Lopez showed against William Zepeda that he can press and take risks. None of this appears here. Instead, he fought in explosive fashion, often one punch at a time, and let Stevenson decide when exchanges occurred. As Teofimo tried to move forward, Stevenson slipped out of range and continued to jab. It produced long distance, with Stevenson landing cleanly and Teofimo barely reacting.

The middle rounds follow the same pattern. Lopez switches sides and tries to apply pressure, but Stevenson remains calm and continues to separate from him. Stevenson’s timing is sharp, his defense is tight, and his counterattacks are regular. Lopez occasionally takes body shots, but they aren’t high volume or risky.

Frustration shows. Lopez would lunge at times, throw punches and even draw attention with a headbutt during the round. None of this changes the flow of the battle. Stevenson never looked rushed or uncomfortable. He fought at his own pace, often retreating far enough for Lopez to miss before catching him with a jab or short counterattack.

The last few rounds didn’t offer any conversions. Stevenson maintained control, Teofimo kept trying to find gaps, and the gap on the scorecards only grew wider. By the championship game, the outcome was no longer in suspense. The only question is how broad the decision will be.

The judges answered clearly.

Shakur improved his record to 25-0 and became a Division III world champion. The win was clinical rather than dramatic, but it underscored the same point Stevenson has been making for years. If the opponent can’t force him out of his comfort zone, that’s what the fight will look like.

The loss was devastating for Lopez, who currently has a record of 22-2. This was a game designed to test Stevenson. Instead, it exposed how limited Lopez’s offense can become when he hesitates. He never pushed himself, never took ongoing risks, and never gave Stevenson a reason to change his approach.

This game was filled with star power and stakes. What it lacks is tension. Stevenson made sure of that and by the end, Lopez looked not defeated, but pinned.