Teofimo Lopez, the two-weight world champion, wants big fights but doesn't want to face Shakur Stevenson. The 27-year-old from Brooklyn has his reasons, and they're not what you might expect.
Lopez currently holds the WBO super-lightweight title. He's calling out Terence Crawford for a fight, which would mean moving up two weight divisions. It's a bold move, but that's Lopez's style.
At 140 pounds, Lopez has options. He could unify against the winner of Liam Paro versus Richardson Hitchins. There's also top contender Jack Catterall in the mix. Big-money fights with Devin Haney or Ryan Garcia are possible too.
Looking at the 135-pound division, Gervonta Davis is a name that comes up. But when it comes to Shakur Stevenson, Lopez pumps the brakes.
In a recent interview with Front Row with Mack Rick, Lopez opened up about his reluctance to fight Stevenson:
"I'm serious about this, I just don't want to give him his first loss. It's not because he's this, he's that. No. We've all known each other since teenagers. I remember Shakur was there when I lost the finals of the National Golden Gloves. I was crying. But he had won that year. It was 2011. He came to the back and he was talking to me. I think on that level. He was there to give me some advice and pick my head up to keep moving forward. I think it'd be kind of messed up if I whoop that ass and give him that talk. If it comes around it comes around. If everybody thinks he's that guy then so be it."
It's a rare moment of sentimentality in the often cut-throat world of boxing. Lopez remembers a young Stevenson consoling him after a tough loss, and that memory sticks with him.
Stevenson, now the WBC Lightweight World Champion, has his own path to follow. He's made one successful title defense and plans to return in 2025 to face William Zepeda after pulling out of a bout against Joe Cordina due to a hand injury. There's talk of him moving up to 140 pounds in a year or so, which could put him on a collision course with Lopez.
Lopez's career has been on an upward trajectory. He shocked the boxing world by defeating Vasily Lomachenko and then Josh Taylor. Now, as he looks for his next big challenge, he's proving that in boxing, sometimes respect trumps rivalry.
As Lopez continues to navigate the landscape of potential opponents, fans will watch with interest. Will he stick to his guns about not fighting Stevenson? Or will the lure of another big fight prove too tempting? Only time will tell.
