NEW YORK (June 281, 2024)–Split-T Management’s WBO Junior Welterweight world champion Teofimo Lopez defends his title against Steve Claggett on Saturday night at The James L. Knight Center in Miami.
Lopez of Brooklyn is a five-time, two-division and former undisputed lightweight world champion, will look to make his second defense of his 140-lb. crown.
Lopez, who now resides in Las Vegas via Brooklyn, is managed by Split-T Management, and has a record of 20-1 with 13 knockouts. The former undisputed lightweight champion is a five-time world champion as he won the IBF Lightweight title with an explosive second-round stoppage of Richard Commey on December 14, 2019 at Madison Square Garden. Lopez picked up three more belts when he won a unanimous decision over Vasiliy Lomanchenko on October 17, 2020.
The 26 year-old Lopez became a two-division world champion with a master class performance when he won a unanimous decision over WBO Junior Welterweight title over Josh Taylor on June 10th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. In his last bout, Lopez made the initial defense of his title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Jamaine Ortiz on February 8th in Las Vegas.
Claggett of Calgary, Alberta, Canada will be making his first attempt at a world title.
The 35 year-old has been a professional for 16 years. Claggett earned the opportunity on the strength of a current nine-fight winning streak that has consisted of wins over Sebastian Aguirre (18-3), Tony Luis (29-5), Rafael Guzman Lugo (26-2-2), former world champion Alberto Machado (23-3), Carlos Sanchez (24-1), Miguel Madueno (30-1) and his last out when he blasted out Marcos Gonzalez Baraza (23-3) in two rounds on January 25th in Montreal.
Claggett also has wins over Harrison McBain (2-0-1), Abdou Sow (3-0), Ryan Wagner (4-1), Ricky Duenas (12-1), Stuart McLellan (12-1-3), Emanuel Robles (15-0-1), Yves Ulysse Jr, (14-0), Petros Ananyan (13-0-2) and David Theroux (16-3).
Lopez is promoted by Top Rank, weighed 139.4 lbs at Friday’s weigh-in. Claggett was 139.5
The Lopez – Claggett bout will be on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ beginning at 10 PM ET.
Photo by Mikey Williams / Top Rank
In a preliminary bout, undefeated featherweight, Yan Santana will make his United States debut when he takes on Brandon Valdes in a bout scheduled for 10 rounds.
Santana of La Romana, Dominican Republic is 11-0 with all wins coming via stoppage. The 24 year-old Santana of La Romana, Republic has stopped three undefeated opponents and is coming off a fourth round stoppage over Rodolfo Hernandez Montoya on April 6th in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Valdes of Rosemead, California is 15-4 with seven knockouts. The 25 year-old Valdes is coming off a loss to former world title challenger Ruben Villa on September 15, 2023 in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Santana weighed 127 lbs. Valdes was also 127 lbs.
The bout will be streamed on ESPN+ at 5:45 PM ET.
Friday night in Atlanta, two more members of the Split-T Management team will be in action.
Photo By OTX Boxing
Friday in Atlanta, two members of the Split-T Management team will be in action as Tiara Brown will take on former world champion Gabriela Bouvier in a 10-round featherweight bout.
Brown of Lehigh Acres, Florida is managed by Brian Cohen and carries an impressive mark of 16-0 with 11 knockouts.
Brown, 36, has wins over Vanessa Bradford (5-1-2), Jennifer Martinez (2-0), and is coming off a first round stoppage over Angi Romero on February 17th in Colombia.
Bouvier of Uruguay is 19-12-1 with four knockouts. The 32 year-old Bouvier won the IBF Flyweight title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Florencio Roxana Centeros. She made one defense of the crown. Bouvier had three more world title opportunities. Bouvier has won four in a row with the latest being a 10-round unanimous decision over Augustina Marisa Delen Rojas on December 9, 2023 in Uruguay.
Brown weighed in at 126 lbs. Bouvier was 125.8.
Photo By OTX Boxing
Also in Atlanta, undefeated super middleweight Donte Layne takes on Montrel James in a four-round bout.
Layne, 21 years-old of Elmont, Long Island. New York is 2-0 with two knockouts. Both of Layne’s wins have been first round stoppages with the most recent being over DeShuan Mitchell (2-0) on March 29.
James of Saint Louis is a 12 fight veteran who is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Raymond Harrison (5-1-1) on August 11, 2023 in Saint Louis.
Layne was 167.2 lbs. James was 167.4 lbs.
The Brown and Layne fights are Live on DAZN at 8 PM ET