The enthusiasm wasn’t shared by everyone on the panel.
“I think this is a lot of talk for a fight that probably doesn’t happen. At least not next,” Coppinger said at Ring Magazine. “I don’t love this fight. You saw Oshaki standing toe-to-toe with Shakur. He’s a lot smaller than Shakur. Don’t forget about the weight Shakur fought at.”
Coppinger argued that Foster should pursue other options and suggested Emanuel Navarrete as a more suitable opponent.
Lopez largely agreed.
When asked whether Foster’s style could create problems for Stevenson, Lopez dismissed the idea.
“Honestly, from what I noticed from the fight with Ford, I don’t think so,” Lopez said. “I think they have a good talk, good back-and-forth exchange. It’s good for the sport of boxing, good hype, but 10-pound difference.”
Lopez went on to say that both fighters should concentrate on the opportunities available in their respective divisions rather than chasing a fight across weight classes.
The comments stood out because Foster had just turned in one of the better performances of his career against Ford. Despite that, neither Coppinger nor Lopez appeared eager to see him share the ring with Stevenson.
The discussion highlighted a growing divide over the potential matchup. Foster sees a fight worth making. Stevenson exchanged words with him both in the ring and on social media. Yet two of the most recognizable voices on the Inside the Ring panel made it clear they would rather see both men go in different directions.
