Teofimo Lopez has publicly blamed his father and trainer for failing to give proper instructions during his lopsided defeat to Shakur Stevenson. The 27-year-old Brooklyn southpaw, 14-2 after the loss, revealed an emotional breakdown the day before the April 13 welterweight bout in Las Vegas, sensing a career inflection point. , did not provide the strategic adjustments needed against Stevenson’s sharp combinations and footwork.
Lopez absorbed 168 total punches—54 in the final round alone—while landing just 96 of his own. He described feeling overwhelmed by Stevenson’s rhythm and admitted Stevenson’s footwork neutralized his own pressure style. 12 in the WBA listings.
The emotional toll surfaced in a hotel room the night before the fight. Lopez said he cried uncontrollably, telling his team he felt the fight was “bigger than boxing,” a sign of the psychological pressure he had not previously acknowledged. The defeat exposed deeper flaws in Lopez’s preparation.
Stevenson’s camp had identified Lopez’s reliance on volume punching and forward pressure, drilling counters to those tendencies for months. Post-fight footage showed Stevenson repeatedly slipping inside Lopez’s jab, then countering with straight rights and hooks to the body—exactly the game plan he had rehearsed. Lopez’s corner, meanwhile, appeared static, offering no adjustments to counter Stevenson’s rhythm.
The breakdown in real-time strategy mirrored the breakdown in Lopez’s emotional state, revealing how a fighter’s mental state and corner ineptitude can compound in real time. The fallout extends beyond one fight. Lopez’s father had been his sole trainer since 2022, taking over after a brief stint with Lacroy.
That shift coincided with a drop in Lopez’s performance, culminating in a 2023 split-decision loss to Jaime Munguia and now this Stevenson beatdown. ’s tactical acumen, citing a reliance on raw aggression over nuanced strategy. The Stevenson loss finally forced Lopez to confront those criticisms head-on.
His decision to bring back Lacroy—a trainer who emphasizes fundamentals and adaptability—signals a rejection of legacy-based cornering in favor of evidence-based development. Lopez told ESPN Deportes that Lacroy’s return is about “reconnecting with the fundamentals” and rebuilding trust in his corner. He also confirmed talks with promoter Top Rank about a welterweight campaign, with Romero penciled in as the marquee target.
In response to the criticism from fans and analysts, Lopez has reinstated Milton Lacroy, his childhood trainer, as his primary strategist. took over full-time. The Stevenson loss also laid bare the psychological weight of legacy trainers in boxing.
’s tenure was marked by a rigid adherence to Lopez’s natural aggression, a strategy that had yielded early success but failed against elite counterpunchers like Stevenson. The emotional breakdown before the fight—Lopez’s first public admission of fear in his professional career—underscored how unchecked loyalty to a family member can cloud judgment. It’s a dynamic familiar in boxing, where fathers often double as trainers, but one that carries existential risks when the fighter’s career stalls.
Stevenson’s team operated like a high-performance lab, using video analysis to dissect Lopez’s tendencies and tailor sparring sessions to exploit his weaknesses. Stevenson landed 45% of his power punches, a rate that exposed Lopez’s inability to adjust mid-fight. The contrast between the two camps highlighted a generational shift in boxing preparation: data-driven precision versus instinct-driven tradition.
Lopez’s pivot to Lacroy isn’t just about changing trainers; it’s about embracing a system that values adaptability over bloodlines. What's next: Lopez will train under Lacroy in Miami ahead of a welterweight debut, likely in late summer. A win over Romero would vault him into the top five and set up a potential unification or pay-per-view opportunity with unified champ Terence Crawford.
The psychological reset—admitting failure and changing course—may be the most important round of his career. The reckoning extends beyond Lopez’s corner. The fight underscores how boxing’s traditional structures—family-run teams, legacy trainers, and unquestioned loyalty—can fail when stripped of adaptability.
Stevenson’s team, by contrast, operated like a modern fight lab: video analysis, tailored sparring, and real-time adjustments. Lopez’s pivot to Lacroy isn’t just a personnel change; it’s a rejection of a system that prioritized bloodlines over boxing IQ. For a sport where decades of experience are often equated with competence, Stevenson’s victory is a data point in favor of evolution over tradition. Read at BoxingNews24
Why this matters
Lopez’s public admission of familial failure and emotional vulnerability offers a rare look at the psychological toll of high-stakes boxing. It exposes the fragility of corner dynamics built on legacy rather than evidence-based strategy, and signals a high-risk career pivot at age 27. The move to welterweight and the return to Lacroy are not just tactical shifts—they are a reckoning with the cost of unchecked loyalty in a sport where seconds decide legacies. This moment forces the sport to confront whether tradition alone can survive in an era demanding data, adaptability, and ruthless self-assessment.
Frequently asked
What did Teofimo Lopez say about his father’s cornering after losing to Shakur Stevenson?
Lopez admitted his father and trainer, Teofimo Lopez Sr., failed to provide proper instructions during the fight. He agreed with fan criticism of his corner’s performance and described an emotional breakdown before the bout.
How many punches did Lopez land and absorb against Stevenson?
Lopez landed 96 punches while absorbing 168 total punches, including 54 in the final round alone. Stevenson’s volume and accuracy overwhelmed Lopez throughout the fight.
Who is Milton Lacroy and why is he back in Lopez’s corner?
Milton Lacroy is Lopez’s childhood trainer who guided him in his amateur days and early pro career. Lopez reinstated Lacroy after the Stevenson loss to rebuild strategy and trust, signaling a shift away from his father’s cornering approach.
Which welterweight opponent is Lopez targeting next?
Lopez is targeting Rolando Romero, currently 15-1 and ranked No. 7 by the WBC at welterweight. A win over Romero would vault Lopez into the top five and set up potential unification fights.
When is Lopez expected to make his welterweight debut?
Lopez is expected to make his welterweight debut in late summer, training under Lacroy in Miami. The timeline aligns with potential bouts against Romero or other ranked contenders.
How did the loss to Stevenson affect Lopez’s rankings?
The loss dropped Lopez to No. 10 in the WBC welterweight rankings and No. 12 in the WBA listings. The defeat exposed vulnerabilities that now force a strategic and psychological reset.
