A drained-looking Teofimo Lopez weighed in at 139.4 lbs, while opponent Steve Claggett came in at 139.5 pounds at Friday’s weigh-in for their 12-round headliner at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. The event begins at 10:00 p.m. ET at the ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+.
During the face-off, Lopez looked confident and tired from weight loss. He tends to rehydrate a lot, so, unsurprisingly, he looked worn out. Teofimo (20-1, 13 KOs) will defend his WBO light welterweight title in a voluntary defense.
Teofimo’s Crawford Call-Out
After weighing in, Teofimo reminded the media that he wants Terence Crawford next, and he’s said he’ll now move up two weight classes to fight him at 154.
Given that Crawford has no interest in fighting Teofimo, Teo’s mentioning of his name was likely a cunning, premeditated move to get some badly needed artificial interest in his mismatch against the obscure 34-year-old fringe contender Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KOs) who has been picked out over unbeaten Raymond Muratalla and Keyshawn Davis.
Undercard weights:
– Robeisy Ramirez 124.8 vs. Brandon Leon Benitez 127.1
– Nico Ali Walsh 156.9 vs. Sona Akale 156.3
Prelims ESPN+ at 5:45 p.m. ET/2:45 p.m. PT
– Emiliano Fernando Vargas 139.8 vs. Jose Zaragoza 139.1
– Elvis Rodriguez 141.6 vs. Jino Rodrigo 141.2
– Lorenzo Medina 235.6 vs. Detrailous Webster 247.7
– Rohan Polanco 142.4 vs. Luis Hernandez 143
– Yan Santana 127 vs. Brandon Valdes 127
– Euri Cedeno 161.4 vs. Dormedes Potes 161.7
“A happy fighter is a dangerous fighter, and I’m at my happiest state right now,” said Teofimo Lopez to Fight Hub TV moments after weighing in today. “It’s not going to go the distance.
“I believe with my work ethic, my punch count is, my position and punching, I’m not looking for a knockout, but through those rounds, it’s going to give him that wear and tear.
“I’ll go up to 154 two weight classes. It’s been done. Why can’t Teofimo do it now,” said Teofimo when asked about his interest in fighting Terence Crawford. “I’ll take Crawford first because Crawford is on his way out,” said Teofimo when asked who he would fight first between Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and 36-year-old Crawford.
“Get him first. He’s the lineal champion still. Take him out, and then we go back to the little mini-me, and that’s Tank,” said Lopez.
“We want Terence Crawford,” said Teofimo Sr.
“I’ll do it anyway. Anything is possible,” said Teofimo when asked if he would move up to 154 to fight Crawford and then return to the 140-lb division afterward.
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