Is Beating Teofimo Lopez Enough To Make Shakur Stevenson Top-5 P4P?

Teofimo at 140

The titles that Lopez won at 140 were against Josh Taylor, who was coming off a questionable win over Jack Catterall, and has now lost three fights in a row. Teofimo just barely edged Taylor by a 12-round unanimous decision, and didn’t look good in his last fight against Arnold Barboza Jr. last May.

Lopez hasn’t shown the same level of performance at light welterweight as he did at 135, when he had the size advantage over his opposition.

“Choose this fight to challenge myself, Daring to be great, and I’m going to do it the only way to true greatness is through high risk.. These moments will turn me into a legend, let’s get it!! #ShakurTeofimo,” said Shakur Stevenson on X about his title fight against Teofimo Lopez

“For me and my family, I want to eat forever. For sure, no question,” said Shakur to the Breadkfast Club 105.1 about the money he’ll be getting for his fight against Teofimo Lopez on January 31st.

“I think it would take me to a whole another level,” said Stevenson on what a victory over Teofimo would do for his career. “On that pound-for-pound, you got to put me in that top five after I beat Teo.”

What a Win Really Means

Beating Teofimo wouldn’t take Shakur’s career to a “Whole other level” in the true sense. It would be superficial smoke and mirrors, fighting a guy who has looked like a shell of the fighter he once was since moving up to 140.

Hardcore fans who follow the sport closely and examine opposition, as Nation Vegas does, can easily see that Lopez hasn’t been fighting the best ever since he arrived at light welterweight. Turki Alalshikh would be doing fans a real solid if he insisted Shakur fight Gary Antuanne Russell or Subriel Matias. Those two hold belts at 140 and are fighting at a high level.

“I feel like Teo should have been undisputed. This guy is accomplished and is going to be one of the best fighters on my resume,” said Stevenson about Lopez.

What Shakur is talking about is Teofimo defeating the WBA/WBO/WBC Franchise lightweight champion Vasily Lomachenko in 2020, and not being given credit for being the undisputed champion. He didn’t capture the regular WBC 135-lb belt, which Devin Haney held at the time.

Has Lopez Slipped?

It wouldn’t have mattered if Teofimo had captured the undisputed five years ago. The reality is that he hasn’t looked like the same fighter since he moved up to 140 in 2021. Lopez lost to George Kambosos, who was involved in two controversial decisions against Jamaine Ortiz and Sandor Martin.

Better Tests at 140

More importantly, Teofimo has chosen for whatever reason not to fight these high-level fighters:

Ernesto Mercado
Gary Antuanne Russell
Richardson Hitchins
Alberto Puello
Subriel Matias
Keyshawn Davis

It doesn’t make Shakur pound-for-pound top five worthy if he beats Teofimo. He’s not shown that he’s among the best at light welterweight because he’s chosen not to fight the top guys.

Lopez’s selection of Pedro Campa, Sandor Martin, Josh Taylor, Arnold Barboza Jr., and Steve Claggett suggests that he’s been protecting his career by facing lesser threats. If Shakur wants to get added to the P4P list, he should focus on fighting the above untouchable list above, starting with Ernesto Mercado. Let’s see how Shakur does against him.