On Saturday, June 29, Teofimo Lopez made his way down to the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida for an opportunity to defend his WBO Super Lightweight Championship against Canada’s Steve Claggett. Despite landing more than 300 punches, Lopez could not knock Clagett down during the 12-round fight. However, the New York native did cruise to a unanimous decision victory, improving his professional record to 21-1 with 13 knockouts.
“I just want the best and I want to fight the best so I can collect more legacy. That’s what it’s all about. The glory,” he said after the fight.
Lopez will seemingly continue his journey to glory this fall. After suggesting that he’d like to fight again in September, Lopez has seemingly challenged interim WBO Welterweight Champion Brian Norman Jr. to a showdown.
“147 is something that I plan on moving toward, probably even in this next upcoming match,” Lopez told ESPN’s Mark Kriegel during the network’s broadcast of Raymond Muratalla’s unanimous decision victory against Tevin Farmer.
“Listen, I believe what really sounds swell is ‘Teofimo Lopez, three-division world champion at 27 years young.’ I’m all about that.'”
Norman Jr. picked up the interim WBO Welterweight Championship after stopping the previously unbeaten Giovani Santillan in the 10th round on May 18, 2024.
“I know for a fact fans have definitely not seen the best of me yet. At all. Not 100 percent. I’m not stunting or none of that. I’m just going to do my thing and get the W’s. Stuff like that. I know that at the final bell, as long as my hand is raised, I’m straight,” Norman Jr. said in May.
If Lopez moves up to welterweight, he could have an opportunity to show fans his best in the biggest fight of his career thus far.
