MIAMI, FL – They seem to pursue more, because they feel more is expected. It may be why Teofimo Lopez Jr. one of the best fighters in the world, and why he and his father, Teofimo Lopez Sr., The Ring Magazine and BWAA 2020 Trainer of the Year, are pushing hard to push new boundaries.
The new limit for Team Lopez goes up against a man he should beat easily—Canadian contender Steve Claggett (38-7-2, 26 knockouts) this Saturday night from the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida.
Lopez Jr. (20-1, 13 KOs) will be defending the WBO and Ring Magazine junior welterweight world titles for the second time after winning the WBO and Ring Magazine titles in his victory over undefeated Josh Taylor in June 2023.
The main event will air live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT. Sky Sports will broadcast the event in the UK and Ireland.
For Team Lopez, the goal is to put on a show.
“I remember waking up my son 10 minutes before the WBO deadline after he said he was going to retire after the Taylor fight,” said Teofimo Sr. “My son was determined to retire. The WBO would vacate the title, and Devin Haney would take the vacant title and fight Arnold Barboza Jr. My son said he wouldn’t give the crown to Haney and keeps giving him things.
“Teo called the WBO and told them that he will not retire. That ended, but how close it was. We wanted to fight Devin Haney, that’s why he wanted to fight Regis Prograis. Nobody expected us to beat Josh Taylor. When we did, we saw what happened. Boxing is trying to drive my son away.”
It doesn’t look like that will happen.
Lopez Jr. he defeated Jamaine Ortiz by unanimous decision earlier this year, but Ortiz ran all night.
Lopez’s team has been vocal about the respect they have for Claggett, firstly for taking on the fight, secondly for his forward-thinking style. Ortiz was unreasonably cautious, afraid of Lopez’s power. Claggett, 35, is on a three-year, nine-fight winning streak. He beat Marcos Gonzalez by second round knockout in January.
He is a volume puncher. In his last four fights, Claggett has averaged 102.7 punches per round, to Lopez Jr.’s 43.3. But Claggett has never faced anyone like the 26-year-old Lopez.
“If you don’t have the strength to get this man off you, Claggett will be in your face all night,” Lopez Sr. said. “We respect him. He will come to fight, not run like Ortiz did. He has not lost a fight since 2021. Guys like Claggett are dangerous. My son will need to ignore it.
“And you will.”
Teofimo Jr. hoping to find the best version of Claggett. The 140-kilogram world champion’s goal is to fight two more times in 2024. He wants to be active, looking to fight again in September and maybe one more in November or December.
The consensus is that Lopez Jr. he’s going to walk over Claggett, but as a pro fighter, he can’t have that attitude.
“I have to remember that everyone wants what I have, and I have the most prestigious belt in boxing, the Ring belt,” said Lopez Jr. “This guy has a strong background. His loss came by decision. What I strive for the most inside, as it is difficult to climb to the top, is to remember every time I enter the ring it means a lot.
“Many people are inspired by me. I gain more followers and more respect by winning. Boxing is bigger than me and I know that. You feel the pressure, and you know what they say, pressure makes diamonds. I love the position I’m in, I know no one can do what I do.
“I know that many fighters do not respect the game like I do. That worries me. I have put a little tension on myself. I learned to deal with pressure. I am very happy, and it has made me a better fighter.”
Teofimo Lopez is pictured against Josh Taylor in their Ring Magazine/WBO junior welterweight bout at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
That was most evident in Lopez Jr.’s victory. Many mistakenly suggest that he will have a mental breakdown and become mentally ill. Those close to him knew differently.
Lopez Jr. he is actually a genius. He likes it when the boxing cognoscenti hesitate, as they did before his fight with Vasiliy Lomachenko.
After losing George Kambosos, Lopez Sr. he found a tape of his son’s old fights. He changed the way he trained his son, and they rediscovered “The Takeover’s” alter ego, “the smart boxer Gordo.” He was back against Taylor. Little Teo was free. With confidence. It has been decided. That translated into his easy defeat over Taylor.
“I’m in a good place, my dad and my family are in a good place, and I’m rewarding myself for my hard work and my attitude, I had to lose to win,” Lopez Jr. “That was defeated by Kambosos. you brought out the best version of me. I want to show these little children this wonderful gift. I can control myself again.
“I deal with things in a very controlled way. My focus is great, my self-control is far, far better. That comes from knowing myself more. I should not have fought with Kamboso that night. I risked my life that night. I lost my naive attitude after beating Lomachenko.
“I got it now.”
He does not want to choose anyone in the future. He wants to focus only on Claggett.
“I still have a lot to learn,” she said. “I’m at the top of the 140-pound class. I want two more fights after this. Top Rank wants to give me another one, and I understand that in my contract. I want to push with four. We’ll see what I’m allowed to do.
“I will also have to include my father’s story. I love him. He needs his flowers, he knows what to do for me in this game. He was Coach of the Year and I can’t believe he gets the credit he deserves. My father is a great coach. He won the Eddie Futch award. He didn’t miss more than 50 days, and you can print that. He’s changing his ways, and we’re talking about someone who’s been drinking since he was 12.
“He saw the way I was going, and he changed that. How many coaches will do that? Not many. My father did that. You have to be a man to admit you made a mistake. He saw something and fixed it. We are a team. Boxing has made us evolve as people in and out of the ring. You are the reason I am on top. We are two successful people with a son.”
Joseph Santoliquito is a Hall of Fame, award-winning sportswriter who has worked for Ring Magazine/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Follow @JSantoliquito
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