“Theo is a very good boxer with great boxing skills. I just make him look like that because of my skills, but no one else is going to make him look like that.”

The gist of the message is clear. Stevenson is grooming Lopez to protect the value of the win.

The reaction matched that of early fans. Most of the discussion focused less on how clean Stevenson looked and more on how pathetic Lopez looked. Since moving up from lightweight in 2021, Lopez has struggled to look comfortable at 140 pounds. In addition to his performance against Josh Taylor, his performance in the weightlifting competition raised more questions than answers.

Because of recent history, many fans have come to a simple conclusion. Lopez looked terrible again, so this win says more about the opponent than the performance. Stevenson’s post addresses exactly this idea.

Rather than viewing Lopez as a fading fighter, Stevenson described the night as a case of control and skill. He said Lopez hasn’t suddenly forgotten how to fight, and even if Stevenson hadn’t, most opponents would be in trouble.

Twelve rounds of wide-ranging rulings added fuel to the debate. Stevenson was rarely touched and controlled the tempo from start to finish, making the win look routine. That same dominance also makes it easier for critics to view Lopez as a diminished fighter at this weight.

Stevenson’s comments suggest he understands how quickly results can degrade once that label is applied. If this fight is viewed as another tough outing for Lopez at 140, it does little to help Stevenson moving forward.

That’s why there’s praise. Stevenson isn’t just talking about the fights he won. He tried to coach people on how to remember the victory.