Tim Bradley lectured Teofimo Lopez on social media for choosing to defend his WBO light welterweight title against the “GOAT” Shakur Stevenson next. He views that as an unwinnable fight for Teofimo (22-1, 13 KOs), and says he should have fought Devin Haney when he had the chance.
Lopez’s fight against Shakur (24-0, 11 KOs) was announced yesterday for the headliner on DAZN PPV on January 31, 2026, in New York. Stevenson, 28, is moving up from 135 to challenge Teo for his WBO belt.
Why Shakur Is All Wrong for Teo
Bradley says that Shakur has already figured out Teofimo’s style and knows he’s going to win. That’s why he agreed to fight him. When Stevenson isn’t certain of victory, he doesn’t take those fights.
There are fighters at 140 that would be a nightmarish style match-up for Stevenson, guys like Jamaine Ortiz, Gary Antuanne Russell, Subriel Matias, and Ernesto Mercado. But with Lopez, he’s predictable, throws one punch at a time, slow, and has slow feet. He’s made to order for Shakur.
“The Haney fight probably would have been better-suited for you, but now you’re going to fight another GOAT, another generation of this generation,” said Tim Bradley on social media, talking about Teofimo Lopez having made a mistake by not fighting Devin Haney instead of Shakur Stevenson.
Haney Fight: The Missed Window
That was a missed opportunity for Lopez not to fight Haney in 2025. Teo and Haney were in negotiations to fight at a catchweight of 145 lbs in August 2025. Lopez abruptly broke off talks. His co-manager, Keith Connolly, told Ring Magazine that Teofimo chose not to take the fight for”personal reasons that I will keep confidential.”
“That’s going to be a problem, big dog. I’m letting you know, and your fans know, too, because Teofimo Lopez, you’re not beating Shakur Stevenson. I know your habits. He knows your habits. He already knows how to beat you. That last fight didn’t convince you?” said Bradley.
Regret Looming for Team Lopez
If Lopez loses this fight, he’s going to be filled with regret, kicking himself for choosing to fight the defensive-oriented Shakur. Of all fighters, why would Teo want to fight this guy?
It’s the wrong style for the way he fights. If he had the ability of Antuanne Russell, Jamaine Ortiz, Mercado, or Matias, it would be understandable that he would want to fight Shakur. But with his easy-to-figure-out style, he’s going to be an easy mark for Stevenson.