Former welterweight champion Buddy McGirt doesn’t consider Shakur Stevenson as a legitimate threat to the active roster. Although he claims to be on Stevenson’s corner, McGirt still demeaned the super-featherweight against other unbeaten champions, likely Teofimo Lopez.

According to McGirt, Shakur Stevenson is being protected by his managers and administrators. The American veteran said, Stevenson’s fights might look tough on paper but they are actually easy fights before billing Lopez as the superior boxer.

He also envisioned Teofimo Lopez knocking out Shakur Stevenson in an in-ring collision. That said, it clearly puts a dent on Stevenson’s inevitable aura in the ongoing super featherweight talks.

During his interaction with Ahat clips, McGirt said, “Can I just tell you this, I love Shakur. I’ve known him since he was a kid, and I’m very happy for his success. Okay, but there’s an old saying the old school guys say, and that is ‘he’s protected.’ They put him in with the right guys, he’s fighting the right guys — on paper, it looks like it’s supposed to be a tough fight, but in reality, no.”

He added, “Why? Because they’re building him up for that big fight. Because they know once he gets there, with the opposition that he’s facing, once he gets there it’s a wrap.”

Shakur Stevenson fires back in style

Speaking on a possible fight between Lopez and Stevenson, McGirt didn’t even give the slightest chance to the ‘Fearless’. According to him, Stevenson doesn’t fall under the same caliber as Teofimo Lopez, which vexed the young boxer.

Buddy McGirt continued, “He’s not gonna beat Teofimo. Teofimo will knock him out. I’m telling you he’ll knock him out, man. I know Shakur very well, Teofimo will knock him out. I watched that kid since he was a kid, Teofimo will knock him out in six, seven rounds… It’s nothing personal but I know that they’re protecting him.”

In response, Shakur Stevenson turned to Twitter and uploaded multiple tweets to lash at McGirt. It is evident the super featherweight didn’t like the criticism. He cussed McGirt’s training abilities and denounced all the fighters under his radar. Here’s a look at those tweets.

Amid all these turmoils, Stevenson will have more eyes on him when he enters the ring. The 23-year-old has had a good professional run till now, but once he shifts to the lightweight unit, it will demand more from the unbeaten pugilist.

Do you think Shakur Stevenson can beat Teofimo Lopez?