Among the many many boxing playing cards happening on the worldwide panorama this weekend, there are a pair of primary occasions price specializing in providing every part 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 take a look at thus far 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 taking place 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 massive names ever since his dismantling of former undisputed champion Josh Taylor.
Lopez survived a clumsy determination in opposition to defensive-minded Jamaine Ortiz in February and was compelled to accept considerably of a stay-busy protection in opposition to the unheralded Claggett regardless of calling out each large title.
“I do not know if I survived [against Ortiz] as a result of it was too straightforward in a way of a man not desirous to combat with me,” Lopez instructed CBS Sports activities earlier this month. “However the king stays king and that is the place I must 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 all the way down to 140. This man is prime 15 in our weight division. We had been trying to combat one of the best of one of the best, as at all times. We wished the champions like Subriel Matias, Isaac Cruz and even Devin Haney, at that one second and time, and wished to make a unification bout however they’ve their very own agenda.”
Whereas Lopez, a monster betting favourite, is predicted to scrub up on the 35-year-old Claggett, who’s driving a nine-fight successful streak relationship again to 2021, it is the fighter whom Lopez is quietly auditioning for that 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 change into king over a 3rd division.
“If it permits, my primary aim at this second is to have that triple crown, and for me that is Terence Crawford,” Lopez mentioned. “Lots of people giggle 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 without doubt one of the greatest fighters on the planet, until today, and that is somebody I wish to face. He has one of the best type that may adapt to something and I wish to take a look at myself in opposition to him.
“However that is who we face in Steve Claggett, who isn’t 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 prime and right here I’m.”
Such lofty accomplishments as industrial stardom and important respect among the many P4P greatest are issues Lopez has already attained due, largely, to his willingness to match himself robust 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 speedy tempo over the previous three years.
Rodriguez gained a vacant tremendous flyweight title in 2022 by outpointing Carlos Cuadras after which made a powerful case for himself within the fighter of the yr race by stopping former division king Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. Then, after shifting all the way down to 112 kilos the next yr, Rodriguez continued his formidable 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 based mostly upon monumental wins over each fighter who has mattered up 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 newbie. 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 mistaken and present him that I am the reality and I am the actual deal,” Rodriguez instructed Matchroom Sport cameras final month. “This can be a crucial combat. After I had the belt, he mentioned just a few issues and discredited my wins in opposition to Cuadras and Sor Rungvisai. That, on prime of combating for his world title, makes it as large as it may be.
A high-speed warfare between two motion stars is predicted on Saturday, with the winner probably shifting from the periphery of the highest 10 P4P to the following stage atop the game, the place names like Crawford, Naoya Inoue, Oleksandr Usyk and Canelo Alvarez reside.
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 present Lopez pause in February. And Ortiz largely punted on something offensive with a purpose to preserve the scorecards shut.
This combat is all about Lopez re-establishing himself as an thrilling draw who is thought for knockouts as he continues to audition for larger fights, most of which might 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 combat 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 whether he can rating a stoppage in doing in order critics proceed to query whether or not he really 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 shall be quick and the changes from each boxers will must be quicker.
Nevertheless it seems like Rodriguez has sufficient within the tank to push by what Estrada is providing whereas exhibiting he has the chin to face in and ship. Going to the physique shall 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)