Lopez does not need rounds to settle. Stevenson usually does. That contrast defines the fight.
Lopez arrives as a two-division champion who has already handled pressure nights without losing structure. Stevenson brings a southpaw shell that drains time and narrows space. Lopez punches through guards and steps in behind his jab without overreaching. He closes distance without chasing.
Stevenson must keep his lead foot outside, touch the body to slow Lopez, and clinch clean when pressure gets inside. Any lapse invites a right hand down the pipe or a left hook off the break.
Timing remains Stevenson’s plus. The issue is practical. Can he hold ground without conceding position, or does the added size push him into longer clinches and referee warnings. Control still wins rounds. It costs more here.
What Lopez learned from southpaws before
Lopez stays composed against left-handers. He holds position long enough to draw the jab, then fires straight back. His best performances came against southpaws who tried to out-think him without moving his base. He keeps his feet under him, varies rhythm, and punches in short clusters that sway judges.
Against Stevenson, Lopez must resist lunging and trust steady output to stack rounds. This fight asks patience from both corners.
This edition of Rummy’s Corner will attempt to answer that question with a breakdown and preview of the upcoming showdown between Lopez and Stevenson. Please watch and enjoy the video. This is Rummy’s Corner (produced and narrated by Geoffrey Ciani).
Date: January 31
Start time: 5 pm local; 8 pm ET; 1 am UK
Streaming platform: DAZN PPV
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York
Fight card: Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson, Ring VI main event
