Josh Taylor Evaluates Teofimo Lopez’s Punch Power Before Stevenson Fight
Josh Taylor, a former undisputed champion, has analyzed Teofimo Lopez’s punching power ahead of Lopez’s upcoming fight with Shakur Stevenson. This bout is scheduled for Saturday and will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York. Lopez, who is defending his WBO world title for the fourth time, aims to showcase his skills following a decisive win over Taylor earlier this year.
Key Background on Teofimo Lopez
Teofimo Lopez, 28, first gained recognition by defeating Vasyl Lomachenko in 2020. However, he faced an unexpected defeat against George Kambosos Jr before bouncing back to defeat Taylor. The win against Taylor, a notable fighter in the 140lbs division, allowed Lopez to grab the WBO title. The victory was significant, as Taylor was previously regarded as the top fighter in that weight class.
Taylor’s Assessment of Lopez’s Power
In an interview with El-Balad, Taylor spoke candidly about Lopez’s abilities. He acknowledged Lopez’s physical strength but expressed doubts about his punching power. According to Taylor, while Lopez is a strong athlete, he did not feel threatened by his punches during their match.
- “It’s not really like he’s got much power,” Taylor stated.
- “He hit me with some big shots and I just walked through them.”
- Taylor mentioned he had faced harder hitters in his career.
Impact of Lopez’s Power on Stevenson’s Chances
Taylor suggested that Lopez’s punching power may not be a concern for Stevenson. He pointed out that while Lopez possesses physical strength, it is unclear how effective it will be against the skilled technician that Stevenson is known to be.
Stevenson will enter the ring moving up from 135lbs, which may put him at a size disadvantage. Despite this, he remains confident about his abilities and plans to return to lightweight to defend his WBC title after the match with Lopez.
In summary, while Taylor has raised questions about Lopez’s punching power, the outcome of the fight will ultimately depend on various factors, including each fighter’s strategy and skill set. As Lopez prepares to defend his title, all eyes are on this weekend’s clash at Madison Square Garden.
