Teofimo Lopez will defend his world junior welterweight championship against Canada's Steve Claggett on Saturday, June 29th, at James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. In the ten-round featherweight co-feature, former champion Robeisy Ramirez returns against Mexico’s Brandon Leon Benitez. The six-round televised opener sees middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh attempt to avenge his only pro defeat in a rematch against Sona Akale. Teofimo-Claggett, Ramirez-Benitez & Ali Walsh-Akale II will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Sky Sports will broadcast the event in the UK & Ireland. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Eye of The Tiger, tickets go on sale Wednesday, May 22 at 2 p.m. ET via Ticketmaster.com.

 

“Teofimo Lopez is among the most electrifying fighters in the sport, and I know he’s motivated to put on a show against a very tough challenger in Steve Claggett,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Robeisy Ramirez wants to become a two-time world champion, and the road back starts in his adopted hometown. Nico Ali Walsh has been asking for the Akale rematch from the moment the judges’ decision came back after their first fight, and he now has a chance for revenge.”

 

Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs), a two-weight lineal champion who grew up in South Florida, captured the IBF lightweight world title with a second-round knockout against Richard Commey in December 2019. The following year, he triumphed over pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko to claim the other three belts and the true world championship. He lost the belts in an upset to George Kambosos Jr. in November 2021. The 26-year-old made his junior welterweight debut in August 2022, registering a seventh-round TKO versus Pedro Campa before tallying a points verdict over Spanish southpaw Sandor Martin that December. In June 2023, Lopez upset former undisputed champion Josh Taylor to capture the world and WBO titles. He defended his crown with a unanimous decision over former amateur rival Jamaine Ortiz in February. 

 

Lopez said, "I have always wanted to fight in South Florida, where I grew up and developed as a fighter. I never thought it would happen, but now, on June 29th, I get the opportunity to do so not just as a world champion but as the lineal world champion of my division. This has been one of my goals since turning pro, and I’m motivated to showcase my talent there in front of my Honduran fans and the entire Latino community. This is like a Rocky Balboa story for Steve Claggett. I'm very much looking forward to what kind of style I'm going to see. There were no other fighters who were interested in fighting me, and I felt like he would give not just me, but the fans as well, a great fight to watch."

 

Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KOs), a native of Calgary, Canada, is a 15-year veteran who hasn’t lost a fight since 2021. The 34-year-old went 4-0 with two knockouts in 2023. In March, he stopped Rafael Guzman Lugo in seven. He regitered a third-round TKO against former 130-pound title holder Alberto Machado in June before decisioning Carlos Sanchez in September and Miguel Madueño in November. He kicked off his 2024 in January by dispatching Marcos Gonzalez Barrera in two. 

 

Claggett said, “I have worked my entire life for this opportunity, and I intend to make the most of it. I am more motivated than ever before, and I’m ready to give it everything I’ve got.”