Teofimo Lopez Jr. sat on the dais reading and writing affirmations from a notebook on Wednesday during a kickoff press conference in New York.

Shakur Stevenson said the writing is already on the wall when it comes to their January 31 fight headlining “The Ring 6” at the Madison Square Garden in New York on DAZN.

“I’ve seen a lot of weaknesses in Teofimo’s game,” said Stevenson. “A lot of the weaknesses are mental. I’m going to expose him. I want to show the world that I am the best. He doesn't realize how good I am. Come fight night, he’s going to realize that I am going to take it to another level that he has never seen before. Teo is a high-level fighter, but he’s not on my level. I am an elite-level fighter.”

Lopez’s father and coach, Teofimo Sr., poured a pot of cold water over Stevenson's proclamations and said they already have him figured out and that he better bring it on fight night with an entertaining effort, and not a boring one that he’s previously been known for.

“You better not throw in the towel,” said Stevenson.

“I bet you're going to quit,” said Teofimo Sr. “You haven't fought an elite fighter.”

Teofimo Jr., meanwhile, was mostly quiet, calculated, and quirky. He lobbed a few lewd jokes and professed his love for the New York Knicks as he occasionally spoke with both hands on his cheeks.

“I think of Shakur as the best fighter on my resume to date,” said Lopez. “We’re two of the guys who everyone says are the best of the best. We’re about to lace it up in the Mecca of boxing. This guy is the best, and we’re here to face the best. We’re against all odds, and defying the odds. [Oddsmakers] should keep the odds highly in Shakur’s favor. I got a lot of people who are starving, and they need to make their money.”

Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) will be defending his Ring and WBO junior welterweight titles against Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs), the WBC lightweight champion who’s stepping up another division looking to seize titles in a fourth weight class.

Lopez is coming off a unanimous decision win in May against Arnold Barboza Jr., while Stevenon last fought in July and beat William Zepeda by unanimous decision as well.

“After this fight, I want to be considered top five pound-for-pound in the sport,” said Stevenson, who’s currently rated No. 8 P4P by The Ring. “I can’t wait to show it. It’s going to be a masterclass performance – and Teofimo Sr. crying after the fight.”