On Saturday, June 29, boxing fans are in for a treat as Teofimo Lopez defends his Ring junior welterweight championship and WBO belt against Canadian contender Steve Claggett at the James L. Knight Center in Downtown Miami, Florida. The event will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, with Sky Sports airing it in the UK and Ireland.
Main Event: Lopez vs. Claggett
Teofimo Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs), a two-weight Ring champion who grew up in South Florida, returns home to defend his titles. Lopez made headlines with a second-round knockout of Richard Commey in 2019 and a stunning victory over Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2020. After an upset loss to George Kambosos Jr., Lopez bounced back with a junior welterweight debut win over Pedro Campa and a decisive victory over Josh Taylor in June 2023.
“I have always wanted to fight in South Florida, where I grew up and developed as a fighter," said Lopez. "This is like a Rocky Balboa story for Steve Claggett. I’m very much looking forward to what kind of style I’m going to see.”
Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KOs), a seasoned fighter from Calgary, Canada, hasn't lost since 2021. He went 4-0 in 2023, with notable wins including a TKO against former world champion Alberto Machado. "I have worked my entire life for this opportunity, and I intend to make the most of it," Claggett stated. "I’m ready to give it everything I’ve got."
Co-Feature: Ramirez vs. Benitez
In the co-feature, Cuban former WBO world champion Robeisy Ramirez (13-2, 8 KOs) takes on Mexico’s Brandon Leon Benitez (21-2, 9 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight bout. Ramirez, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, aims to bounce back after a thrilling but unsuccessful title defense against Rafael Espinoza.
“On June 29, I will begin my quest to recapture my world title and return to the top,” Ramirez said. Benitez, riding a seven-fight win streak, is determined to make a statement: “I respect Ramirez as a fighter, but I’m not going to stop throwing punches until my hand is raised.”
Undercard Highlights
The six-round televised opener features middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (10-1, 5 KOs) in a rematch against Sona Akale (9-1, 4 KOs), aiming to avenge his only pro defeat. “I’ve had a rematch before. I know how to right my wrongs,” Ali Walsh said confidently.
In other undercard action, junior welterweight Rohan Polanco (12-0, 7 KOs) faces Luis Hernandez (23-4, 20 KOs), middleweight puncher Euri Cedeño (8-0-1, 7 KOs) battles Dormedes Potes (14-6-1, 10 KOs), and Dominican prospect Yan Santana (11-0, 11 KOs) seeks his 12th straight knockout against Brandon Valdes (15-4, 7 KOs).
South Florida-born heavyweight Lorenzo Medina (10-0, 9 KOs) squares off against Colby Madison (11-7-2, 7 KOs), while Puerto Rican middleweight prospect Bryan Polaco (6-0, 4 KOs) meets Richard Acevedo (6-0-1, 5 KOs) in a six-rounder.
Don’t Miss the Action
Don’t miss out on this action-packed night of boxing that promises to deliver thrilling matchups and unforgettable moments. Tune in LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT to catch all the excitement.