The Takeover is returning to his South Florida roots. Teofimo Lopez will defend his WBO and Ring Journal junior welterweight world titles in opposition to Canadian contender Steve Claggett on Saturday, June 29, at James L. Knight Heart in Downtown Miami, Florida.
Within the 10-round featherweight co-feature, Cuban former WBO world champion Robeisy Ramirez returns in opposition to Mexico’s Brandon Leon Benitez.
The six-round televised opener sees middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh try to avenge his solely professional defeat in a rematch in opposition to Sona Akale.
“Teofimo Lopez is among the many most electrifying fighters within the sport, and I do know he’s motivated to placed on a present in opposition to a really powerful challenger in Steve Claggett,” mentioned High Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Robeisy Ramirez desires to turn into a two-time world champion, and the street again begins in his adopted hometown. Nico Ali Walsh has been asking for the Akale rematch from the second the judges’ choice got here again after their first struggle, and he now has an opportunity for revenge.”
Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs), a two-weight lineal champion who grew up in South Florida, captured the IBF light-weight world title with a second-round knockout in opposition to Richard Commey in December 2019. The next yr, he triumphed over pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko to assert the WBA, WBO, and WBC Franchise titles. He misplaced the belts in a stunning upset to George Kambosos Jr. in November 2021. The 26-year-old made his junior welterweight debut in August 2022, registering a seventh-round TKO versus Pedro Campa earlier than tallying a factors verdict over Spanish southpaw Sandor Martin that December. In June 2023, Lopez painted a fistic masterpiece when he upset former undisputed champion Josh Taylor to seize the WBO and Ring Journal titles. He defended his crown with a unanimous choice over former beginner rival Jamaine Ortiz in February.
Lopez mentioned, “I’ve all the time wished to struggle in South Florida, the place I grew up and developed as a fighter. I by no means thought it might occur, however now, on June 29, I get the chance to take action not simply as a world champion however because the lineal world champion of my division. This has been certainly one of my objectives since turning professional, and I’m motivated to showcase my expertise there in entrance of my Honduran followers and the complete Latino neighborhood. This is sort of a Rocky Balboa story for Steve Claggett. I’m very a lot wanting ahead to what sort of fashion I’m going to see. There have been no different fighters who had been involved in combating me, and I felt like he would give not simply me, however the followers as nicely, an ideal struggle to observe.”
Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KOs), a local of Calgary, Canada, is a 15-year veteran who hasn’t misplaced a struggle since 2021. The 34-year-old went 4-0 with two knockouts in 2023. In March, he stopped Rafael Guzman Lugo in seven to seize the vacant NABF junior welterweight strap. He defended it with a third-round TKO in opposition to former world champion Alberto Machado in June earlier than decisioning Carlos Sanchez in September and Miguel Madueño in November. He kicked off his 2024 in January by dispatching Marcos Gonzalez Barrera in two.
Claggett mentioned, “I’ve labored my total life for this chance, and I intend to take advantage of it. I’m extra motivated than ever earlier than, and I’m prepared to provide it every thing I’ve acquired.”
Ramirez (13-2, 8 KOs), a two-time Olympic gold medalist, gained the WBO featherweight world title by defeating Isaac Dogboe in April 2023. The 30-year-old traveled to Japan for his first protection, battering hometown hero Satoshi Shimizu en path to a fifth-round TKO within the July 2023 co-feature to the Naoya Inoue-Stephen Fulton major occasion. Ramirez misplaced the title by way of majority choice in opposition to Rafael Espinoza, dropping the Mexican within the fifth earlier than himself visiting the canvas within the twelfth spherical of a Battle of the 12 months contender. Benitez (21-2, 9 KOs) seems to capitalize on a seven-fight win streak. His final defeat was in opposition to Saul Sanchez in Could 2019. His wins since then embody a break up choice upset over former world champion Xu Can in October 2022 and a physique shot knockout over Rigoberto Hermosillo in December.
Ramirez mentioned, “Final December, we placed on an action-packed battle, a worthy ‘Battle of the 12 months’ candidate. Whereas the outcome was surprising, we additionally proved to the boxing world simply how superb a Miami crowd might be. On June 29, I’ll start my quest to recapture my world title and return to the highest, the place I do know I belong. It’s Cuba vs. Mexico once more, and I’m excited to have the loyal help of the Cuban neighborhood of Miami.”
Benitez mentioned, “I’m grateful for the chance to point out that I belong among the many better of the division. However I need Robeisy Ramirez to know that that is nothing new to me. I do know what it’s prefer to go on enemy turf in opposition to a tricky former world champion. Like I did with Can, I’m going to make it a tricky night time for Ramirez. I respect him as a fighter, however as quickly as I get within the ring, I’m not going to cease throwing punches till my hand is raised.”
Ali Walsh (10-1, 5 KOs) went 8-0 earlier than struggling his first professional defeat in opposition to Akale final August in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The grandson of “The Biggest” bounced again with a factors overcome Noel Lafargue final December in Conakry, Guinea, and made his 2024 debut with a six-round unanimous choice win in opposition to Charles Stanford in March. Ali Walsh thrived within the lone rematch on his file. In August 2022, he knocked out Reyes Sanchez in two rounds after edging him by majority choice the earlier December. Akale (9-1, 4 KOs) heads into the rematch after decisioning Tray Martin throughout six final December.
“I’ve had a rematch earlier than. I understand how to proper my wrongs,” Ali Walsh mentioned. “I respect Akale for not working from the rematch, however on June 29, I’ll depart little question.”
Akale mentioned, “I’m excited and grateful for the chance to struggle once more for High Rank on ESPN. I’m going to show my first win over Nico was no fluke. After this struggle, everybody will know I’m the actual deal.”
In scheduled undercard motion, streaming reside and solely on ESPN+:
· Junior welterweight Rohan Polanco (12-0, 7 KOs), who represented the Dominican Republic on the Tokyo Olympics, returns in an eight-rounder in opposition to Mexican veteran Luis Hernandez (23-4, 20 KOs). Polanco thrilled the South Florida followers final December with a sixth-round TKO over Keith Hunter in Pembroke Pines.
· Middleweight puncher Euri Cedeño (8-0-1, 7 KOs), an Olympic teammate of Polanco’s, seems to extend his successful streak to a few in an eight-rounder in opposition to Colombian southpaw Dormedes Potes (14-6-1, 10 KOs).
· Rising Dominican prospect Yan Santana (11-0, 11 KOs) seeks his twelfth straight knockout in a 10-rounder in opposition to the tough-as-nails Brandon Valdes (15-4, 7 KOs), who’s coming off a choice loss to Ruben Villa final September.
· South Florida-born heavyweight fan favourite Lorenzo Medina (10-0, 9 KOs) fights Baltimore native Colby Madison (11-7-2, 7 KOs) in a six-rounder. The 19-year-old Medina has gained three straight bouts by knockout, together with December’s sixth-round stoppage over Joshua Temple.
· Puerto Rican middleweight prospect Bryan Polaco (6-0, 4 KOs) faces fellow unbeaten Richard Acevedo (6-0-1, 5 KOs) in a six-rounder.
Teofimo-Claggett, Ramirez-Benitez & Ali Walsh-Akale II might be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Sky Sports activities will broadcast the occasion within the UK & Eire. Promoted by High Rank, in affiliation with Eye of The Tiger, tickets go on sale Wednesday, Could 22 at 2 p.m. ET by way of Ticketmaster.com.
