Arum Still Favors Shakur Until Proven Otherwise

Bob Arum’s position is simple: until someone proves they can consistently outthink Shakur Stevenson in the ring, picking against him remains difficult, even against a fighter as gifted and dangerous as Teofimo Lopez.

Arum spoke ahead of Saturday’s card at Madison Square Garden, where Lopez defends his Ring and WBO junior welterweight titles against Stevenson, with Xander Zayas also facing Abass Baraou. The promoter has watched both men closely, Stevenson from his early professional development and Lopez through his rise and uneven nights at the top. His assessment avoids hype and leans on pattern recognition rather than promise. “That’s a terrific fight,” Arum told The Ring. “That can go either way. I think until somebody shows they’re gonna outsmart Shakur in the ring, it’s hard to pick against him.”

The fight is less about size or force and more about who controls space, pace, and decisions over twelve rounds. Arum framed it that way without decoration.

Why intelligence beats strength here

Arum pointed directly at Lopez’s tendency to lean on physical tools. “Teofimo has to be able to outsmart him and outbox him and not just rely on his physical strength,” he said. “On his best night, he can do that. It’s not always his best night.” That is not criticism; it is an observation built from years of watching fighters win or lose rounds in their own heads.

Lopez’s best work has come when the opponent demanded discipline. He handled Vasiliy Lomachenko by sticking to a plan and later beat Josh Taylor the same way, both fights decided on points rather than chaos. Arum expects that version to appear again. “I think you’re gonna see the best Teofimo available, well trained, at the top of his game,” he said. “Whether that’s enough to beat Shakur, we’ll have to see.”

Stevenson enters as the betting favorite after outpointing William Zepeda, a fight where he admitted taking chances he did not need. Arum expects fewer exchanges this time and more restraint. Against Stevenson, rounds slip away quietly. Fighters think they are close, then hear the scorecards and realize control never shifted.