Teofimo Lopez fights for the second time this year in June, putting his WBO Super-lightweight World title on the line against Canada’s Steve Claggett.
‘The Takeover’ has found a new lease of life at 140 after losing his unified belts to George Kambosos Jr one division down, beating Josh Taylor for the WBO strap and defending it against Jamaine Ortiz in early 2024.
The 26-year-old now faces Claggett, 38-7-2, ranked number 10 with the sanctioning body and yet to fight a twelve-rounder.
It’s safe to say the matchmaking hasn’t impressed promoter Eddie Hearn, who this weekend watched his 140lbs charge Jack Catterall exact long-awaited revenge over Taylor.
In the post-fight press conference, Hearn said Jack Catterall should now be challenging for a world title, and that Lopez was the preference.
“Teofimo Lopez is fighting Steve Claggett. I don’t want to be disrespectful to Steve Claggett but it’s a f***ing disgrace. Joke. Absolute joke fight.
You’re talking about Teofimo Lopez coming off a good win against Josh Taylor, says he’s the best 140 pounder in the world, that’s a joke fight. This is the guy [Catterall] that should be fighting Teofimo Lopez, and we believe he’ll beat him all day long.”
Catterall was 6th in the WBO rankings in the May update, however the Taylor win will move him up one spot at least, perhaps more. His other routes to world honours are the WBC and Devin Haney, the IBF’s Subriel Matias – both with Hearn’s Matchroom – or the WBA champ, Isaac Cruz.
