Teofimo Lopez routs game Claggett to retain lineal/WBO 140 title
Robeisy Ramirez blasts out Benitez to set up 126 title rematch with Espinoza; Ali Walsh avenges lone loss with dislocated shoulder
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Teofimo Lopez got exactly what he bargained for from Steve Claggett — a tough, durable challenger who came forward non-stop on Saturday night.
But Lopez was well prepared and in supreme condition, and although he took some solid shots, he dominated the fight from start to finish to retain the lineal/WBO junior welterweight title in the main event of the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card at the James L. Knight Center in Miami. It amounted to a homecoming for Lopez, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, but grew up and learned to box in nearby Davie, Florida.
Lopez won by shutout scores of 120-108 on two scorecards and one judge had it 119-109 as he retained his 140-pound championship for the second time. Fight Freaks Unite also had it 120-108.
“I knew exactly what kind of fighter this guy was,” Lopez said. “Maybe you guys don’t know, but I sure as hell knew. He was going to come forward and test my conditioning and that’s what we had. We went 12 rounds. He’s a tough fighter.”
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