The Breakfast Club – Interview with Teofimo Lopez

Episode: INTERVIEW: Teofimo Lopez Talks Upcoming Boxing Match With Shakur Stevenson, Addresses Racial Controversy + More
Date: December 12, 2025
Hosts: DJ Envy, Angela Yee, Charlamagne Tha God
Guest: Teofimo Lopez

Overview

This episode of The Breakfast Club features a candid and wide-ranging interview with boxing champion Teofimo Lopez ahead of his highly anticipated fight against Shakur Stevenson at Madison Square Garden. The conversation touches on Teofimo’s preparation and mindset for the bout, mental health, career highs and lows, past controversies including allegations of racism, and insightful takes on the politics of boxing.

Key Discussion Points

1. Fight with Shakur Stevenson: Motivation and Strategy

• Lopez explains this fight was “just fate” and that he always seeks out the toughest competition. He feels Shakur targeted him as the “top dog” at 140 lbs ([04:15]).
• On Shakur’s boxing style: Lopez believes Stevenson tried to please critics in his Cepeda fight by being more aggressive, but isn’t truly built that way ([05:14]).
• Lopez claims he’s ready to pull an “upset” because the betting odds favor Shakur ([05:58]), but insists, “I’m used to being in that position. I’m just here to reclaim them and redefend them.” ([06:05])
• Strategy: Lopez wants to exploit what he sees as gaps in Shakur’s defense:

  “His defense is not as impeccable as people mention it.” – Teofimo Lopez ([06:16])

• Mental aspect: Lopez says the real key is, “Once you penetrate the mind, that’s it. It’s game.” ([06:32])

2. Fighting at Madison Square Garden: Home Turf and Legacy

• Lopez speaks proudly about fighting again at MSG, with personal history of both wins and losses there.

  “It’s a blessing… it shows where we at in the pedigree of the sport. You got two prime fighters coming in, the best, fighting the best, and putting on a show in New York.” ([06:59])

3. Mental Health, Pressure, and Personal Growth

• Lopez has been open about struggles with mental health and the pressures of boxing.
• Growth:

  “You learn with struggle, you learn with obstacles… you hit a point in your life where you start realizing there’s not much you cannot achieve.” ([08:41])

• Emphasizes that boxing is “the toughest sport in the world,” starting with mental fortitude ([06:32]), and credits struggle for making him stronger both in and out of the ring.

4. Retirement, Motivation, and What’s Next

• Lopez retired briefly, he reveals, as a bid for recognition and personal reasons ([11:23]). Not getting the acknowledgment he felt he deserved as a young, two-division and two-belt champion hit him hard:

  “To do that and not really get that kind of ambiance or that type of vibe from everybody else… you want the people to miss you.” ([11:27])

• Now, he feels re-energized and committed to promoting his legacy:

  “I feel the fire more than ever. Got like, a blue flame on me.” ([12:03])

• Sacrifices for the sport, like time away from his son, weigh heavy ([12:42]).
• On where he’s at emotionally:

  “I’m just very still… None of it gonna matter till we fight. None of it gonna matter till I put in the action and the work.” ([13:29])

5. On Being Underdog, Selling the Fight, Suppressing His Persona

• Admits he’s more calm and composed now, and less interested in “selling” himself with bravado ([17:03]).
• About social media withdrawal and changed approach:

  “I ain’t really been on social right now. I just been locked in.” ([17:39])

• He isn’t suppressing his character, but rather,

  “Just a different, toned down version of me.” ([17:35])

6. Handling Criticism and Past ‘Mental Lapses’ in the Ring

• Acknowledges fights where people felt he “wasn’t really there” mentally, e.g., against Sandor Martin ([15:21]).

  “They’re just mistakes in the lead up to something more… If you do [think you know everything], you might as well quit now.” ([15:52])

• On love for the sport:

  “I wouldn’t be the man I am without it… I’m just more… no more rah, rah. No more chill.” ([16:50])

7. Boxing Politics: Undisputed Titles and Sanctioning Bodies

• Engages in a passionate debate on the legitimacy of “undisputed” titles, using Terence Crawford as an example ([27:55]).

  “You only become undisputed when you pay all the sanctioning fees. So by default, by him not paying… although he beat Canelo, by default, he’s not undisputed three times.” ([27:18])

• Frustration with double standards in how different fighters are recognized for their achievements ([27:47], [30:03]).

8. Addressing Racial Controversies & Allegations

• Charlamagne raises past controversies and accusations of racist language/actions, including allegedly sending bananas to Keyshawn Davis’ room and referencing “monkey and banana” remarks toward Tank Davis and Bud Crawford ([30:37], [32:56]).
• Lopez’s response:

  “It’s a Scarface moment right now. When you see me, point your… finger and say, that’s the bad guy. I’m the bad guy of boxing.” ([30:59]) “Don’t put me and portray me like that, because I’m just coming from what I grew up on… not the baiting, but just the fact, like, I’m going to just get you under your skin.” ([34:01])

• Insists he did not send the bananas and that much of the controversy is promotional or misrepresentation.

  “I literally set it out like it is. I ain’t doing that, you know, because you really didn’t.” ([35:32])

• Acknowledges some of his old language was from a “different era” and that he’s since learned to be more thoughtful ([34:00]).

9. Miscellaneous: Southpaw Matchups & What’s Next

• Lopez and his father point out his past success fighting southpaws:

  “We never lost to a southpaw out of 200 fights… since a kid, kind of understand the rhythms of it… there’s something I do to southpaws that just work in my favor.” ([23:22])

• On Legacy: Lopez remains focused on “the one that’s coming,” not past accolades ([24:43]).
• On future plans (potentially moving up to 147, big-name callouts): “I’m trusting my team on this one. I’m not going to do no more than that… trust the process.” ([25:21])

10. Personal, Financial, and Career Sustainability

• Discusses financial struggles (“I’ve gone broke already, like, twice”) and being strategic now for his family ([38:14]).
• Emphasizes planning for life beyond boxing and not letting controversies or industry politics derail him ([38:03]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the mental aspect of boxing:

  “Once you penetrate the mind, that’s it. It’s game. This is boxing… if your mind ain’t strong in this, you’re never going to accomplish anything.” – Teofimo Lopez ([06:32])

• On changing his attitude and approach:

  “No more rah, rah. No more chill. You want to show and prove through actions and not words… the real gonna prevail.” – Teofimo ([17:03])

• On accusations of racism and being the “bad guy”:

  “It’s a Scarface moment right now… say, that’s the bad guy. I’m the bad guy of boxing.” – Teofimo ([30:59])

• On his position in boxing’s history books:

  “I’m not even in the history books… If Loma would have won, they would have gave it to Loma. So they’ve got some shit with us, man.” – Teofimo ([30:20])

• On personal growth and overcoming adversity:

  “You learn with struggle, you learn with obstacles… There’s not much that you cannot achieve.” – Teofimo ([08:41])

Important Timestamps

• Fight Motivation & Shakur’s Style: [04:15] – [06:16]
• Mental Aspect / Madison Square Garden: [06:32] – [07:34]
• Mental Health & Retirement: [08:28] – [12:03]
• Current Mindset / Social Media: [13:17] – [17:39]
• Boxing Politics: [27:18] – [30:12]
• Racism Allegations & Promotional Tactics: [30:37] – [35:32]
• Financial Strategy / Planning for the Future: [38:03] – [38:37]
• Discussion on Southpaws: [23:22] – [23:59]

Tone and Atmosphere

Lopez comes across as honest, sometimes defensive, but introspective and focused. The conversation ranges from playful (banter with hosts and his father’s off-mic interjections) to raw and serious (discussing racial issues and personal sacrifices). Despite the controversies, he maintains a tone of professional determination and authenticity.

Summary prepared for listeners who want the core insights, spirited dialogue, and context behind Teofimo Lopez’s mindset and headline-making comments ahead of his clash with Shakur Stevenson.