Coach Buddy McGirt argues that Shakur Stevenson cannot rely on his usual potential style style if he opens against Theofimo Lopez in their planned match in early 2026.
Why volume -pons is essential
Theofimo (22-1, 13 CO’s) is also a potter fighter, but he is a bigger puncher. He also does not have crispy hands like the Newark, the indigenous Shakur in New Jersey (24-0, 11 COs). If their struggle involves a tactical pot shot fight, Lopez will conquer, because Stevenson’s weaker shots will not impress the judges.
McGirt says that Shakur, for Shakur to surpass the WBO lights of welterweight champion Theofimo, should focus on volume punch.
The fundamental problem is that Stevenson has never had a high return as amateur or a pro. He is from the Floyd Mayweather Jr. Potshot form of fights, and it may be impossible for Shakur to change his style at 28 after all the years of using the approach.
“Shakur has to throw more bumps and control the pace of battle. He can’t just rely on potshots and expects to clearly win against someone like theofimo every round,” coach Buddy McGirt said Millcity Boxing About Shakur Stevenson, who has to increase his peculiar production to defeat Theofimo Lopez in 2026.
Can Stevenson change his DNA?
To throw one shot at a time is Now in Stevenson’s DNA. If Shakur tries to turn away from the style against the much more powerful theofimo, he can be knocked out. It would break Stevenson as a fighter to change what is in his spiritual code.
We saw what happened to Shakur when he stood and fought in Queens, New York, William Zepeda on July 12, 2025. Zepeda worked on the ropes and landed countless shots.
What was interesting about the fight, except for the strange standings in favor of Shakur who did not match the actual competition, was what it looked like Zepeda dropped him in the third round. Not only did the referee fail to decide it as a knockout, but the judges gave Shakur the round. Zepeda worked Stevenson over the entire round and trapped him with shots of the machine gun, just to end the round against him
William Zepeda robbed of Knockdown – Ropes stopped Shakur Stevenson pic.twitter.com/2x58cnbutw
– El Guru (@PhymTommyGuru) September 29, 2025
“If Shakur wants to show, he’s the best, He must raise the volume, Close those rounds strong. He has the skills, but he has to let his hands go more to make it unmistakable, ‘McGirt says.
Nation Vegas’ Take: Shakur’s Potkot dwelling will bury him
Shakur is physically and mentally unable to pick up the volume without clearing the Aofimo and standing in the dirt. It would be suicide for Stevenson to use volume against theo. The style is a cul -de -sac for Shakur, and they will pick up the broken pieces of him if he tries to use it.
If Buddy was in his corner and ordered him to charge in No Man’s Land to confront Lopez on an open ground, he would be torn apart by the mighty Brooklyn, New York. Stevenson showed Zepeda that he did not have the chin to take a hard head shot if he was not beaten, and hid his head like an ostrich.
Shakur is fortunate that McGirt is not his coach because he knocked out if he pushed him to go on the attack and use volume against Lopez. The only way Stevenson can fight against Teo is to use the same running approach as he used to win a dubious 12-round decision against Edwin de Los Santos on November 16, 2023.
Written by Nation Vegas, a boxing analyst who has been covering world title fights since 2013.
Last updated on 09/30/2025
