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Shakur Stevenson selects Teofimo Lopez for ‘safer’ strap grab

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Image: Insiders Claim Shakur Stevenson Saw Vulnerability in Teofimo Lopez and Chose Him Over Subriel Matias for a Safer ‘Superstar’ Belt Grab

Trainer Bernie Davis says the reason Shakur Stevenson chose Teofimo Lopez over 140-year-old Subriel Matias to fight for the belt is because he wants to fight a “superstar.” He rates Lopez (22-1, 13 KO) as someone who fits the “superstar” label.

(Source: Golden Boy)

Did Shakur play it secure at 140 pounds?

Insiders suspect Shakur (24-0, 11 KO) saw an obvious weakness in Teofimo’s game, noting his loss to George Kambosos and his controversial 140 wins over Sandor Martin and Jamain Ortiz.

Some fans consider Teo to be the weakest of the welterweight champions. They believe Shakur was calculated to be chosen over Matias, Gary Antuanne Russell and Richardson Hitchins.

“Shakur wants the best fights. He is a marksman and a defensive wizard. Can you solve this puzzle?” said coach Bernie Davies MillCity Boxing about Shakur Stevenson. “This guy is unbeatable.”

If Stevenson wants the best fighters, why did he decide not to fight Andy Cruz, Ernesto Mercado, Raymond Muratalla, Abdullah Mason or postpone the fight with Floyd Schofield? Shakur’s resume is average.

Hailing from Newark, Modern Jersey, Stevenson is certainly not unbeatable. We saw in his last fight against William Zepeda and his match against Edwin De Los Santos that he is beatable. Many fans made him lose to both fighters. He escaped De Los Santos and was booed from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with his 12-round unanimous decision in November 2023.

The “Superstar” illusion at the age of 140

“Matias has already had a fight. Teofimo, they joined in. They’re newborn guys,” Bernie said when asked why Shakur wasn’t targeting WBA welterweight champion Subriel Matias and not Teofimo at 140. “These are newborn superstars. It’s a superstar fight. Shakur wants to fight the star.”

If Shakur wants a superstar to artificially judge him, he’s picking the wrong fighter because Teofimo isn’t up to the standard to be called one. Matias did lose to Liam Paro, but he should have won the fight if the referee had penalized the Australian for constantly pushing, holding and rabbit punching. Paro used all three tactics to neutralize Matias’ attack, and the referee didn’t even lift a finger to deduct points from him.

“He just beat Zepeda. He is [Stevenson] superstar. I need a fight with the stars. Teofimo also holds the Ring Magazine Champion title. He also has a great win over Lomachenko. He has a great win over Josh Taylor. So it’s a star fight. Subriel Matias is not a superstar,” Bernie said.

A better explanation, perhaps the real reason Shakur chose Teofimo over Matias, is that it’s an easier fight to win. Lopez has struggled since moving up to 140 pounds in 2022, and his career has only been spared from hitting rock bottom thanks to promoters Top Rank, who have supported him through careful selection of players.

“General population” test.

If they put Teofimo in jail general publicit would explode and be ready for the trash. Fighters who so far weighed 140 inches would have sunk Lopez’s career

  • Gary Antuanne Russell
  • Richardson Hitchins
  • Ernesto Mercado
  • Keyshawn Davis
  • Subriel Mathias
  • Albert Puello

Shakur would likely lose to all or most of these fighters. He doesn’t have the power to deal with these types of players and could barely handle William Zepeda. He doesn’t have the physical tools to beat top fighters at 140 or 135 pounds.

Indeed, Matias is not a superstar, but Berbie using that as a reason for choosing Shakur sounds 100% disingenuous or at least naive. Teofimo isn’t a superstar either. This is the fighter who lost to George Kambosos Jr. and deserved to lose the fight against Jamaine Ortiz on February 8, 2024.

The judges handed Lopez a unanimous decision after nearly 12 rounds, but many boxing fans saw it as a blatant robbery in which the A-side fighter prevailed over a lesser-known, less attractive guy.

Last update: 16/10/2025

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Boxing

Floyd Mayweather heard the murder unfold during a FaceTime call

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Floyd Mayweather has been linked to some amazing stories from his life inside and outside of boxing. Few are as shocking as the day he reportedly listened helplessly to a murder-suicide over a FaceTime call.

The incident occurred on December 8, 2014, when rapper Earl Hayes, a member of Mayweather’s inner circle and a recording artist associated with The Money Team, shot and killed his wife, actress and dancer Stephanie Moseley, before taking his own life.

According to multiple reports, Mayweather spoke with Hayes at the time and tried to serene the rapper down for a period of time as the situation got out of control.

FaceTime call

The tragedy took place in the Palazzo East apartments in Los Angeles.

According to police, officers responded after neighbors reported hearing shots and a woman screaming. The LAPD SWAT team entered the apartment and discovered Hayes and Moseley dead from apparent gunshot wounds in the locked bathroom.

Authorities later concluded that Hayes fatally shot Moseley before turning the gun on himself.

Reports at the time indicated that Hayes had contacted Mayweather during an argument over suspicions that Moseley had been inconstant.

Mayweather reportedly kept trying to serene Hayes down as the conversation escalated.

Hollywood shock

Moseley’s death shocked the entertainment industry.

The Canadian actress and dancer appeared on the VH1 series “Hit the Floor” and throughout her career she has performed alongside music’s biggest stars.

A statement released by VH1 at the time said the network and the entire “Hit the Floor” family were devastated by the loss and expressed their condolences to Moseley’s family and friends.

Hayes’ friends also expressed disbelief, describing him as a caring and talented person whose actions seemed completely out of character.

@floydmayweather | IG

Tragedies surrounding Mayweather

The Hayes tragedy wasn’t the only devastating real-life event that coincided with Mayweather’s life outside of boxing.

The former five-weight world champion was also present during the drive-by shooting that injured one of his bodyguards, and the death of Josie Harris, the mother of his three children, sparked another public tragedy and another personal tragedy.

Harris died on March 10, 2020 at the age of 40. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner later ruled her death was the result of an accidental overdose.

A forgotten story

More than a decade has passed, and many boxing fans have no idea this event even happened.

Mayweather was not involved in the crime itself, but reports that he was on the other end of the call ensured that his name would forever be linked to one of the most shocking stories of his career.

For those who remember it, few stories surrounding Floyd Mayweather have been more challenging to understand.


About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

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Former heavyweight champion returning at 53 says Tyson Fury is ‘finished’ after his last appearance

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Former heavyweight champion making comeback at 53 says Tyson Fury is ‘done’ after latest performance

Former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, who defeated Lennox Lewis in 2001, has delivered a damning verdict on Tyson Fury’s future in the sport.

“The Rock” defeated Lewis in the fourth round to win the WBC and IBF titlesonly to lose the immediate rematch via stoppage in the eighth round.

At the age of 53, Rahman is currently preparing for his return to action on July 14, although no opponent has yet been announced for his six-round bout at Novel York’s ESL Ballpark.

In his last professional career, he lost to little-known opponent Anthony Nansen in 2014, but Rahman clearly believes he can surpass George Foreman and become the oldest heavyweight champion in history.

Whether he succeeds remains to be seen, but the American clearly believes he has a better chance of winning the trophy than 37-year-old Fury.

In fact, Rahman went so far as to suggest that The Gypsy King’s career was preceded by Deontay Wilder, who he felt had also gone way over the line.

I’m talking to Master B4Rahman suspects it was their trilogy in particular that caused significant fatigue for both heavyweights.

“I just think Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury beat [their] careers apart – they abandoned their careers in this trilogy. It’s over for both of them.

“You will never see the best Tyson Fury [again]. It’s over. [He’s] done.”

Fury won his third meeting with Wilder by knockout in the 11th roundbut he managed to overcome two tumbles and several periods of adversity when they collided in October 2021.

Based on his performance against Arslanbek Makhmudov, whom he outpointed unanimously in AprilRahman believes the fight with Wilder could very well have ended Fury’s career.

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Boxing

Jose Benavidez Sr. calls on Artur Beterbiev to “sit down” and make the fight happen

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Image: Jose Benavidez Sr. Calls On Artur Beterbiev To 'Sit Down' And Make Fight Happen

Jose Benavidez Sr. publicly invited Artur Beterbiev and his team to enter into negotiations to fight David Benavidez.

The comments came after Beterbiev recently discussed previous talks involving both camps. Benavidez Sr., who is David’s father, trainer and manager, said he is ready for the fight to continue.


“Right now, if Beterbiev is watching, their managers are watching, or whoever is making this decision, I am David’s father, coach, manager. Let’s sit down. Let’s make these fights happen. These are the fights we want to make,” Benavidez Sr. he told Fight Hub TV.

“We never got an offer. Like I’m telling you, we never got an offer. But these are the fights we want. With all due respect, I think Beterbiev is a great fighter, man. He’s a very threatening fighter. He’s one of the best right now. He and Bivol are some of the top fighters, but these are the fighters we want to prove ourselves and want to fight.”

Benavidez Sr. added that organizing the fight shouldn’t be a major problem if both sides are interested.

“Let’s organize this fight. It can be fought in five minutes,” said Jose Senior. “These are the fights we want. We are ready to give the people what they want.”

David Benavidez became a three-division world champion earlier this year when he defeated Zurdo Ramirez in the cruiserweight division. Since then, Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol are often mentioned among the potential opponents of Benavidez’s next fight.

“Let’s go,” Benavidez Sr. said. “We are ready. These are the fights we want.”

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Categories Artur Beterbiew, David Benavidez

Last update: 2026/06/13 at 18:45

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