Teofimo vs Shakur: Which Teo Will Show Up?

The Ring 6 fight card features a highly anticipated main event as Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) will defend his WBO and The Ring Super Lightweight world titles against undefeated WBC Lightweight World Champion Shakur Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs).

This will be a battle between two elite fighters who are both in their physical primes. The action will take place on Saturday night, January 31st in Madison Square Garden.

When highly skilled 28-year-old ring technician Shakur Stevenson steps into the squared circle, we already know what to expect. Fight fans are going to see an elite jab, excellent footwork, sharp combinations, excellent punch placement and high level defense.

28-year-old Teofimo Lopez is a multi-division world champion who is strong and athletic. Lopez is considered elite, but from fight to fight, the ultimate question is, which Teo will show up?

In October 2020, the brilliant version of Teofimo Lopez was on display when he faced the then unified lightweight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko. In the first half of the fight, Lopez set the pace as he used his jab and landed power shots to the head and body.

Lomachenko came back over the course of the second half of the contest as he continued to outbox Lopez. However, Lopez was able to keep his composure, finish strong and claim a signature win.

After defeating a top-ranked Lomachenko, Lopez was king, but a year later he would be knocked off his throne. With 16 seconds left in the opening round, George Kambosos Jr. connected with an overhand right that sent Lopez to the canvas.

Lopez returned the favor in the tenth when he landed a right hand that floored Kambosos. The Lopez vs. Kambosos fight was a tough fight, but in the end, Kambosos was awarded the win by split decision.

After suffering his first professional loss, Lopez bounced back when he moved up to 140 and stopped Pedro Campa in the seventh round. In his next fight, Lopez looked mediocre, but he got the decision over Sandor Martin.

Six months later, in June 2023, Teofimo Lopez looked brilliant again when he dominated Josh Taylor and won the WBO and Ring Magazine super-lightweight titles. After the impressive outing, Lopez put in a poor performance in his win over Jamaine Ortiz.

In his last two ring appearances, Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez has achieved some admirable victories. On Saturday night, January 31, boxer-puncher Lopez will face the ultimate test when he fights master boxer Shakur Stevenson.

Teofimo Lopez is extremely talented and very entertaining, but ever since he lost to Kambosos, fight fans always have to wonder which Teo will show up in the ring? Will we see Brilliant Teo or Mediocre Teo?

On the night of January 31st, when Brilliant Teo enters the ring, we’re going to see an exciting back-and-forth split decision fight. If Mediocre Teo steps inside the squared circle, it’s possible we could see a 12-0 game in favor of Shakur Stevenson.