Teofimo Lopez acknowledges that journeyman Steve Claggett is a hungry fighter trying to upset him on Saturday evening of their twelve-round contest on ESPN.
Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs) says his ring IQ is on one other stage, and Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KOs) will uncover that when he will get within the ring with him on the James L. Knight Middle in Miami, Florida.
Teofimo doesn’t count on Claggett to vary his come-forward combating type for his or her struggle like his final opponent, Jamaine Ortiz, did.
Lopez took that struggle considering that Jamaine was going to brawl with him, however as a substitute, he boxed and made Teofimo look unhealthy your entire 12-round struggle final February. He uncovered Teofimo as missing hand velocity and talent to chop off the ring.
In opposition to the slow-footed Claggett, who lacks velocity or mobility, Teofimo gained’t have to fret about being outboxed.
High Rank has picked the right opponent for Teo to look spectacular, however the struggle hasn’t helped Teofimo’s recognition as a result of followers aren’t enthusiastic about this match-up.
Teofimo says the one motive he’s combating Claggett is as a result of not one of the high names wished to struggle him, which isn’t true. He wished this man. Teo picked Claggett over these three fighters:
– Keyshawn Davis
– Raymond Muratalla
– Arnold Barboza Jr
Lopez’s Technique
“They’ve been making ready since February. Fifteen years, his entire life, for this chance. That is the kind of fighters we need to go after typically,” mentioned Teofimo Lopez to Title Sports activities Community about his struggle towards journeyman Steve Claggett on Saturday evening on ESPN.
“Not on a regular basis, however typically, and that’s simply due to the truth that if we are able to’t get the unification belts that I’m trying ahead to, then we acquired to make it occur someway, a way,” mentioned Teofimo.
Attempting to arrange a unification struggle with Teofimo is just about unimaginable as a result of he has a excessive price ticket, and he would both value himself out of the struggle or reject it. He might have fought former IBF mild welterweight champion Subriel Matias earlier than he misplaced his title, however he didn’t need it.
A unification towards Devin Haney would have been unimaginable to do due to the purse necessities.
“This man is hungry. He’s going to come back and convey it, however for a way lengthy, we’ll see,” mentioned Teofimo.
After all, the 34-year-old Claggett is hungry as a result of he’s been within the professionals a very long time and hasn’t gotten wherever close to a world title due to his many losses. Every time Claggett would acquire any momentum, he’d lose.
“My IQ is on one other stage, however we’re by no means going to take that away from Steve Claggett and what he’s carried out to this point,” mentioned Teofimo. “Each individual that he’s confronted, he’s confronted former world champions and stopped them. So, I simply sit up for a terrific battle on Saturday.”
Teofimo is a daily boxer who will get by along with his energy and match-making extra so than having a excessive ring IQ. He tends to collapse when pressured and could be very uncomfortable when his opponents come to win.
When Teofimo campaigned at light-weight, his energy was lots higher as a result of he was enormous for that division. When he moved as much as 140, his energy didn’t include him, and his knockouts have dried up.
Now, Teofimo is pressured to win fights by choice, and he’s had a few controversial wins over Jamaine Ortiz and Sandor Martin. The explanation for that’s Teofimo’s boxing abilities are adequate, and he can’t depend upon knocking out most of his opponents like he had carried out at 135.
“Jamaine Ortiz fooled everyone and fooled me, and that was high-quality,” mentioned Teofimo about his final opponent, who he struggled with, profitable a controversial choice final February.
“This man is understood for only one factor. He’s a straight ahead come ahead fighter, and he tries to tire you out. This man has been making ready since February. So, he’s been coaching onerous.”
High Rank selecting Claggett needs to be seen as a kneejerk response by them after seeing how unhealthy Teofimo appeared towards the boxer/puncher Jamaine. When High Rank noticed that, they possible determined to maintain Teo away from anybody with abilities and deal with utilizing come-forward fighters.
“Throughout our face-off, he smiled. This isn’t a smiling sport. I acquired to go do what I acquired to do. You’re attempting to take my bread and butter, and I’m not going to permit that. So, count on a very good struggle, some good blows, and simply count on his face besting up my palms,” mentioned Teofimo about Claggett.
