Following the conclusion of Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson, boxing might have a glimpse of a future pound-for-pound primary — a minimum of in response to Paulie Malignaggi.
The 45-year-old former two-weight world champion has carved out a revered function as a pundit and, like many, stays torn over the result of Lopez’s WBO super-lightweight title defence towards Stevenson at Madison Sq. Backyard on January 31.
The conflict caps a busy month for the game throughout what is often a quiet interval. For Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) and Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs), nevertheless, that is about way over a world title. It’s a defining second in a profession section that may form legacies and propel a fighter in direction of greatness.
FightHype just lately caught up with “Magic Man” Malignaggi to gauge his ideas on the intriguing match-up.
“It’s a troublesome combat. You wanna give Shakur the sting and I do however Teo is just not somebody to play with as a result of when he’s received his again to the wall he turns into essentially the most troublesome man to cope with and that’s when he’s received his finest performances.
“When folks really feel like he’s gonna win simple he’s received his worst performances. It’s a type of instances the place Teo might make it actually attention-grabbing.”
Each Lopez and Stevenson are already recognised as pound-for-pound skills — whether or not within the prime 10 or prime 20 stays open to debate — however Malignaggi believes one among them is destined for the very prime of the game.
“Shakur for me is a attainable pound-for-pound primary at one time but when there’s a man that could possibly be a risk to him it’s Teo.”
January 31 might settle the talk, or a minimum of push one man decisively nearer to boxing’s highest summit.
