NEW YORK CITY — Teofimo Lopez has never been one to bite his tongue, but ahead of his January 31 clash with Shakur Stevenson, “The Takeover” is moving with a different kind of energy.
In a raw appearance on The Breakfast Club, the WBO Super Lightweight Champion peeled back the curtain on the “villain arc” that has defined his recent career. From addressing the racial controversies that plagued his last promotion to explaining why he sometimes leans into the chaos (“I’m the bad guy of boxing”), Lopez appeared more self-aware than ever.
The Shakur Mind Games When asked about Stevenson’s vaunted defense, Lopez was dismissive. “His defense is impeccable? Nah, it’s pretty elite,” Lopez laughed, before cutting to the core of his strategy. “His weakness is his mind. Once you penetrate the mind, that’s it.” Lopez insists he isn’t looking for a knockout, but an exposé, aiming to prove there are “a lot of flaws” in Shakur’s style.
The “Crazy” Label Lopez also addressed the “crazy” tag that fans and media have placed on him. “I’m not crazy,” he told Charlamagne tha God. “You have to believe you’re the best and the greatest to do what you do. And when you do it, you’re not crazy – you’re a genius.”
If you want to be loved, be the best. If you want to be hated, be the greatest.
Teofimo Lopez: “I’m Not Crazy, I’m A Genius”
