Coach Bernie Davis says the explanation Shakur Stevenson has chosen Teofimo Lopez over Subriel Matias at 140 to chase a belt is as a result of he needed to battle a “famous person.” He charges Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) as becoming the label of a “famous person.”
(Credit score: Golden Boy)
Did Shakur Play It Protected at 140?
Insiders suspect that Shakur (24-0, 11 KOs) has noticed the plain vulnerability in Teofimo’s sport, noting his loss to George Kambosos, and his controversial wins at 140 towards Sandor Martin and Jamaine Ortiz.
Teo is seen because the weakest of the champions at gentle welterweight by some followers. They view Shakur as calculated along with his alternative of him over Matias, Gary Antuanne Russell, and Richardson Hitchins.
“Shakur desires all one of the best fights. He’s a sharpshooter, a defensive wizard, and might you clear up this puzzle?” stated coach Bernie Davies to MillCity Boxing about Shakur Stevenson. “This man is unbeatable.”
If Stevenson desires one of the best fighters, why has he chosen to not battle Andy Cruz, Ernesto Mercado, Raymond Muratalla, Abdullah Mason, or rescheduled towards Floyd Schofield? Shakur’s resume is mediocre.
The Newark, New Jersey native, Stevenson, definitely isn’t unbeatable. We noticed in his final battle towards William Zepeda and his match towards Edwin De Los Santos that he’s a lot beatable. Many followers had him shedding to each fighters. He ran from De Los Santos and was booed out of the T-Cell Area in Las Vegas along with his 12-round unanimous resolution in November 2023.
The ‘Celebrity’ Phantasm at 140
“Matias has already bought a battle already. Teofimo, they linked in. They the younger boys,” stated Bernie when requested why Shakur isn’t concentrating on WBA gentle welterweight champion Subriel Matias fairly than Teofimo at 140. “They’re younger superstars. It’s a famous person battle. Shakur desires a famous person battle.”
If Shakur desires a famous person to validate him artificially, he’s selecting the flawed fighter as a result of Teofimo doesn’t meet the requirements to be labeled as such. Matias did lose to Liam Paro, however that’s a battle he ought to have received if the referee had penalized the Australian for fixed shoving, holding, and rabbit punches. Paro used all three of these ways to neutralize Matias’ offense, and the referee didn’t elevate a finger to dock him factors.
“He simply beat Zepeda. He’s [Stevenson] a famous person man. He wants a famous person battle. Teofimo additionally has a Ring Journal championship. He additionally has an excellent win over Lomachenko. He has an excellent win over Josh Taylor. So, it’s a famous person battle. Subriel Matias isn’t a famous person,” stated Bernie.
A greater argument for maybe the actual purpose why Shakur selected Teofimo over Matias is that he’s a extra winnable battle. Lopez has struggled since shifting as much as 140 in 2022 and has solely been saved from having his profession sink to the underside as a result of his promoters at High Rank propping him up with cautious matchmaking.
The ‘Basic Inhabitants’ Take a look at
If they’d put Teofimo in the overall inhabitants, he’d have imploded and can be prepared for the junk heap. The fighters that might have sunk Lopez’s profession by now at 140″
- Gary Antuanne Russell
- Richardson Hitchins
- Ernesto Mercado
- Keyshawn Davis
- Subriel Matias
- Alberto Puello
Shakur would seemingly lose to all or most of these fighters as properly. He doesn’t have the facility to deal with these kinds of fighters, and will barely lower it towards William Zepeda. He doesn’t possess the bodily instruments to beat the apex fighters at 140 or 135.
Certainly, Matias isn’t a famous person, however for Berbie to make use of that as the explanation for Shakur’s alternative sounds 100% disengenuous or, on the very least, ignorant. Teofimo isn’t a famous person both. He’s a fighter who misplaced to George Kambosos Jr. and deserved to lose his battle towards Jamaine Ortiz on February 8, 2024.
The judges gave Lopez an in depth 12-round unanimous resolution, however many boxing followers noticed it as a blatant theft with the A-side fighter being given the victory over the less-known, much less marketable man.
Written by Nation Vegas, a Boxing Analyst protecting world title fights since 2013.
Final Up to date on 10/16/2025
