Shakur Stevenson looks to take his star to the next level.
Shakur Stevenson takes some time to discuss his upcoming junior welterweight title fight with Teofimo Lopez, how it came together, and why he believes this is going to be his true coming out party. Shakur is already considered one of the most talented technical boxers in the sport right now, but looks to bolster his reputation even more in this fight against Teofimo. Here’s some of what he had to say below.
Shakur on making a fight with Teofimo
“I actually set this fight up and I honestly did it because I want to push myself. I know that Teo is a tremendous fighter, I know he’s on an extremely high level. I know that I can beat him but I know that this should be a tough test so I’m ready.”
On what other options he had on the table
“Lamont Roach…[Teofimo has the] bigger name and got the more accolades. He’s been undisputed before, won belts at 130, at 40. He’s just more accomplished so I know that that will be a better name on my resume.
“[The people] are absolutely right to have their opinion [that this will be a hard fight for me]. I already know this guy’s good, I done came up in the amateurs with him. I chose this for that reason. Like, I chose this because I wanted to challenge myself. I want to put myself in a situation where I’m able to raise my game up to another level, so that was my whole purpose.”
On having any concerns about fighting in Teofimo’s home city of New York
“He’s not from New York. But he’s not from New York. He probably was born in New York but being from New York is like I’m raised and I’m brought up in New York. And I known him for years and years and I always seen him out of Florida. Like, that’s where he was out of, Florida. So I don’t look at him like a fighter from New York.
“But do I got to be dominant? I think every fight that I set up, I want to be dominate. I don’t care who in front of me, I want to dominate. I want to beat you where judges don’t feel like they can rob me.”
On what a win over Teofimo does for his career
“I think it put me top five pound-for-pound. I think it puts me like one of the best fighters in my era. I think it just establish that I’m that guy.”
Category: General Sports
