World renowned trainer Robert Garcia has weighed in on a potential showdown between Shakur Stevenson and Teofimo Lopez.
It has been widely reported in the last couple of weeks that the American duo are in negotiations to face each other at some stage in the near future, although an agreement between them is yet to be finalised.
Stevenson currently reigns as the WBC lightweight champion, making the most recent 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 City.
As for Lopez, the 28-year-old from Brooklyn, New York currently holds the WBO super-lightweight title, making his most recent successful defence back in May when he defeated mandatory challenger and fellow countryman Arnold Barboza Jr via unanimous decision.
Speaking to ESNEWS, trainer Robert Garcia shared his thoughts on the potential match-up between Stevenson and Lopez, as he admits he ‘loves’ the idea of the American duo locking horns with one another in the near future and picks Lopez to get the victory.
“Man, I love that fight, I love that fight but I don’t know, I pick Teofimo … I like Teofimo, that’s why, because I like him, you know, Shakur’s cool too but I think Teofimo, with his Dad, I kind of get along very well, but Shakur is very respectful, him and his team are very respectful so I hate to go against him.
Talent wise Shakur is probably better but I just like Teofimo’s heart and mentality, more like a true warrior.”
Lopez and Stevenson have been going back and forth on social media in recent weeks, with Shakur claiming he has signed his side of the deal and is just waiting for Lopez to do the same.
