Shakur’s Brave But Too Slow And Protected

Teofimo Lopez says he “commends” Shakur Stevenson for showing courage to face him at 140 in 2026. He states that Shakur (24-0, 11 KOs) is attempting to follow in the footsteps of his “big bro,” Terence Crawford, by aspiring to take on bigger fights.

“About Time” Stevenson Fights a Real Threat

WBO light welterweight champion Teofimo (22-1, 13 KOs) states that Stevenson lacks the hand speed, talent, and power to follow the blueprint of his mentor, Crawford.

He labels the Newark, New Jersey native, Shakur, as “slow” and powerless. However, Lopez does respect the courage and ambition that Stevenson is showing by “stepping up to the plate” to face him in 2026. Lopez says it’s “About time” that Shakur faces a talented opponent, as he’s never fought anyone who posed a threat to him since turning professional in 2017, following his loss to Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez in the 2016 Olympics.

The Apex Fights Shakur Should Have Taken

In other words, Teofimo believes that Shakiur has been protected by his promoters, Top Rank and Matchroom, in the pro ranks. That’s not just on them, though. Stevenson has the cache to have insisted that they match him against these apex predators if he were truly interested in following the blueprint of his ‘Big bro’ Crawford to rise to his higher powers:

• Andy Cruz
• Ernesto Mercado
• Abdullah Mason
• Floyd Schofield
• Raymond Muratalla

Lopez: Shakur Is “Slow, Really Slow” at 135

“I seen him at lightweight in his last fight against [William] Zepeda, and he’s slow, really slow. There’s nothing more to it than that,” said Teofimo Lopez on commentator Brian Custer’s YouTube channel, talking about WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson’s last fight against William Zepeda at 135 on July 12, 2025.

Many boxing fans have echoed Teofimo’s observation about Shakur’s lack of hand speed. They’ve said the same thing about him. Stevenson lacks the blazing hand speed of talents like Andy Cruz and Floyd Schofield at 135.

Protected by Promoters, Not Tested by Predators

Stevenson has managed to get by with matchmaking, which has been the perfect cover for his lack of speed and power. Instead of Matchroom and Top Rank throwing Shakur in the sharks since turning pro, they’ve kept him in the shallows against these minnows:

• Josh Padley
• Artem Harutyunyan
• Shuichiro Yoshino
• Jeremia Nakathila
• Toka Kahn Clary

Teofimo Predicts a Humbling at 140

“Terence Crawford, which he refers to as ‘Big bro,’ I think that’s what’s really keeping him for wanting to aim for bigger and better fights and for better opposition,” said Teofimo about Shakur. “I commend him for stepping up to the plate, and I think it’s time for him to take his first loss. For me to whoop his a** to the point where he quits on his stool or I knock him out.”

Teo is right. Shakur is finally showing some backbone after all these years, but it doesn’t look good for him. His last fight against William Zepeda, earlier this year on July 12th, highlighted the flaws in his game. Stevenson lacks the hand speed and power to survive against fighters with killer power and speed.