Teofimo Lopez, WBO gentle welterweight champion, insists that his opponent, Steve Claggett, received’t be a simple struggle for him this Saturday evening, June 29, of their twelve-round fundamental occasion bout on the James L. Knight Middle in Miami, Florida.
(Courtesy: High Rank)
The Elusive Mega-Cash Struggle
Followers really feel that the 35-year-old Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KOs) is one other chip shot for Teofimo (20-1, 13 KOs) to make sure he doesn’t get crushed once more.
These cash fights have been elusive for Teofimo, partly as a result of his loss to George Kambosos Jr. and controversial wins over Sandor Martin and Jamaine Ortiz.
What has been lacking from Teofimo’s sport in the previous couple of years or the spectacular spotlight reel knockouts he routinely scored till he fought Vasily Lomachenko in 2020? That struggle modified Teo right into a fighter who had a tricky time simply making an attempt to win by resolution.
Aside from that struggle, Teofimo has all the time chosen to face opposition the place he was the favourite, which has resulted in his matches not producing a lot buzz with followers. Teo’s reputation, or lack thereof, is the direct reason behind his tendency to take solely gimmes, and he’s shockingly too obtuse to know that.
“My ideas on Steve Claggett is a Rocky Balboa film. I’m Apollo Creed, and that’s what I consider it,” mentioned Teofimo Lopez to Sean Zittel’s YouTube channel. “I don’t overlook him. He’s going to carry the most effective out of me on this struggle.
Claggett has too many defeats for him to suit into the Rocky Balboa mildew, and followers aren’t shopping for into Teofimo’s excuse for why he’s utilizing this man as his opponent. They suppose it’s simply one other mushy decide by Teofimo, who hasn’t confronted a gifted fighter since 2020.
Teofimo made an enormous manufacturing about his struggle with Josh Taylor, however that man was washed, coming off a yr layoff and a controversial win over Jack Catterall in February 2022.
“I decide these kinds of fighters to carry the most effective out of me. I wish to see what extra I can do. The opposite champions in my weight class, despite the fact that I’m the lineal and #1 within the division, wish to unify these guys,” mentioned Teofimo.
Teofimo, 26, might improve his reputation if he reached exterior his consolation zone by transferring up a weight class to 147 to tackle Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Brian Norman Jr., however that might take braveness.
It will additionally contain Teofimo giving up his behavior of solely taking sure-thing fights. He’s solely had one struggle in his profession the place he wasn’t thought of the favourite, towards an older, smaller, injured Vasily Lomachenko.
“We wish to make these larger fights. Nevertheless, they’ve their agenda. They’ve their plans for his or her fighters. All I can do is keep energetic. That’s the primary half about every thing that I would like proper now,” mentioned Teofimo.
Teo isn’t going to get these larger fights that he needs until he takes some dangerous ones towards a few of the fighters who’re calling him out, like Shakur Stevenson and Keyshawn Davis.
If Teofimo isn’t keen to go as much as 147 to struggle Jaron Ennis or as much as 154 to struggle killers in that division, he must no less than take the smaller dangers towards Keyshawn and Shakur.
“If I’m not well-prepared, that is undoubtedly a tricky struggle,” mentioned Teofimo about his title protection towards little-known Claggett. “This can look unhealthy on my file if issues go his method. Having that championship mentality, I consider I’m going to win with flying colours.”
After all, Teofimo is ready for the Claggett struggle as a result of this can be a journeyman-level fighter he’s dealing with. How can Teofimo not be prepared for that sort of opponent?
He might beat this particular person even when he weren’t ready, which says rather a lot about the kind of match-making his handlers are doing for him. They have to not trust in Teofimo to place him in with Claggett.
“I’m wanting ahead to an ideal match-up. We have now the most effective matchmakers on the earth. They know what they see and what’s going to return on June twenty ninth,” mentioned Teofimo.
After Teofimo’s final efficiency towards Jamaine Ortiz, it’s comprehensible why he’s wanting ahead to preventing Claggett. That was a nightmare for Teofimo, with him getting outboxed your complete twelve-round struggle and being booed afterward by the followers.
“Steve Claggett is a excessive guard and come-forward strain fighter. The man doesn’t cease throwing punches, coming ahead, and the man doesn’t take breaks. These guys will not be straightforward fighters in any respect. It’s not straightforward. They’re powerful, powerful, tough fighters,” mentioned Teofimo.
It’s not interesting to listen to Teofimo name Claggett a high-guard fighter as a result of that means he’s a strolling punching bag for him and never somebody who has any shot at successful this struggle.
