Among the many many boxing playing cards going down on the worldwide panorama this weekend, there are a pair of important occasions value specializing in providing all the things from a big-name return to a junior bantamweight title showdown that merely cannot be missed.
Teofimo Lopez Jr. (20-1, 13 KOs), the WBO and lineal junior welterweight champion, headlines a card from Miami on Saturday when he defends his crown in opposition to Canadian Steve Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KOs) (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET). In the meantime, in Phoenix, Arizona, rising star and two-division champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs) takes on his hardest check to this point when he challenges pound-for-pound stalwart and WBC tremendous flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada (44-3, 28 KOs) (DAZN, 9:30 p.m. ET).
Boxing couldn’t be any hotter proper now than what’s occurring at 140 kilos, the place the 26-year-old Lopez resides because the lineal king. However the native of Brooklyn, New York, has had troubles drawing the large names ever since his dismantling of former undisputed champion Josh Taylor.
Lopez survived an ungainly resolution in opposition to defensive-minded Jamaine Ortiz in February and was pressured to accept considerably of a stay-busy protection in opposition to the unheralded Claggett regardless of calling out each large identify.
“I do not know if I survived [against Ortiz] as a result of it was too straightforward in a way of a man not eager to struggle with me,” Lopez instructed CBS Sports activities earlier this month. “However the king stays king and that is the place I have to be. And I am trying to give the followers what they need and that is nice fights.
“Stylistically, [Claggett] is a come-forward fighter. He throws plenty of punches. I’ve seen him cease plenty of fighters. And he is a pure welterweight coming right down to 140. This man is high 15 in our weight division. We have been trying to struggle one of the best of one of the best, as all the time. We needed the champions like Subriel Matias, Isaac Cruz and even Devin Haney, at that one second and time, and needed to make a unification bout however they’ve their very own agenda.”
Whereas Lopez, a monster betting favourite, is predicted to wash up on the 35-year-old Claggett, who’s using a nine-fight successful streak courting again to 2021, it is the fighter whom Lopez is quietly auditioning for which may open some eyes.
After turning into the lineal and unified champion at light-weight with a 2020 upset of Vasiliy Lomachenko after which the acknowledged 140-pound king by defeating in Taylor in 2023, Lopez most covets the chance to grow to be king over a 3rd division.
“If it permits, my important purpose at this second is to have that triple crown, and for me that is Terence Crawford,” Lopez mentioned. “Lots of people chuckle at that and say I am not prepared however they mentioned the identical factor for me forward of combating Taylor, Lomachenko and even Richard Commey. And have a look at how these outcomes got here out. I am simply somebody that likes to face one of the best. Terence Crawford is among the greatest fighters on this planet, until at the present time, and that is somebody I wish to face. He has one of the best type that may adapt to something and I wish to check myself in opposition to him.
“However that is who we face in Steve Claggett, who is not any pushover or no slouch, actually. This is sort of a ‘Rocky Balboa’ film for him. That is my second to essentially present why I’ll keep on high and right here I’m.”
“That is one thing I’ve labored my entire life for. I really feel like I’ve nice momentum proper now. It is the time for me,” Claggett mentioned on the remaining press convention this week. “I do not actually care about what different folks say. You may solely management your perspective, so I do what I do know is correct and put together like I greatest know. I sacrificed and put within the work.”
Such lofty accomplishments as industrial stardom and significant respect among the many P4P greatest are issues Lopez has already attained due, largely, to his willingness to match himself powerful so early on in his profession. That very same “daring to be nice” spirit is alive and nicely within the 24-year-old Rodriguez.
A local of San Antonio, the thrilling southpaw identified merely as “Bam” has taken over the decrease weight divisions at a fast tempo over the previous three years.
Rodriguez received a vacant tremendous flyweight title in 2022 by outpointing Carlos Cuadras after which made a powerful case for himself within the fighter of the 12 months race by stopping former division king Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. Then, after transferring right down to 112 kilos the next 12 months, Rodriguez continued his bold journey by soundly outpointing Christian Hernandez to win the vacant WBO title earlier than unifying the IBF strap in a beatdown of unbeaten champion Sunny Edwards.
This time, Rodriguez strikes again as much as tremendous flyweight to face a 34-year-old future Corridor of Famer in Estrada. The Mexican warrior not solely epitomizes the combating spirit of his residence nation however he has constructed a rising legend primarily based upon monumental wins over each fighter who has mattered prior to now decade between 112 and 115 kilos, together with Sor Rungvisai, , former P4P king Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (twice), Cuadras (twice), Hernan Marquez, Brian Viloria and Giovani Segura.
Rodriguez mentioned it is an outright honor to share the ring with somebody like Estrada, whom he idolized as an beginner. However there’s additionally a little bit of underlying rigidity between the 2 slightly below the floor, which dates again to feedback Estrada made about Rodriguez after his breakout arrival at 115 kilos in 2022.
“It isn’t too private to the purpose the place I’m mad about what he mentioned however I do wish to show him flawed and present him that I am the reality and I am the true deal,” Rodriguez instructed Matchroom Sport cameras final month. “It is a essential struggle. Once I had the belt, he mentioned a number of issues and discredited my wins in opposition to Cuadras and Sor Rungvisai. That, on high of combating for his world title, makes it as large as it may be.
A high-speed battle between two motion stars is predicted on Saturday, with the winner possible transferring from the periphery of the highest 10 P4P to the subsequent stage atop the game, the place names like Crawford, Naoya Inoue, Oleksandr Usyk and Canelo Alvarez reside.
The undercard in Miami additionally marks the return of a pair of rising prospects. Robeisy Ramirez is again in a featured contest in opposition to Brandon Leon Benitez at featherweight. Plus, Nico Ali Walsh is again when he takes on Sona Akale II at middleweight.
Let’s check out the most recent odds earlier than attending to predictions on the pair of important occasions.
Predictions
Teofimo Lopez Jr. (-1400) vs. Steve Claggett (+750)
Jesse Rodriguez (-600) vs. Juan Francisco Estrada +430)
Claggett merely would not have the elusiveness or skillset that Ortiz did to provide Lopez pause in February. And Ortiz largely punted on something offensive to be able to maintain the scorecards shut.
This struggle is all about Lopez re-establishing himself as an thrilling draw who is understood for knockouts as he continues to audition for greater fights, most of which may be made within the sport’s present panorama. Lopez has come up empty earlier than in a memorable upset loss to George Kambosos Jr. again in 2021 however that struggle had circumstances hooked up to it that this one would not.
Count on Lopez to look nice in successful large. The one query comes down as to if he can rating a stoppage in doing in order critics proceed to query whether or not he actually introduced his energy as much as 140 kilos with him or not.
In the meantime, over in Phoenix, the expectations encompass nothing however the potential of 12 livid rounds at 115 kilos between Rodriguez and Estrada. The tempo can be quick and the changes from each boxers will have to be quicker.
Nevertheless it seems like Rodriguez has sufficient within the tank to push via what Estrada is providing whereas exhibiting he has the chin to face in and ship. Going to the physique can be necessary for Rodriguez, as will ensuring to complete the nearer rounds with large flurries to sway the judges.
Picks: Lopez through TKO9 (-145); Rodriguez through MD12 (+100)