Teofimo Lopez says WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson ought to transfer again right down to 130 or 126 the place he may change into undisputed in these weight courses.
In response to Teofimo, Shakur has been consuming loads in between camps, inflicting him to placed on weight and transfer as much as 135, the place he’s inferior to he as soon as was.
Stevenson needs to be kicking himself now that he’s not at featherweight anymore as a result of his division is heating up now.
Shakur’s Weight Class Historical past:
- Light-weight: 2022 to Current
- Tremendous Featherweight: 2020 to 2022
- Featherweight: 2017 to 2020
Naoya Inoue might quickly be shifting to 126, and that might be a big-money struggle for Shakur if he had been nonetheless competing in that weight class.
Shakur lacks the pop in his punches that he had when he started his profession at 126, and that’s not going to alter if he stays at 135 or strikes as much as 140 to chase that bag.
Stevenson’s Weight Acquire and Efficiency Decline
When Shakur was preventing at 126, he seemed like pure gold, like a can’t-miss future star, however he then moved up and hasn’t seemed the identical at 130 or 135.
Lopez states that Shakur (21-0, 10 KOs) was at his finest when he fought within the lighter weight courses, featherweight and tremendous featherweight.
If Shakur is consuming the way in which Teofimo talks about, he’s not going to be returning to 130 or 126, and he in all probability gained’t final an excessive amount of longer at 135. He appears to be like delicate within the midsection already, which alerts that he’s consuming properly between fights.
“Shakur Stevenson, we are going to by no means lace up a pair of gloves. I don’t care. Shakur Stevenson is a man in the event that they need to name him ‘Sugar,’ he’s bought numerous sugar,” Teofimo Lopez instructed the Danza Challenge about WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson.
Teofimo isn’t the one one who isn’t all in favour of preventing Shakur. All the highest names at 135 need nothing to do with him, which gained’t change. He’s in a scenario the place there are not any alternatives for development at light-weight, which can seemingly be everlasting.
In any job, in the event you’re not appreciated sufficient to be promoted by your boss, you must transfer on, stagnate, or get laid off. Shakur isn’t appreciated sufficient at 135 to get fights in opposition to Gervonta Davis and Vasily Lomachenko. William Zepeda, The one man who desires to struggle Shakur, is all unsuitable for him and could be a nightmare to struggle.
A Name to Return to 130 or 126
“He’s really at his best and at his finest at his lightest weight, however the child is consuming loads in between camps, and now he’s going as much as 135. My father was proper about numerous issues with these children. Haney and them,” mentioned Teofimo.
Lopez is correct about Shakur. He seemed excellent when he fought at 126, like a future Corridor of Famer and a man destined for greatness. However shifting up 9 kilos to 135, Shakur is underpowered for that division and compelled to maneuver greater than he did when he fought at 126.
“You bought to have pop, and you bought to have chin,” mentioned Teofimo. “Shakur, it’s best to return to 130 or in all probability try to make it to 126 as a result of that’s the place you’re going to change into undisputed, and persons are actually going to speak heavy about you.”
Tremendous Featherweight Presently A Stagnant Division
130 is a lifeless division, so it doesn’t make sense for Shakur to maneuver again down there. He ought to return to 126, the place he can struggle these killers:
- Bruce Carrington
- Nick Ball
- Rafael Espinoza
- Naoya Inoue: *Quickly shifting up
- Stephen Fulton
- Rey Vargas
- Robeisy Ramirez
- Luis Lopez
“For actual, you’re going to be pound-for-pound on that listing. However you recognize one thing? You’re resorting in your buyers. You’re resorting in your again finish that will help you, and that’s simply not the way it goes,” mentioned Teofimo.
