By: Sean Crose
They’re each glorious fighters, however just one can emerge victorious. There’s a cause why this Saturday’s throwdown between WBC junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez and light-weight king Shakur Stevenson has offered out Madison Sq. Backyard – it’s a giant deal. There’s much more using at stake right here than a world title. Each Lopez and Stevenson are clearly large names throughout the sport, however there’s an opportunity one will emerge an outright star this weekend. And whereas it won’t have the makings of an Aaron Pryor-Alexis Arguello model junior welterweight thriller, it guarantees an attention-grabbing conflict of types nonetheless.
At 24 years of age, Stevenson has solely stopped 11 opponents in a profession that has spanned 24 fights. That’s as a result of knockouts don’t make up a lot of Stevenson’s repertoire. The person depends on a single easy technique which to date has led to victory after victory: Hit and Not Get Hit. To look at the person within the ring is to look at a virtually pure type of fluidity. He slips out of vary, lands in mixtures, and dominates by utilizing a superb southpaw jab.
A examine of Lopez is a little more sophisticated. The fighter often known as The Takeover began out as a knockout machine, ending fights with thudding energy whereas drawing consideration as one of many brasher practitioners of a really brash sport. An upset win over Vasyl Lomachenko about 5 years again put Lopez approach up on boxing’s Mount Olympus. But a subsequent beautiful defeat on the gloved arms of George Kambosos put a sudden cease to the person’s momentum. A pile of wins have returned Lopez to – or practically to – his excessive perch. He’s an especially expert fighter, Lopez, one thing that compensates for his seeming lack of energy now that he fights at junior welterweight.
So who wins on Saturday night time? I could also be laughed out of the battle writing enterprise for this, however I favor Lopez. Why? As a result of he’s larger and stronger than Stevenson. Extra importantly, nevertheless, is the actual fact Lopez is a terrific counterpuncher. Responding successfully to Stevenson’s flurries ought to alleviate the pace benefit Stevenson brings into the ring. Bear in mind, Stevenson has by no means fought at this weight earlier than. He’s additionally by no means confronted an opponent of Lopez’ caliber. It would merely be a case of an excessive amount of unexpectedly for Stevenson. As long as he stays constant all through the bout, I believe the night time will belong to Lopez, courtesy of a break up resolution victory.
