe as you proceed. I don’t envision him lasting the full 12 rounds. This is his debut at 140. Many can criticize me for not securing knockouts, but they don’t engage after they experience my power. There’s a reason for that. It resonates; it surely does.”
“I performed well against Arnold Barboza, who was No. 1, my mandatory opponent. He was too tentative when trying to throw punches. I anticipate this will be a significant wake-up call for Shakur.”
On being viewed as the underdog early in this bout
“I consider myself someone who thrives against ‘all odds.’ I’ve been like this since winning the 2015 U.S. Olympic trials and missing my chance to represent Team USA in the 2015 Olympic Games…Even when I claimed my first world title in 2019 at the age of 22 against the reigning champion, the odds were stacked against me. That’s when I tend to excel, and I anticipate doing so again. All my experiences have brought me to this pivotal moment, and I am eager to execute.”
On whether he worries about Shakur benefiting from working with Terence Crawford
“No, not in the slightest. Defy the odds, man. Everyone seems to be siding with them. They all appear to have a collective strategy, even with Keyshawn Davis, thinking they will dominate boxing as a team. However, I don’t believe friendships exist in this sport…Whatever Crawford and Shakur plan, Crawford won’t be stepping into the ring for Shakur. It will be Shakur facing Teofimo.”
