Shakur Stevenson and Teofimo Lopez are set to go head-to-head in an intriguing match-up early next year.
It has been reported in recent weeks that Stevenson will make the move up to super-lightweight to challenge countryman Lopez for his WBO world title, with an official date and venue set to be announced very soon.
Stevenson currently reigns as the WBC world lightweight champion, making the third successful defence of his crown back in July when he defeated Mexico’s William Zepeda via unanimous decision at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York.
As for Lopez, the 28-year-old Brooklyn-native last appeared in May when he outpointed mandatory challenger Arnold Barboza Jr to defend his WBO super-lightweight title for the third time at the iconic Times Square in the heart of New York City.
One man who has offered an insight into the showdown between Stevenson and Lopez is WBC super-featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster, who has sparred a number of rounds with Stevenson in the past.
Speaking to Fight Hype, Foster admitted that he believes Lopez has a ‘bad style’ for Stevenson before he gives his backing to ‘The Takeover’ to get the job done against the unbeaten lightweight champion.
“Styles make fights. I think that’s a bad style match-up for Shakur. I mean Shakur likes to be the most athletic guy in the ring, when he’s not he has problems.
Shakur is a right hander fighting out of the southpaw stance, so when you’re meeting guys like that athleticism that fight with that strong hand in the back, you’re going to have to rely on more than just your jab and the range finder.
So I just think that when you meet certain guys, that’s why I say the style, you meet certain guys you’re going to have to rely on both of them hands and I just think it’s a bad style match-up for him. I see Teofimo beating him.”
The all-American world title clash between Lopez and Stevenson is set to be confirmed very soon, although it has been reported that the fight is likely to take place at an undisclosed venue in Las Vegas this January.
