Terence Crawford has no problem with Shakur Stevenson calling himself the best on the planet. He actually supported the claim. When asked about Stevenson’s bragging, Crawford made it clear he agreed. He fully expects Shakur to prove that status against WBO light welterweight king Teofimo Lopez by winning in a manner that leaves no room for debate.
“Not at all. He’s the best boxer in the world,” Crawford said. “Tomorrow he’s going to show. There’s a lot of people who can say what they want, but tomorrow Shakur will beat Stevenson in a huge way.”
That approval is massive. This also puts Stevenson in a difficult spot.
The truth is, Stevenson hasn’t looked like a dominant force lately. His performances against William Zepeda, Artem Harutyunyan, Edwin De Los Santos and Josh Padley didn’t help his cause for being the top dog. He won those rounds and stayed safe, but he lacked the authority people expect from a pound-for-pound leader. All the old criticisms are still there.
Power is the biggest bottleneck. Stevenson could not stop opponents from pressing forward. He didn’t force them to abandon their game plans or change the energy of a fight. Even his hand speed is debated. Lopez hammered home that point all week, calling Stevenson “slow” and claiming that nice movement won’t be a factor once the punches start landing.
That’s why Crawford’s words carry so much weight. If Stevenson fails to show against Lopez, his claim to the throne becomes impossible to defend. Crawford expects a statement of total authority.
Lopez is a beat breaker. He beat a history of guys who were supposed to outclass him. While he looks beatable when his timing is off, he thrives on disrupting fighters who rely on polish. Stevenson has built his entire career on playing it safe and keeping his distance.
Against Lopez, that style faces a massive hurdle. Crawford is confident Stevenson will clear it up. If he does, the “best in the world” label is official. If he fails, everyone will remember these comments for all the wrong reasons.
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Last updated on 31/01/2026
