Teofimo Lopez vs Steve Claggett image by Mikey Williams – Prime Rank _by_Mikey_Williams_-_Top_Rank.jpg
Steve Claggett was trying to struggle his struggle and do what he does greatest as a strain fighter, and he did simply that. Whereas Claggett didn’t have his hand-held excessive after the struggle, he can definitely maintain his head excessive.
Saturday night time on the James L. Knight Centre in Miami, Florida, WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez (21-1, 13 KO’s) scored a UD 12 over Calgary, Canada’s Steve “The Dragon” Claggett (38-8-2, 26 KO’s).
To say Claggett is a strain fighter can be an understatement of epic proportions. And, from 1st bell till final, he introduced all that and extra. Claggett works off a continuous offense of quantity punching and that’s precisely what he purchased to Lopez. As for Lopez, he seemed to remain within the pocket and counter with onerous physique photographs and crisp uppercuts.
Whereas Lopez received the struggle 11-1 in rounds, he didn’t come near stopping the tenacious Claggett with remaining scores studying 120-108, 120-108, 119-109.
Whereas many had written off Claggett earlier than the struggle as a straightforward mark for the gifted Lopez, he was something however that, regardless of the lopsided scores.
Claggett was going through a fighter thought of some of the gifted in boxing. After the struggle, Lopez was calling out all the highest names like Terence “Bud” Crawford and Isaac “Pit Bull” Cruz. So, it was no small victory that Claggett had simply gone the gap with Lopez.
Claggett was on Lopez all night time and the scores didn’t mirror the truth of the strain and punching that Claggett introduced. And, judging by Lopez’s face after the struggle, Claggett landed his justifiable share of leather-based.
In a post-fight interview, it was clear that Claggett had definitely earned the respect of Lopez.
“He’s a troublesome fighter, I don’t assume anyone ought to overlook him”, mentioned Lopez. “Look what we gave the followers out right here”, he mentioned to the cheers of the South Florida crowd.
As for coping with the quantity of strain placed on him by Claggett, and the variety of punches he was pressured to throw, the tempo of the bout was not misplaced on Lopez.
“Am I within the 500 (punches) membership like Claggett”, he mentioned with a chuckle.
Claggett was praised after the struggle by the ESPN ringside crew for an unimaginable chin, conditioning, and toughness. Nevertheless, he didn’t come right here simply to struggle Lopez, he got here to beat him. So, understandably, the well-spoken, refreshingly well mannered, and humble Claggett was disenchanted.
“I might have carried out extra”, mentioned Claggett, “however I believed I did greater than what they gave me”, he mentioned. “However the recreation is just not straightforward and I’ll be again, I’ve nonetheless acquired extra to point out. It was my first world title shot”.
Whereas Claggett definitely earned the respect of Lopez, and struggle followers, he’s certain that the most effective is but to come back.
“It’s been a protracted, onerous highway however I’ve perseverance. I’ll hold going. It (the struggle) was OK, however I’ve acquired greater than I confirmed. I’ve acquired extra potential than I confirmed. I’ve much more struggle in me and I’ll be again”.
