MIAMI, FL — Teofimo Lopez Jr. has learned to tame the anxiety that once plagued him, and his newfound calm was on full display this week. Preparing for his WBO/Ring Magazine junior welterweight world championship title defense against Canadian Steve Claggett, Lopez seemed more reflective and relaxed than ever.
Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) put on a dazzling performance at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida, winning by unanimous decision. Judges Lisa Giampa and Efrain Lebron scored the bout 120-108, while judge Steve Weisfeld had it 119-109. Lopez landed a career-high 315 punches, averaging a career-best 79 punches per round.
“I am really relaxed. I like where I am. I’m getting older, my son is getting older, and I have to show what it means to be a stand-up man,” Lopez said. “Claggett is a tough guy. I have much respect for him. They were telling him that he had the fight, and that I was getting tired. In reality, I was there. We had a game plan, and we stayed with it.”
From the outset, Claggett (38-8-2, 26 KOs) pressured Lopez, flicking out jabs. Although Claggett’s punches were constant, they lacked power, and Lopez absorbed many with his shoulders and arms. As the rounds progressed, Lopez's strategy became clear: he would lure Claggett in and counter effectively.
In the second round, Claggett continued to smother Lopez, but his output started to drop slightly. By the third, Lopez landed a left hook and a straight right, signaling his awakening. He followed with a series of uppercuts that popped Claggett’s head back, establishing control.
By the fifth round, Claggett’s output had diminished considerably. Lopez began to dominate, using his left shoulder as a battering ram and teeing off on Claggett. Despite Claggett's courage and constant forward movement, he couldn't keep Lopez at bay.
Lopez’s assault continued through the ninth and tenth rounds. He worked the body and enforced his will with uppercuts, right hands, and combinations. Claggett, though game, was clearly taking a beating. In the final round, Lopez unleashed a barrage of shots, ending the fight with a dominant flurry.
“I saw combinations from my son that I never saw before,” said Teofimo Lopez Sr., Lopez Jr.’s father and trainer. “We knew we had to go to the body, and Claggett did an amazing job. But my son was too strong. We are thinking of moving to 147. We want Terence Crawford. That’s the goal.”
Lopez Jr. echoed his father’s sentiments, expressing his desire to move up in weight. “I am absolutely thinking of moving up. My legs and body have to move up, moving to 147. I want Terence Crawford. That’s the goal.”