Teofimo Lopez, WBO gentle welterweight champion, insists that his opponent, Steve Claggett, gained’t be a straightforward struggle for him this Saturday evening, June 29, of their twelve-round foremost 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 because of his loss to George Kambosos Jr. and controversial wins over Sandor Martin and Jamaine Ortiz.
What has been lacking from Teofimo’s recreation in the previous few 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 troublesome time simply attempting to win by determination.
Aside from that struggle, Teofimo has at all times 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 recognition, or lack thereof, is the direct reason for his tendency to take solely gimmes, and he’s shockingly too obtuse to grasp that.
“My ideas on Steve Claggett is a Rocky Balboa film. I’m Apollo Creed, and that’s what I consider it,” stated Teofimo Lopez to Sean Zittel’s YouTube channel. “I don’t overlook him. He’s going to deliver one of the best out of me on this struggle.
Claggett has too many defeats for him to suit into the Rocky Balboa mould, and followers aren’t shopping for into Teofimo’s excuse for why he’s utilizing this man as his opponent. They assume it’s simply one other gentle decide by Teofimo, who hasn’t confronted a proficient fighter since 2020.
Teofimo made a giant 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 forms of fighters to deliver one of the best out of me. I need 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, need to unify these guys,” stated Teofimo.
Teofimo, 26, may improve his recognition if he reached outdoors his consolation zone by transferring up a weight class to 147 to tackle Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Brian Norman Jr., however that will 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, in opposition to an older, smaller, injured Vasily Lomachenko.
“We need to make these greater fights. Nonetheless, they’ve their agenda. They’ve their plans for his or her fighters. All I can do is keep lively. That’s the principle half about all the things that I would like proper now,” stated Teofimo.
Teo isn’t going to get these greater fights that he needs until he takes some dangerous ones in opposition to 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 at the very least take the smaller dangers in opposition to Keyshawn and Shakur.
“If I’m not well-prepared, that is positively a troublesome struggle,” stated Teofimo about his title protection in opposition to little-known Claggett. “This can look dangerous on my document if issues go his means. Having that championship mentality, I imagine I’m going to win with flying colours.”
In fact, Teofimo is ready for the Claggett struggle as a result of it is a journeyman-level fighter he’s dealing with. How can Teofimo not be prepared for that type of opponent?
He may beat this particular person even when he weren’t ready, which says so much about the kind of match-making his handlers are doing for him. They have to not have faith in Teofimo to place him in with Claggett.
“I’m trying ahead to an excellent match-up. Now we have one of the best matchmakers on the earth. They know what they see and what’s going to come back on June twenty ninth,” stated Teofimo.
After Teofimo’s final efficiency in opposition to Jamaine Ortiz, it’s comprehensible why he’s trying ahead to combating Claggett. That was a nightmare for Teofimo, with him getting outboxed your entire twelve-round struggle and being booed afterward by the followers.
“Steve Claggett is a excessive guard and come-forward stress fighter. The man doesn’t cease throwing punches, coming ahead, and the man doesn’t take breaks. These guys usually are not simple fighters in any respect. It’s not simple. They’re powerful, powerful, tough fighters,” stated 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 profitable this struggle.
