Retired three-weight world champion James Toney has shared his thoughts on the upcoming clash between Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson.
Brooklyn-native Lopez is set to make the fourth defence of his WBO world super-lightweight title against countryman Stevenson at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 31.
WBC lightweight champion Stevenson produced a career-best victory in his last outing back in July, defeating Mexico’s William Zepeda via unanimous decision at the conclusion of their bout at the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Lopez is yet to make a return to action since he comprehensively defeated Arnold Barboza Jr, who was his mandatory challenger at the time, when they locked horns at Times Square in New York last May.
Speaking to ESNEWS recently, James Toney didn’t hesitate to back Lopez to get the job done over Stevenson later this month, saying the champion is ‘too big for Stevenson.’
“I’m gonna go with Teofimo. Too big for him.”
‘Teo’ finds himself on a fine run of form since he suffered the first defeat of his career to George Kambosos Jr in November 2021. In his last six outings, ‘The Takeover’ has produced victories over the likes of Sandor Martin, Jamaine Ortiz and Josh Taylor.
Stevenson will have his sights firmly set on stopping Lopez in his tracks however, as he bids to become a world champion in a fourth weight class at just 28-years-old.
