Teofimo Lopez Sr. does not put much stock in two of Shakur Stevenson’s divisional titles because they came with vacant belts on the line. His argument misses one important detail. Shakur is already a four-division world champion.
Lopez Sr. made his point while discussing his son’s August 22 challenge of WBA welterweight champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero in Las Vegas. Teofimo can capture a belt in a third weight class by beating Romero.
“This fight is about Teofimo Lopez trying to get the world title again, become a real three-division world champion. No vacant belts,” Lopez Sr. said to Fighthype. “Shakur got like two vacant belts, right? So, to me, he’s not a real three-division world champion. My son is going to do it the right way. We’re going to go straight to the champion. No vacant belt.”
Stevenson has actually won world titles across four divisions. His first came against Joet Gonzalez for the vacant WBO featherweight belt in 2019. He then stopped reigning WBO junior lightweight champion Jamel Herring in 2021 before defeating Edwin De Los Santos for the vacant WBC lightweight title in November 2023.
The fourth belt is difficult for Lopez Sr. to dismiss under his own standard. Shakur took the WBO light welterweight title from Teofimo in January, giving him two divisional championships won by defeating reigning titleholders.
Lopez Sr. also criticized Shakur’s fighting style and questioned how much further Stevenson can climb through the weight classes.
“I would love to fight him again. Let’s hope that we can get him before we move up too high,” Lopez Sr. said. “I don’t think Shakur can go up in the weight divisions. He’s too chinny. He doesn’t like to get hit. He’s a boring fighter.”
He believes Teofimo fought the wrong fight against Shakur. In his view, Teofimo should have boxed from the back foot instead of following the southpaw to his right all night.
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Last Updated on 2026/08/12 at 3:24 AM
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