Teofimo made a BOK-level foul against Shakur

Tim Bradley lectured Teofimo Lopez on social media for choosing to fight his WBO light welterweight title against the “GOAT” Shakur Stevenson next. He sees it as an unwinnable fight for Teofimo (22-1, 13 KOs), and says he should have fought Devin Haney when he had the chance.

Lopez’s fight against Shakur (24-0, 11 KOs) was announced yesterday to headline DAZN PPV on January 31, 2026 in New York. Stevenson (28) moves up from 135 to challenge Teo for his WBO belt.

Why Shakur is all wrong for Teo

Bradley says Shakur has already figured out Teofimo’s style and knows he’s going to win. So he agreed to fight him. When Stevenson isn’t sure of victory, he doesn’t take those fights.

There are fighters at 140 that would be a nightmare matchup for Stevenson, guys like Jamaine Ortiz, Gary Antuanne Russell, Subriel Matias and Ernesto Mercado. But with Lopez, he is predictable, throws one punch at a time, slow, and has slow feet. He was made to order for Shakur.

“The Haney fight probably would have suited you better, but now you’re going to fight another GOAT, another generation of this generation,” Tim Bradley said. social mediatalk about Teofimo Lopez making a mistake by not fighting Devin Haney instead of Shakur Stevenson.

Haney Fight: The Missed Window

It was a missed opportunity for Lopez not to fight Haney in 2025. Teo and Haney were in negotiations to fight at a catchweight of 145 pounds in August 2025. Lopez abruptly broke off the talks. His co-manager Keith Connolly told Ring Magazine that Teofimo chose not to fight for “personal reasons that I will keep confidential.”

“It’s going to be a problem, big dog. I’m letting you know, and your fans know too, because Teofimo Lopez, you don’t beat Shakur Stevenson. I know your habits. He knows your habits. He already knows how to beat you. That last fight didn’t convince you?” said Bradley.

Regret looms for Team Lopez

If Lopez loses this fight, he’s going to be filled with regret and kicking himself for choosing to fight the defensive-oriented Shakur. Of all fighters, why would Teo want to fight this man?

It’s the wrong style for the way he fights. If he had the ability of Antuanne Russell, Jamaine Ortiz, Mercado or Matias, it would be understandable that he would want to fight Shakur. But with his easy-to-figure-out style, he’s going to be an easy mark for Stevenson.