Lopez showed against William Zepeda that he can push and take risks. None of this appeared here. Instead, he fought in bursts, often one punch at a time, and allowed Stevenson to dictate when exchanges occurred. When Teofimo did try to move forward, Stevenson slipped out of reach and started jabbing again. This produced long stretches where Stevenson landed cleanly, and Teofimo offered little response.
The middle rounds followed the same pattern. Lopez changed positions and tried to add pressure, but Stevenson stayed calm and continued to pick him apart. Stevenson’s timing was sharp, his defense tight, and his counters landed with regularity. Lopez occasionally landed body shots, but they came without volume and without risk.
Frustration showed. Lopez jumped out at times, landed punches and even drew attention for a headbutt in one round. None of that changed the flow of the fight. Stevenson never seemed rushed or uncomfortable. He fought at his own pace, often stepping back just far enough to make Lopez miss before touching him again with the jab or a short counter.
The late laps offered no stage. Stevenson maintained control, Teofimo kept trying to find an opening, and the gap on the scorecards only widened. By the championship rounds, the outcome was no longer in doubt. The only question was how wide the decision would be.
The judges answered it clearly.
Shakur improves to 25-0 and becomes a world champion at a third weight class. The win was clinical rather than dramatic, but it underscored the same point Stevenson has been making for years. If an opponent cannot force himself out of his comfort zone, the fight will look like this.
For Lopez, now 22-2, the loss was damaging. It was a fight meant to test Stevenson. Instead, it exposed how limited Lopez’s offense becomes when he hesitates. He never pushed himself, never took sustained risks, and never gave Stevenson a reason to change his approach.
The fight had star power and stakes. What it lacked was tension. Stevenson made sure of that, and by the end Lopez looked less beaten than neutralized.
