Teofimo Lopez vs Steve Claggett image by Mikey Williams – High Rank _by_Mikey_Williams_-_Top_Rank.jpg
Steve Claggett was seeking to combat his combat and do what he does finest as a stress fighter, and he did simply that. Whereas Claggett didn’t have his hand-held excessive after the combat, he can definitely maintain his head excessive.
Saturday evening 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 stress fighter could 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 arduous physique photographs and crisp uppercuts.
Whereas Lopez gained the combat 11-1 in rounds, he didn’t come near stopping the tenacious Claggett with ultimate scores studying 120-108, 120-108, 119-109.
Whereas many had written off Claggett earlier than the combat 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 one of the gifted in boxing. After the combat, 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 space with Lopez.
Claggett was on Lopez all evening and the scores didn’t replicate the fact of the stress and punching that Claggett introduced. And, judging by Lopez’s face after the combat, 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 stress placed on him by Claggett, and the variety of punches he was compelled 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 combat by the ESPN ringside crew for an unbelievable chin, conditioning, and toughness. Nonetheless, he didn’t come right here simply to combat Lopez, he got here to beat him. So, understandably, the well-spoken, refreshingly well mannered, and humble Claggett was disenchanted.
“I might have completed extra”, mentioned Claggett, “however I believed I did greater than what they gave me”, he mentioned. “However the sport just isn’t simple and I’ll be again, I’ve nonetheless bought extra to indicate. It was my first world title shot”.
Whereas Claggett definitely earned the respect of Lopez, and combat followers, he’s positive that the most effective is but to come back.
“It’s been an extended, arduous street however I’ve perseverance. I’ll maintain going. It (the combat) was OK, however I’ve bought greater than I confirmed. I’ve bought extra capacity than I confirmed. I’ve much more combat in me and I’ll be again”.
