Teofimo Lopez dismissed Shakur Stevenson’s name out of him at 140, letting him know he wanted to remain in his lane at 135.
Shakur (21-0, 10 KOs) is seeking to broaden his attain past the light-weight division, the place he’s been prevented by the highest fighters by calling out guys at 140, like Teofimo, the WBO gentle welterweight champion.
Is Cash the Motivating Issue?
Teofimo (20-1, 13 KOs) says Shakur wants to remain at 135 and battle extra aggressively as a result of his hit-and-not-get-hit model isn’t slicing it. With that model, Stevenson can not get the fights he desires towards him.
It’s hypocritical for Teofimo to reject a battle towards Shakur primarily based on combating a weight class beneath him at 135 as a result of, in the identical interview, Teo known as out Terence Crawford, who fights at 154. Teofimo known as out Crawford, telling him they might meet at 147.
Maybe Teofimo, 26, isn’t fascinated by combating Shakur as a result of there’s no cash in a battle towards him as a consequence of his lack of stardom and his not being a ticket vendor.
Teofimo can’t anticipate to make mega-millions on PPV combating Shakur Stevenson like he might if he might in a conflict towards Crawford, who has develop into a star after being blessed by Errol Spence, who turned him into an attraction along with his Midas contact final July.
Lopez Criticizes Stevenson’s Combating Fashion
“I do know you might be calling us out at 140, however you’re combating at 135. Keep in your lane,” mentioned Teofimo Lopez to the Danza Challenge, giving light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson the brush-off, letting him know he’s not fascinated by combating him at 140.
“I do know that you simply obtained to maintain your self related, however there’s a kind of relevancy you bought to do. Meaning you bought to battle; you actually obtained to battle,” mentioned Teofimo, which means that Shakur has obtained to be keen to face within the pocket and change along with his opposition somewhat than utilizing his normal elusive hit-not-get-hit combating model.
Teofimo defends his WBO gentle welterweight title on June twenty ninth towards fringe contender Steve Claggett on the James L. Knight Middle in Miami, Florida. In accordance with Teo, he’s defending towards Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KOs) as a result of not one of the champions at 140 wish to battle him.
Undercard Spotlight
On the undercard, former WBO featherweight champion Robeisy Ramirez (13-2, 8 KOs) faces Brandon Leon Benitez (21-2, 9 KOs) in a 10-round co-feature bout.
That is two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy’s first battle again since dropping his WBO 126-lb title to Rafael Espinoza by a 12-round majority resolution final December. Robeisy was punished closely within the Espinoza battle, and it could be fascinating to see how he performs towards Benitez this Saturday evening.
