Pound-for-pound star Teofimo Lopez is set to defend his WBO and Ring magazine titles against unknown Steve Claggett at the James L. Knight Center in Miami Beach on June 29. The 12-round fight, in addition to the undercard, will be broadcast on ESPN+ in the US.
López (20-1, 13 KOs) is one of the most decorated fighters in the world. The enigmatic Brooklyn boxer and puncher defeated the great Vasiliy Lomachenko to establish himself as the lightweight number one and then dethroned Josh Taylor to claim super lightweight honors.
LOOK: Teofimo Lopez vs. Steve Claggett, exclusively on ESPN+ in the US
In contrast, despite having been a professional for almost 16 years, Claggett’s career has flown under the radar. Undefeated since 2021, this will be the 35-year-old puncher’s first world title fight and he is looking for a colossal upset. Will the challenger be able to deliver the final blow or is he simply out of reach?
The Jugo Mobile takes a closer look at Lopez’s next challenger.
Who is Steve Claggett?
Claggett was a successful amateur in the Alberta region of Canada and once won a Golden Gloves championship. After finding himself on the wrong side of the law, he decided to focus on a professional career and resigned in 2008.
Facing no favors in the paid ranks, Claggett struggled to land meaningful fights and a lucrative deal with a big-name promoter was a pipe dream. He showed early promise, going undefeated in his first 12 fights, but then his form declined.
A stoppage loss in 2011 to journeyman Romeo Jakosalem was a bitter pill to swallow and was followed by an eight-month layoff. Claggett rebounded with four wins, but setbacks became frequent and weakened his momentum.
A split decision loss to Mathieu Germain in 2021 was something of a turning point. In an unusual move, Claggett sought the services of Germain’s trainer, Mike Moffa, so that he could work on his own weaknesses.
“I was like, Mike, show me what you did, show me how you beat me,” Claggett recalled in a interview with BoxingScene last year. “I wanted to get better. It’s not about your ego, it’s about the journey. I had to put my ego aside to learn and take a step forward.
“If they knew how to beat me, they knew what I had to work on. Turns out we’re a better team than enemies because we’re creating magic in the boxing ring. I’m glad I swallowed my pride.”
Now aligned with Eye of the Tiger Management, Claggett rededicated himself to the sport and won nine fights in a row. He is determined and brave, characteristics that are required in fights at the highest level.
With 26 of his 38 wins coming by knockout, he can also hit, so the challenger at least has a chance to hit.
Steve Claggett Record, Stats and Biography
- Nationality: Canadian
- Born: June 11, 1989
- Height: 5-8
- Reach: 70 inches
- Total fights: 47
- Record: 38-7-2 with 26 wins by knockout
