Teofimo Lopez Thrives as an Underdog

When Lopez Is Counted Out

History suggests that writing Lopez off can be a mistake. In 2020, when he challenged Vasiliy Lomachenko for the Ring Magazine lightweight championship, the consensus was clear: Lomachenko would outthink and outmaneuver the younger fighter. Instead, Lopez seized the early rounds, then emptied the tank late throwing nearly 100 punches in the final round to seal a career-defining decision.

Three years later, he was again dismissed ahead of his junior welterweight title challenge against Josh Taylor at The Garden’s Theater. Chaos surrounded Lopez in the build-up, but once the bell rang, his athleticism and assertiveness overwhelmed Taylor in a decisive victory. Time and again, Lopez has shown that doubt sharpens his focus.

The Inconsistency Question

For all his highs, Lopez’s résumé is also marked by puzzling lows. He’s capable of brilliance one night and mediocrity the next the primary reason he’s absent from The Ring’s pound-for-pound list.

He looked excellent in his most recent outing, a wide points victory over Arnold Barboza Jr. in Times Square, despite Barboza being a trendy upset pick. But earlier, Lopez failed to impress over 12 rounds against Steve Claggett in June 2024. And of course, the shock split-decision loss to George Kambosos Jr. remains the lone blemish on his record. It’s fair to wonder if Lopez needs the stakes and the doubt to fully engage.

“I think that I’m someone who is all about against all odds,” Lopez said last month on Inside the Ring on DAZN. “When the odds are all against me, that’s when I perform my best.”

Stevenson’s Moment

Stevenson, meanwhile, appears to be peaking. He was sharp in his July win over William Zepeda at lightweight and now seeks the biggest victory of his career in his first fight at 140 pounds notably without a tune-up bout.

Despite holding world titles in three divisions, Stevenson has yet to beat an opponent universally regarded as elite. Edwin De Los Santos pushed him hard, exposing moments of vulnerability when matched with comparable athleticism. Lopez will offer that and more.

A Defining Night for the Next Generation

The questions are simple, and the answers may define the next era of boxing: Can Lopez beat Stevenson to the punch? Can he deny Stevenson the rhythm that makes him so difficult to solve? Or will Stevenson’s precision and patience finally neutralize Lopez’s volatility?

This is a fitting way to open the 2026 boxing calendar. With Terence Crawford retired and legends like Oleksandr Usyk and Naoya Inoue closer to the back end of their primes, the sport is beginning to ask a new question: Who’s next?

At Ring VI, Teofimo Lopez once again finds himself where he seems most dangerous doubted, discounted, and ready to prove everyone wrong.