Hall of Fame inductee James Toney has shared his verdict on the potential match-up between Shakur Stevenson and Teofimo Lopez.
It has been speculated over the last couple of weeks that Stevenson is set to make the move up to super-lightweight to challenge countryman Lopez for his WBO world title in the early stages of 2026.
Stevenson made his most recent ring appearance on July 12 when he defeated Mexico’s previously unbeaten William Zepeda via unanimous decision at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York, making the third successful defence of his WBC lightweight title in the process.
As for Lopez, the 28-year-old from Brooklyn last fought back in May when he comprehensively defeated mandatory challenger Arnold Barboza Jr via unanimous decision at Times Square in New York City, defending his WBO super-lightweight title for the third time.
The proposed clash has already garnered plenty of debate within the boxing world, and now three-weight world champion Toney has chimed in with a brutal verdict.
Speaking to Mill City Boxing, Toney brandished Stevenson as ‘disrespectful’ as he claims Lopez will defeat the unbeaten American star when they inevitably clash next year.
“Man you know what? I’m not talking about Shakur Stevenson … The guy is disrespectful, to me, in my era he’d get crushed, crushed up, f**ked up, and Teo will beat him.”
Lopez finds himself in arguably the best form of his professional career, four years on from suffering the only defeat of his career to George Kambosos Jr who dethroned him of his unified WBA, WBO and IBF lightweight titles in November 2021.
Stevenson has set his sights on becoming a four-weight world champion and proving himself to be one of the best fighters on the planet when he faces ‘The Takeover’, after receiving criticism for his choice of opponents in the last few years.
