Abel Sanchez has dismissed suggestions that Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson is destined to be a dull affair.
The January 31 world title clash at Madison Square Garden is a marquee matchup on paper, pairing two elite talents each seeking to elevate themselves from world champion to genuine star.
Yet sceptics have questioned whether their respective styles will mesh to produce an engaging spectacle, citing past performances as cause for concern.
Sanchez, best known for guiding middleweight destroyer Gennady Golovkin, believes the responsibility for entertainment rests largely on Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) as he explained to Fight Hub TV.
“He’s going to have to be leading the fight or else it’s going to be a boring fight. I don’t think it’d be a boring fight, but if he sits back and waits for Shakur, Shakur’s going to wait for him. It’s not going to be exciting, but I think Teofimo will attack.”
Stevenson enters the bout as the favourite as he bids to become a four-weight world champion, while Lopez brings his WBO super-lightweight title into the ring. When asked for a prediction, Sanchez offered a surprising verdict.
“Honestly, I see a draw. I don’t know why I see a draw, but I just see them both having great rounds and giving us the kind of fight that I think the public is looking for.”
Sanchez also suggested that Lopez should take a page from William Zepeda’s playbook if he is to gain the upper hand. The relentless Mexican pressure fighter pushed Stevenson into producing arguably the finest performance of his career which earned widespread praise.