A two-weight world champion has sent a word of warning to Shakur Stevenson ahead of a potential showdown between the duo.
Stevenson made his latest ring appearance back in July when he defeated highly-rated Mexican contender William Zepeda via unanimous decision at the conclusion of their bout in New York City.
The 28-year-old currently holds the WBC lightweight title, defending his crown for the third time against Zepeda in what has been regarded as the best performance of his professional career to date.
It has been speculated over the last month that Stevenson is in line to make the move up to super-lightweight early next year, with reports suggesting that his next opponent will be WBO super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez.
Speaking on the Last Stand Podcast, Lopez shared his thoughts on a potential match-up with countryman Stevenson, as he claims he believes he is capable of handing the three-weight world champion the first defeat of his career.
“Shakur is slow. He’s slow. I saw him at lightweight, I saw highlights of his last fight with Zepeda and he’s slow. He’s really slow. There’s nothing more to it than that.
“I think that with everybody that he’s seeing and from his group, and from those that have been killing the game honestly, like Terence Crawford which he calls and refers to as big bro, I think that the whole thing of that nature, I think that’s really what’s keeping him wanting to aim for bigger and better fights and for better opposition.
“I have yet to see and I think you could attest with me, I don’t think that we have seen Shakur face anyone higher than who he’s gonna face next and that’s me.
“I think it’s really that time for him to take his first loss and me whoop his ass to the point where either he quits on the stool or I knock him out.”
Lopez was last in action earlier this year when he made the third successful defence of his WBO super-lightweight title, defeating mandatory challenger Arnold Barboza Jr via unanimous decision at the iconic Times Square in New York City on May 2.
A bout between Lopez and Stevenson would certainly excite the entire boxing world, and boxing legend James Toney has already made an emphatic prediction.
