News Beat
Teofimo Lopez told to use fighting family as superpower like ice-cold Chris Eubank Jr
HARLEM EUBANK has urged Teofimo Lopez Jr to use the fighting family as a super power.
The 31-year-old Brighton ace is part of a British boxing dynasty, with uncle Chris Sr a two-weight world champion, cousin Jr a superstar and even his own dad Simon being a respected pro.
UK fight fans got to see the best – and worst – aspects of fathers and sons mixing business with pleasure when Chris Sr and Jr very publicly fell out and reunited around the two Conor Benn fights.
And 28-year-old Lopez – whose dad is also his trainer – has also had that volatile relationship play out in front of the world.
Ahead of Lopez’s WBO super-lightweight world title defence against Shakur Stevenson on Saturday, Harlem starred on SunSport’s No Glove Lost YouTube show and explained how daddy issues can help him conquer or cause his collapse.
“As a fighter, it depends how you operate,” Eubank said. “Chris Jr is stone cold and whoever is in his corner, and whatever they are doing, would not faze him, when he is fighting.
“With Teofimo, you can tell, when he is fighting, that things and relationships outside of the ring have an effect on his performances.
“That mental state, going into a fight, means he has managed to beat world-class guys on his worst days and, on his best days he has looked unbelievable.
“The dynamic works for some and, for others, it doesn’t.
“It can be a great relationship but, at times, there is going to be a push and a pull.
“A dad usually always wants something different to a coach.
“It can be a super power until it is not and that’s when you need to make a change.”
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Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson – all the info
The biggest fight of the year so far!
Teofimo Lopez will defend his WBO super-lightweight belt against Shakur Stevenson THIS WEEKEND.
Lopez is one of boxing’s form fighters and will make the fifth defence of his title against superstar Stevenson, who is bidding to win a title in a fourth weight class.
The mega-fight takes place on Saturday night in what will be a packed Madison Square Garden.
As well as the mouth-watering main event, there will be two other world title fights, with Carlos Adames taking on Austin Williams for the WBC middleweight title and Bruce Carrington facing Carlos Manriquez for the WBC featherweight title.
Budding superstar Keyshawn Davis is also in action, as is heavyweight contender Jarrell Miller.
WATCH LOPEZ VS STEVENSON ONLY ON DAZN
Here’s everything you need to know for The Ring 6…
INFO
Lopez Jr told SunSport that he will NEVER axe his father from his team.
Unlike in the lead up to previous bouts, when concerned fans have worried about his mental health, the 2016 Olympian has seemed in a playful mood, going as far as mocking his rival’s new dental work.
And Eubank reckons that’s when Lopez is most dangerous.
“I have got Teo,” he said when predicting the outcome.
The Home of Boxing in 2026
There’s a massive year of boxing ahead!
It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring.
Tyson Fury is expected to make his return, Conor Benn is closing in on a world title shot and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.
Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also need to defend his straps.
Derek Chisora could fight for the 50th and final time and Daniel Dubois is also on the comeback trail.
A whole bunch of British stars could also take a leap into superstardom, with the likes of Moses Itauma, Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim ready to join the very top of the sport.
Up first we have a massive fight with Stateside superstars Shakur Stevenson and Teofimo Lopez meeting later this month in Madison Square Garden.
Here’s all the big fights coming up…
January
- Sat 24 – Raymond Muratalla vs Andy Cruz – IBF lightweight title – DAZN
- Sat 31 – Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson – WBO super-lightweight title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 31 – Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly – IBF super-welterweight title – DAZN
- Sat 31 – Francesca Hennessy vs Ellie Bouttell – BBC2
February
- Sat 7 – Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa – WBA featherweight title – DAZN
- Sat 21 – Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios – WBC welterweight title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 21 – Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington – DAZN
- Sun 22 – Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn – heavyweight unification – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo Nunez – super-featherweight unification – DAZN
March
“I think he rises to the occasion.
“When he is in a playful state of mind, that is when you get the best out of him.
“He has been playing with Shakur in the early exchanges and he doesn’t look like he is taking it seriously, and that’s when you get the best out of him.”
