Shakur Stevenson labeled Teofimo Lopez “delusional” today for believing he’s going to be victorious in their officially announced fight on January 31, 2026, in New York City.
Teo’s Confidence Triggered Him
The challenger Stevenson believes that WBO light welterweight champion Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) isn’t seeing things correctly because he’s not admitting that he’s facing a superior fighter that is “levels above” him. The two are headlining on DAZN.
Teofimo is going to have to make it ugly for him to win, as Shakur will box, move, and tie up all night as he did in his last fight against William Zepeda last July. Lopez isn’t going to outbox him, and it’s going to be next to impossible for him to land headshots with the ostrich bird defense that Stevenson uses.
“He’s very delusional. It’s a good delusion,” said Shakur Stevenson to Ring Magazine, reacting to Teofimo Lopez believing he can win their January 31st fight. “He actually believes he’s the greatest thing that boxing has ever created.
“It’s a good delusion, but I’m in your way. So, with your great delusional thinking, how are you going to deal with another guy that thinks the same exact way?” said Shakur with his rambling, repetitive comment.
Teofimo Won’t Wave the White Flag
What does Shakur expect Teo to act like? Does he think he should wave the white flag of surrender before the fight, bowing down to him and admitting that he’s going to lose? Of course, Lopez believes he’s going to win. He wouldn’t be taking the fight if he didn’t view this victory already in the bag.
The only fight of Lopez’s career that he didn’t go into as the favorite was against Vasily Lomachenko in 2020. In that one, Teo had a massive size and youth advantage against the former featherweight champion Loma.
On paper, this is Stevenson’s toughest fight of his career, as he’s not faced anyone near the level of the former two-division world champion Lopez. The Newark, New Jersey native Stevenson’s former promoters at Matchroom and Top Rank did a good job of keeping him shielded up until now.
