Teofimo Lopez's Upcoming Title Defense Set Against Steve Claggett

Teofimo Lopez's next title defense is officially confirmed. Top Rank has announced that "The Takeover" will face Canadian veteran Steve Claggett on June 29th at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida.

This ESPN broadcast is expected to compete directly with the Juan Francisco Estrada vs. "Bam" Rodriguez event on DAZN.

Steve Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KOs), aged 34, will get his first world title shot nearly 16 years after turning professional. Although his record isn't flawless, Claggett is far from a mere "cans crusher" who occasionally serves as a stepping stone for prospects. He has notable victories over Yves Ulysse Jr. and Petros Ananyan, and has faced numerous mid-level opponents. Remarkably, Claggett hasn't been stopped in over a decade, with many of his losses being split or majority decisions.

While it's commendable that Claggett is getting this opportunity after years of hard work, he appears to be a more manageable opponent for Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs) compared to previous challengers like Sandor Martin and Jamaine Ortiz.

The co-feature will see former WBO featherweight champion Robeisy Ramirez (13-2, 8 KOs) return to the ring against Brandon Lee Benitez (21-2, 9 KOs). Ramirez endured a tough bout against Rafael Espinoza last December but remains resilient despite some unexpected losses in his professional career. Benitez, 26, has been on a winning streak with a 7-0 record since his 2019 knockout loss to Saul Sanchez, including a narrow victory over former champion Xu Can two years ago.

The event opener features Nico Ali Walsh (9-1, 5 KOs) continuing his comeback against Sona Akale (9-1, 4 KOs). At 36, Akale's only recent win is against Cameron Krael, who is currently on a 1-11 losing streak, which speaks volumes about Akale's chances in this bout.