Teofimo Lopez Sr. has been the biggest supporter of the career of his son Teofimo Lopez Jr. Similar to Earl Woods’ prediction of greatness for his son Tiger Woods, Lopez Sr. proclaimed his vision of his son’s success, which materialized when the younger Lopez defeated Vasiliy Lomachenko – and then came crashing down after he lost to George Kambosos Jr. a year later.
Lopez Jr. fights Steve Claggett, a high-punch-output fighter from Canada who is on a nine-fight winning streak, this Saturday in Miami Beach, Florida.
Lopez Jr. (20-1, 13 KOs), 26, is in need of a great performance. An accomplished fighter, he has nevertheless turned in inconsistent performances that make fans question his privilege to call for big fights. Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KOs), 35, has a resume that makes most fight fans lukewarm toward him, yet his skill set and ability aren’t reflected by his record. And Lopez Sr. notes that Claggett got the fight with his son for a reason.
“Nobody wants to fight us,” Lopez Sr. said in a video released on promoter Top Rank’s YouTube page. “We called out everybody. We are not just going to sit around and not have fights.”
“You saw what happened with Jamaine Ortiz – he ran for his life that night. Claggett was the only one who wanted the challenge, so let’s make this happen and hopefully get better fights.”
In February, Lopez Jr. fought in a high-profile Super Bowl weekend card against Jamaine Ortiz, a match criticized for its lack of activity and a decisive outcome. Lopez Sr. emphasized Claggett’s danger, noting, “This guy is no pushover. He is coming to fight, and we need that.”
Entering the fight on a four-match winning streak, Lopez Jr. may need a standout performance to attract bigger names. A recent callout of Terence Crawford fell on deaf ears, but a win and a sharp outing could put Lopez Jr. back into the conversation for fights with Crawford and other top opposition.
“This is the best he has ever looked in camp,” Lopez Sr. said of his son. “I saw him sparring yesterday. It was just ridiculous. This is the best sparring I saw – he is sharp, fast, strong. He had it all.”
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