Former two-weight world champion Zab Judah expects one man to “overwhelm” the other when Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson meet on January 31.
Lopez will defend his WBO super lightweight title at New York’s Madison Square Garden, a venue where Brooklyn-born Judah fought four times, winning twice and losing twice.
Fellow Brooklynite Lopez begins his fourth title defense as a slight underdog against Stevenson, who is aiming to become a four-weight world champion. While many are predicting a finely balanced tactical fight, Judah told MillCity Boxing that he thinks the fight could prove one-sided.
“Annihilation. Decapitation. I feel like Teo is a very dominant force, but I think Shakur Stevenson’s skills will overwhelm Teo. He’s never seen this type of action before.”
With the retirement of Terence Crawford leaving a vacancy near the top of boxing’s pound-for-pound rankings, a dominant performance from Stevenson could elevate him higher than ever – particularly if he handles Lopez in the manner that Judah suggests.
Despite expectations that the Jan. 31 showdown will be a chess match, Judah hopes both fighters will fully commit and leave the ring knowing nothing has been left behind.
“Teo is not going to back down. Shakur is not going to back down. We are going to have an exciting 12-round fight, or however long that lasts.
“I’m just begging both guys to come out there and leave everything they have in that ring.”
The Lopez-Stevenson undercard was also announced and features two world title fights. Carlos Adames defends his WBC middleweight title against Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams, while another Brooklyn native, Bruce Carrington, takes on Carlos Castro for the vacant WBC featherweight belt. Former lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis also returns to super lightweight against Jamaine Ortiz.
