Diaz, an undefeated bantamweight who spent time sparring Shakur Stevenson, believes the fight settles into a cautious rhythm early and stays there. A lot of Japs. Very few risks. Lots of patience from both sides.
Shakur is usually content to touch and move, pick spots and just stay out of harm’s way. Diaz believes that approach intensifies even more against Teofimo Lopez, whose power changes how clean exchanges are judged. The safer choice becomes distance, not volume.
“I’ve backed Shakur before, and I do think he wins,” Diaz said Battle hype. “I think it’s going to be a more boring fight than people believe.”
That boredom, according to Diaz, comes from respect rather than caution alone. He doesn’t expect Lopez to land much clean offense. Nor does he expect Stevenson to open up in ways that invite trouble. The result is a battle fought at arm’s length.
“They’re both great fighters, but I think that’s exactly why it gets boring,” Diaz said. “I think it’s going to be a boring duel because they’re so intelligent. One won’t want to make a mistake, and the other one won’t want to make a mistake either.”
Diaz believes these types of fights tend to favor Stevenson. When exchanges stay measured and space controlled, Shakur usually finds a way to edge rounds without giving much back. Lopez can pressure, but pressure without openings can become a long night.
“There’s not going to be much room for action, and we know who wins those fights,” Diaz said. “It’s Shakur.”
That prediction may frustrate fans expecting drama, but it has to do with how high-level fights often play out. Intelligence slows down everything. Skill shrinks margins. This one feels less like a spectacle and more like a technical exercise, and it usually points in one direction.
