The fight showed that Stevenson struggled to match volume when opponents committed to three and four hitting streaks. During Ramírez’s combination attacks, Stevenson often responded by holding back several feet rather than engaging. That choice reduced his scoring opportunities and allowed Ramírez to control the rhythm. In a short amateur format, pure defense did not carry enough weight with the judges.
What has and hasn’t changed since Rio
Stevenson has since refined his professional style, but the basic dynamic remains familiar. Fighters who rely on single shots have had little success against him. William Zepeda, Josh Padley and Artem Harutyunyan largely attacked one punch at a time. Stevenson blocked, slid and countered them with ease.
That context is important when considering Teofimo Lopez. Lopez is not a natural combination puncher like Ramírez was as an amateur. Asking him to fully replicate that approach will be a stretch. Still, the underlying idea may be more useful than his recent tendency to load up on isolated power shots.
The risk and reward of chasing combinations
Lopez already carries a clear power advantage. His hand speed is comparable. By leaning into short combinations rather than single shots, Stevenson can give more processing and reduce his ability to reset and control distance.
Lopez is scheduled to defend his WBO light welterweight title against Stevenson on January 31, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. This will be Stevenson’s first fight at 140 pounds, which adds another unknown. How much that old Olympic blueprint still holds will depend on whether Lopez is willing and able to commit to it.
