Teofimo Lopez will defend the WBO and Ring Magazine super lightweight titles against unheralded Steve Claggett on June 29 before hopefully turning his attention to bigger game in 2024. The 12-round fight, plus preliminary action, will stream on ESPN+ in the U.S.
- Teófimo López vs. Steve Claggett undercard
- Robeisy Ramírez vs. Brandon León Benítez
- Nico Ali Walsh vs. Sona Akale 2
- Yan Santana vs Brandon Valdes
- Elvis Rodríguez vs. Jino Rodrigo
- Rohan Polanco vs. Luis Hernández Ramos
- Euri Cedeño vs. Dormedes Potes
- Emiliano Vargas vs. José Zaragoza
- Lorenzo Medina vs. Detrailous Webster
- Information to tune in to the fight Teofimo López vs. Steve Claggett
Lopez (20-1) has accomplished a lot at a young age. The 26-year-old dethroned Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2020 to become the unified lightweight champion. Losing the belts a year later to George Kambosos Jr., “The Takeover” moved up to 140 pounds and has won four in a row since. He beat Josh Taylor for the WBO and Ring super lightweight belts in May of last year.
The legacy of the Brooklyn-born fighter is already established. However, he is far from done and is looking for massive fights, including a dream contest with pound-for-pound great Terence Crawford.
“I don’t want to say I’m at my best yet. I think it’s too early, I’m only 26 years old,” López said. Kidding through Bad left hook. “I think it’s too early to talk like that. I think I will reach my true peak at 28 years old. We have approximately one more year to see that come to fruition.
LOOK: Teofimo López vs. Steve Claggett, exclusively on ESPN+
“But at least right now, I feel a big difference. “I’m being more fluid, I’m taking down these fighters that I’m training with lately just with rhythm and timing.”
Claggett (38-7-2), NABF super lightweight champion, fights for world gold for the first time. He is on a nine-game winning streak since 2021.
On the undercard, a former champion looks to win gold again, while the grandson of a legend wants to avenge the only loss of his young career.
Teófimo López vs. Steve Claggett undercard
Here’s a breakdown of all the action on the Lopez vs. Claggett card.
Robeisy Ramírez vs. Brandon León Benítez
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Ramirez’s record: 13-2
- benitez record: 21-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
The co-main event will see robeisy ramirez vs. Brandon Leon Benitez.
Ramirez (13-2), a two-time Olympic gold medalist for Cuba, is a former WBO featherweight champion, beating Isaac Dogboe earlier in 2023 but losing to Rafael Espinoza at the end of the year. Both fighters were knocked down, but Ramirez came up short and is now ready to return.
“Recovering my world title is my mission right now. Throughout my life and boxing career, I have always used setbacks as motivation. This time is no different,” Ramírez said. “I just want my loyal fans to know that this journey is far from over. I will be world champion before the end of the year and this return will be legendary.”
Benítez (21-2) has won seven consecutive fights since 2019. The Mexican fighter with nine victories by knockout is ranked fourth in the WBO and seeks to unseat the former champion in the rankings.
Nico Ali Walsh vs. Sona Akale 2
- Division/Weight: Middleweight
- Ali Walsh’s record: 9-1
- akale record: 9-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Nico Ali Walsh and Sona Akale compete in a rematch to open the ESPN+ main card.
Muhammad Ali’s grandson Walsh (9-1) turned pro in 2021. The tie was broken when his opponent Danny Rosenberger failed a drug test, but the 23-year-old suffered a narrow decision loss to Akale in August. He bounced back in March and is now looking to avenge the only loss of his young career.
Akale (9-1) is on a two-fight winning streak. He has four wins by knockout and is looking to prove that his victory over Walsh was no fluke.
Yan Santana vs Brandon Valdes
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Santana Record: 11-0
- Valdes’ record: 15-4
- Belts at stake: N/A
Yan Santana faces Brandon Valdes.
Santana (11-0) is a rising Dominican prospect who has won all of his fights by knockout. This will be the first time he competes in the United States against a very experienced opponent.
Valdes (15-4) is 2-2 in his last four fights. The 25-year-old last fought in September, losing in a convincing duel against the experienced Rubén Villa.
Elvis Rodríguez vs. Jino Rodrigo
- Division/Weight: Super light
- rodriguez record: 15-1-1
- rodrigo’s record: 12-3-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
Further down the card you will find Elvis Rodriguez vs. Jino Rodrigo.
Rodriguez (15-1-1) lost for the first time in 2021 to Kenneth Sims Jr. and has won four in a row since. The 28-year-old, known as “The Dominican Kid”, knocked down former champion Viktor Postol in the sixth round of their fight before ending it in the seventh.
Rodrigo (12-3-2) has won three straight, and all three ended by knockout. The Filipino has 10 victories by knockout.
Rohan Polanco vs. Luis Hernández Ramos
- Division/Weight:Welterweight
- Polanco record: 12-0
- Ramos record: 23-4
- Belts at stake: N/A
Rohan Polanco faces luis hernandez ramos.
Polanco (12-0), a 2020 Olympian for the Dominican Republic, has won seven fights by knockout. He looks to thrive on a high-profile card and go 2-0 in 2024.
Ramos (23-4) is 2-3 in his last five fights. He has won all but three contests in his career by knockout.
Euri Cedeño vs. Dormedes Potes
- Division/Weight: Middleweight
- cedeno record: 8-0-1
- pot record: 14-6-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Euri Cedeno and Dormedes Potes compete at middleweight.
Cedeño, bronze medalist in the Central American and Caribbean Games (8-0-1) has won all but one fight by knockout. The Air Force soldier is set to go 2-0 in 2024.
Potes (14-6-1) is 2-2 in his last four fights and is on a two-fight losing streak. The Colombian has 10 wins by knockout.
Emiliano Vargas vs. José Zaragoza
- Division/Weight:Super light
- vargas record:10-0
- Zaragoza record:9-8-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
Emiliano Vargas faces Jose Zaragoza.
Emiliano (10-0), one of boxing’s top prospects, is the son of former world champion Fernando Vargas. He has eight wins by knockout and looks to go 3-0 in 2024.
Zaragoza (9-8-2) has not won a fight since 2022. He is 0-3-1 in his last four fights and has suffered losses to some of boxing’s top prospects.
Lorenzo Medina vs. Detrailous Webster
- Division/Weight: Heavyweight
- medina record: 10-0
- Webster’s record: 7-3
- Belts at stake: N/A
Finally, lorenzo medina faces Webster detractor.
Nicknamed the “Giant Killer,” Medina (10-0), 6-2, is a force. The Florida native has won all but one fight by knockout.
Webster (7-3) is 2-2 in his last four fights and is already 1-1 in 2024. Outside of boxing, Webster is 0-0-1 in bare-knuckle action.
Information to tune in to the fight Teofimo López vs. Steve Claggett
- Date: Saturday June 29
- Location: James L. Knight Center – Miami, Florida
- Start time: 10 pm ET (12 am ET for main event) | 3am BST (Sunday) | 12:00 pm AEST (Sunday)
- how to look: ESPN+ in the US ($10.99 for a monthly subscription / annual subscription for $109.99) | sky sports in the UK | TSN+ in Canada | Kayo in Australia
Lopez vs. Claggett is scheduled for Saturday, June 29 from the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. The main card will begin at 10 pm ET and the main event is expected to begin around midnight ET. Fans can watch the fight on ESPN+.
