Two-time world champion Regis Prograis has issued his verdict on Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson, predicting an unexpectedly comfortable night’s work for the winner.
The pair will lock horns at Madison Square Garden in New York on January 31, with Lopez making a fourth defence of his WBO super-lightweight belt.
A dominant points victory over Josh Taylor saw ‘The Takeover’ claim his world title in 2023, just under three years after he dethroned Vasyl Lomachenko at 135lbs.
Aside from those two performances, though, the 28-year-old has often struggled to produce his best work, particularly against Sandor Martin and Jamaine Ortiz at 140lbs.
Because of this, many believe that Stevenson’s consistency at the top level should see him become a four-division world champion later this month.
The Newark man does, after all, seem to possess several of the attributes – including an accurate and prolific southpaw jab – that are likely to cause Lopez problems.
Not only that but his last outing, a points victory over William Zepeda in July, saw Stevenson produce a dynamic blend of inside fighting and crafty footwork, suggesting that he is among the sport’s most versatile operators.
Because of these advantages, and indeed a spate of sub-par performances from Lopez, former super-lightweight ruler Prograis has predicted a clear points victory for Stevenson.
Speaking with Pro Boxing Fans, Prograis highlighted Lopez’s psychological state as a significant factor, even though he has been known to turn up on the biggest occasions.
“I’ve got Shakur, for sure. I think he wins it comfortably. Teo’s very good athletically but he’s weak-minded.
“You can see in some fights, he’s struggling. He does come up for big fights. Lomachenko – he came up; Josh Taylor – he came up.
“But a lot of fights he struggles in. And I think he struggles mentally with a lot of things. I think Shakur’s going to break him.
“The first two or three rounds, it might be a close fight. But then, after that, I feel like Shakur’s probably going to start stepping up and Teo’s going to try and hit him – and it’s not going to work.”
Prograis added that the counterpunching prowess of Stevenson should see him make considerable inroads, not quite doing enough to stop Lopez but certainly claim a points victory.
