Shakur Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs) recently secured the junior welterweight titles after an impressive showdown against Teofimo Lopez (22-2, 13 KOs). But this victory came as no surprise to Josh Taylor.
Talking to the Ring Magazine, Taylor revealed that while Lopez showcased an impressive performance, he wasn’t surprised by the outcome.
“I thought it was very good, I knew it was gonna happen because of my experience with Teo myself. Stevenson was very good; he stood in the pocket and used his defense and patient boxing. It sounds stupid, but he was patient but aggressive. He was very sharp with the counters; he was stepping to him, he wasn’t moving around too much, and created angles. It was good to watch,” he said.
Taylor’s statement also comes with an ounce of personal experience. He fought Lopez at Madison Square Garden in 2023, albeit unsuccessfully. So he knows exactly what Lopez brings, be it his explosive counters, his power, timing, or his sheer intensity. Meanwhile, Taylor also has firsthand experience of Lopez’s volatility, in which he showcases bursts of power-packed pugilism rather than sustained intensity.
From a stylistic standpoint, Stevenson is the kind of fighter who can neutralize that. He doesn’t overreach, doesn’t give clean counter windows, and thrives against aggressive punchers who need rhythm. Meanwhile, Taylor hopes that Stevenson will find an opponent who will properly challenge him. In fact, he even has a few potential options in mind.
“He’s very good, we’re still to find someone who is to properly take him into the trenches and make him think and adjust mid-fight,” he said. “I’ve not seen much out there to challenge him. I can’t see anyone beating him around that weight class. There’s Haney there, Ryan Garcia, there’s still a few fighters who could make big fights.”
“I’ll Tell You All A Fighter”
Meanwhile, Tim Bradley might just have a fighter in mind. On his YouTube channel, he named one fighter he believed would give Stevenson a run for his money.
“I’ll tell y’all a fighter that can get with Shakur,” he said. “I’m not saying he can beat Stevenson, just someone that’s on his level. His name is O’Shaquie Foster. He’s on his level. O’Shaquie Foster should be on the pound-for-pound list.”
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