Tim Bradley Shares Honest Verdict on Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson: ‘I’m Going With Him’
Tim Bradley offered his take on the anticipated match between Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson.
Their potential showdown was first mooted in August, with the two fighters taking to social media to discuss the finer details of their deal.
But since then it appears a turbulent period of negotiations has only delayed an official announcement, with various reports suggesting they could face off in the first quarter of 2026.
If that comes to fruition, he’s expected to weigh in at 140 pounds, with Lopez, 22-1 (13 KOs), defending his WBO super lightweight title against Stevenson, 24-0 (11 KOs), whose last outing saw the southpaw completely outpoint William Zepeda in July.
In doing so, the 28-year-old managed to retain his WBC lightweight title after a voluntary defense against Josh Padley, who replaced Floyd Schofield Jr on just a few days’ notice, in February.
Now, however, Stevenson appears likely to pursue a more career-defining opportunity, hoping to win another major title in his fourth weight class.
It appears that Lopez, who defended his WBO title with a unanimous decision victory over Arnold Barboza Jr in May, is standing in the way of that feat.
Before that, “The Takeover” had racked up a string of far less inspiring performances, both of which paled in comparison to his two most notable victories over Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor.
But despite his less impressive form in recent years, former two-division world champion Bradley can see his potential clash with Stevenson providing a gripping spectacle.
While offering some analysis in a video on his YouTube channel, the American boxing expert also remained firm in his belief that Stevenson will have his hand raised.
“Shakur is constantly taking away your best shot, taking away your position. He makes sure he doesn’t give up any defense for offense.
This is the guy who takes the air out of the balloon. He’s one of those guys you hate. I want to see Teo in there with a guy who can outplay him.
With Shakur, he doesn’t have that athleticism; he doesn’t have that explosiveness like Teofimo Lopez. But, with Shakur, he knows how to follow a plan. I’m going with Shakur Stevenson.
With an official announcement expected imminently, it will soon become clear whether Bradley’s prediction turns out to be accurate or not.
