Teofimo Lopez’s Next Opponent Revealed After Defeating Claggett.
Teofimo Lopez Expected a Win Over Steve Claggett, But It Wasn’t Easy
Teofimo Lopez entered the ring last weekend with high expectations of securing a spectacular victory against Steve Claggett. Although he achieved the win, it proved to be more challenging than many had anticipated.
‘The Takeover’ aimed for a dominant performance but quickly realized that Claggett was a formidable opponent ready to battle. The fight turned into a close-quarters brawl, with both men eager to trade blows, clashing heads and shoulders as they landed punches and awaited counterattacks. However, Lopez, aware of his boxing IQ and skill set, used his footwork effectively to make Claggett chase him, allowing him to take breaks from the intense pressure applied by the Calgary native.
Lopez showcased his superior striking and maintained excellent condition throughout the bout, ultimately overwhelming Claggett with a unanimous decision victory (120-108, 120-108, and 119-109). This win allowed Lopez to retain his WBO and Ring Magazine junior welterweight titles.
Despite not delivering the most impressive performance of his career, Lopez proved to be the superior fighter and never found himself in serious trouble during the grueling contest.
After the fight, ‘The Takeover’ acknowledged that the greater the challenge, the better and more confident he feels. He expressed his desire to face a high-profile opponent next, with Isaac Cruz being a realistic option. “I’m ready for a fight with Cruz. I’m 26 and still learning this game. No one fights like Steve Claggett. There’s only one fighter who fights a bit like him, and that’s Pitbull Cruz,” Lopez stated post-fight.
“Other than that, no fighter fights that way. They all box. [Terence] Crawford boxes. He doesn’t charge in. I take these kinds of fights for a reason,” Lopez declared.
For the Lopez vs. Cruz bout to materialize, the Mexican fighter must first defeat Jose Valenzuela on August 3, when Pitbull defends his WBA super lightweight title.
