Teofimo Lopez is set to electrify his hometown crowd as he defends his WBO and Ring Magazine junior welterweight world titles against Canadian contender Steve Claggett on Saturday, June 29. The fight will take place at the James L. Knight Center in Downtown Miami, Florida, and will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+, with Sky Sports covering the event in the UK and Ireland.
Main Event: Lopez vs. Claggett
Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs), a two-weight lineal champion, returns to South Florida where he grew up and developed as a fighter. He captured the IBF lightweight title with a second-round knockout against Richard Commey in December 2019 and defeated Vasiliy Lomachenko to claim the WBA, WBO, and WBC Franchise titles in 2020. After a shocking loss to George Kambosos Jr. in 2021, Lopez moved up to junior welterweight, defeating Pedro Campa and Sandor Martin. In June 2023, he defeated Josh Taylor to capture the WBO and Ring Magazine titles and defended them successfully against Jamaine Ortiz in February.
Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KOs), a seasoned fighter from Calgary, Canada, has been on a winning streak since 2021. The 34-year-old went 4-0 with two knockouts in 2023, capturing the NABF junior welterweight strap and defending it against notable opponents. He began 2024 with a decisive victory over Marcos Gonzalez Barrera.
Lopez on Fighting in Miami
“I have always wanted to fight in South Florida, where I grew up and developed as a fighter. I never thought it would happen, but now, on June 29, I get the opportunity to do so not just as a world champion but as the lineal world champion of my division,” Lopez said. “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.”
Co-Feature: Ramirez vs. Benitez
In the co-feature, Cuban former WBO world champion Robeisy Ramirez (13-2, 8 KOs) faces Mexico’s Brandon Leon Benitez (21-2, 9 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight bout. Ramirez, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, is on a quest to regain his world title after a thrilling but losing effort against Rafael Espinoza. Benitez is riding a seven-fight win streak, including a split decision over former world champion Xu Can.
Televised Tripleheader Opener: Ali Walsh vs. Akale II
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). Ali Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali, is determined to avenge his only pro defeat against Akale.
Additional Card Highlights
The event also features:
- Rohan Polanco vs. Luis Hernandez: An eight-round junior welterweight bout.
- Euri Cedeño vs. Dormedes Potes: An eight-round middleweight contest.
- Yan Santana vs. Brandon Valdes: A 10-round bout seeking Santana’s 12th straight knockout.
- Lorenzo Medina vs. Colby Madison: A six-round heavyweight clash.
- Bryan Polaco vs. Richard Acevedo: A six-round middleweight bout between unbeaten fighters.
Tickets and Broadcast Information
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, May 22 at 2 p.m. ET via Ticketmaster.com. Don’t miss the action live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, with Sky Sports broadcasting the event in the UK and Ireland.
Promoter’s Insight
“Teofimo Lopez is among the most electrifying fighters in the sport, and I know he’s motivated to put on a show against a very tough challenger in Steve Claggett,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Robeisy Ramirez wants to become a two-time world champion, and the road back starts in his adopted hometown. Nico Ali Walsh has been asking for the Akale rematch from the moment the judges’ decision came back after their first fight, and he now has a chance for revenge.”
Prepare for an Unmissable Night of Boxing
Mark your calendars for June 29th and witness Teofimo Lopez defend his titles against Steve Claggett in Miami. Join the excitement live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+, and Sky Sports.
