Teofimo Lopez says the rationale he doesn’t need to battle light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson is as a result of he noticed how he was suicidal after a loss in 2015 on the Nationwide Golden Gloves in Las Vegas.
Lopez says Shakur wished to go to the highest of the resort and “soar off.” Teofimo provides that he doesn’t need to have the “blood” on his fingers if Shakur falls aside after shedding to him and takes his personal life.
Followers noticed Shakur cry after his defeat within the 2016 Olympic finals in opposition to Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez. He was all damaged up after that defeat. The judges weren’t into giving Shakur a win after he was outworked by a younger Robeisy, who was on the assault your complete battle, outslugging him.
That battle confirmed the blueprint for defeating Shakur: attacking him relentlessly, chasing him down, and never letting him win rounds along with his low output.
“I ain’t attempting to offer that man his 1st loss. I’ll let any individual else take that,” mentioned Teofimo Lopez to the Come and Discuss to Me channel about why he’s not fascinated by preventing Shakur Stevenson.
“I’ve seen Shakur lose within the amateurs. This one time in Vegas, Nationwide Golden Gloves 2015, Shakur misplaced to Ruben Villa, after which he wished to go to the resort’s rooftop and soar off. I ain’t attempting to have precise blood in my fingers.”
Teofimo fights at 140 now, and he’s large for that weight class. In making weight for Teofimo’s final battle in opposition to Steve Claggett on June twenty ninth, he appeared badly drained and carried out poorly, struggling to beat the perimeter contender by a 12-round unanimous choice in a battle nearer than the judges’ scores.
Shakur seems large for the 135-lb division, however his lack of energy makes it near-impossible for him to maneuver as much as 140 to battle the stronger punchers like Teofimo, Alberto Puello, Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela and Liam Paro. These guys hit too arduous and can be troublesome for Shakur to deal with.
Stevenson had latest hand surgical procedure, however he’s anticipated to defend his WBC light-weight title in opposition to William Zepeda in February. That will likely be a really troublesome battle for Shakur as a result of Zepeda is a strain fighter who can punch and has a excessive output. Furthermore, Zepeda cuts off the ring nicely and walks by punches to land his highly effective physique pictures. He’s kryptonite for runners.
