Ahead of Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson, Lopez has revealed his mindset going into the fight.
Lopez admitted some issues he faced throughout his career he feels he’s now overcome before his title defence against Stevenson.
Ahead of his return on January 31st, Lopez has lost just one fight in his career.
That loss came in November 2021, at Madison Square Garden against George Kambosos Jr.
Lopez spoke to DAZN Boxing about that loss and how it affected him.
“Especially when I am so passionate at what I have found that I am really good at.
“To see me not perform to that excellence that I am expecting out of myself as well, of course I ran away.”
He admitted for a while he felt the need to almost hide from the public after his loss.
“I ran away a lot of times.
“I didn’t want them to see my face because I was disgusted within myself.
“There was something within me that I hated.”
Despite going on an impressive winning run since the loss with wins over fighters like Josh Taylor, Sandor Martin and Arnold Barber Jr, Lopez admitted some of those feelings still arise today.
He explained he views those doubts about himself different to in the past and how he now uses them to motivate him to succeed.
“Parts of it still come back and forth even at this age of 28 but I don’t run away and I embrace it now.”
Lopez was last in action on the Times Square card back in May 2025, where he outclassed Barboza Jr over 12 rounds.
‘The Takeover’ has his eyes set on defending his WBO super lightweight world title on the 31st.
Lopez believes he’ll knockout his rival at the end of the month
“I’m going to make it much prettier when I see him laid out flat.
“Everyone has a game plan but like Mike Tyson once said ‘Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.’”
