“If Teo can’t make the adjustments to the mistakes that he made in the Shakur fight, because Teo was lunging in. He was relying too much on his athleticism, and he forgot the fundamentals. He forgot the jab. He forgot the check. He forgot the simple things that got him there,” said Rosado to Ring Magazine.

“Now, if he does that against Rolly, Rolly will make him pay because Rolly is fundamental. He’s a disciplined fighter. Rolly, he’ll just do the same thing over and over that’s working.

“It’s just mentally I want to see where Tio’s at. Athletic-wise, skill-wise, Tio’s the guy. He’s really that guy. But mentally, is he going to make those adjustments? Especially coming off a tough loss.

“The pressure is really on Teo. He has to come back, and he has to look like his old self, especially seeing where the chemistry is with him and his father in that corner. That’s going to play a big factor too.

“You can tell they were off in that Shakur fight. He’s getting yelled at. He’s not even getting yelled at instructions. He’s saying, ‘Where’s your power? Where’s the banana?’ That’s not a game plan. That’s not a strategy. But obviously they had a conversation, and hopefully they’re able to make the adjustment because I think if they’re in sync, it’s a problem.”

Rosado wasn’t alone in questioning Teofimo’s position. The panel noted that Romero enters the fight full of confidence after his victory over Ryan Garcia, while Teofimo is returning from the most one-sided defeat of his career. They also pointed to Romero’s move to welterweight as a possible turning point, arguing he looked stronger and more comfortable at 147 pounds than he ever did campaigning at junior welterweight.

The matchup pits two close friends against each other, but the Ring panel agreed the burden rests on Teofimo. A victory would reestablish him as a major force in a new division, while another loss would leave even more questions about whether he can regain the form that once made him one of boxing’s biggest stars.

Shawn Porter believes Devin Haney could force Shakur Stevenson to adapt his style, mainly by setting a pace that his more technically-gifted opponent finds uncomfortable.

The two Americans have repeatedly been going back and forth over social media, outlining their demands for a potential clash at 144lbs.

For context, Haney has verbally agreed to travel 3lbs below his preferred fighting weight, accommodating a catchweight that was initially proposed by Stevenson.

In terms of the finer details, though, it remains to be seen whether they can actually negotiate a deal, especially with Haney having been ordered to defend his title against Keyshawn Davis.

The 27-year-old claimed his WBO welterweight strap last November, becoming a three-division world champion by dethroning Brian Norman Jr with a unanimous decision victory.

But with the ‘Dream’ having missed out on the opportunity to make a voluntary title defence, he must now face mandatory challenger Davis or risk being stripped of his belt.

Alternatively, he could vacate the title and jump straight into a clash with Stevenson, who currently holds the WBO strap at 140lbs.

Either way, Porter will be anticipating a compelling chess match if they eventually lock horns, with the former two-time world champion offering a measured take on his podcast.

“I think Devin Haney is someone who can push Shakur into [being more aggressive].

“Dev is going to fight at a fast pace; Dev is going to try to control that range – the same way that Shakur does.

“It’s going to be a chess match, but Devin’s offence is going to force Shakur to be more offensive.”

Previously, Porter has edged slightly towards Haney, believing the size disadvantage to be slightly too big for Stevenson to overcome.

With Stevenson having signed to Dana White’s Zuffa Boxingand demanding the “big fights”, Haney is certainly the type of opponent that fits his criteria.

The winner would become the mandatory challenger for unified IBF, WBA and Ring light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.

Wallace is ranked No. 2 by the IBF and brings a 17-1 (13 KOs) record into the bout, while Whittaker sits at No. 3.

Since winning silver at the Tokyo Olympics, the unbeaten 29-year-old Whittaker has become one of British boxing’s most heavily scrutinized figures. He has won four straight by stoppage, extending that streak in June with a second-round knockout of Richard Rivera to retain his WBC Silver light heavyweight title. Before that, he scored early knockout victories over Braian Nahuel Suarez and Benjamin Gavazi, along with a second-round technical knockout of Liam Cameron in their April 2025 rematch in Birmingham.

A victory over Wallace would move Whittaker within one fight of a world title opportunity against Bivol, who remains the division’s unified champion. The bout has not been officially announced.

Wallace would represent the toughest opponent of Whittaker’s career. A victory would strengthen his case as a legitimate world-title contender and secure his place as Bivol’s mandatory challenger.

Ben Whittaker is reportedly in advanced negotiations to fight Conor Wallace in an IBF light heavyweight title final eliminator on October 3rd in Birmingham, England. pic.twitter.com/BdwOUazpmE

— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) July 14, 2026