Teofimo Lopez defeats Steve Claggett: Round-by-round title bout analysis

The WBO junior welterweight title is not heading to Canada. It’s staying in Miami with Teofimo Lopez.
Lopez ensured that by dominating Canada’s Steve Claggett Saturday night in defending his world title.
Lopez was impressive in his unanimous decision victory, and so was Claggett’s chin.
The judges scored it 120-108, 120-108, 119-109.
Here’s a round-by-round breakdown of all the action:
Claggett the aggressor and throwing lefts. As expected. Waiting to see how Lopez counters. Lopez delivers with a couple of lefts, but going to be hard to back him up. Lopez using that left well to counter. Claggett still coming forward, but pressure does not mean punches landed. Lopez 10, Claggett 9.
Claggett smothering again, and Lopez seems comfortable with the rhythm. Withstand the flurry and counter with the left or body punches. Lopez drills Claggett with a right and the dance continues. Lopez delivers three rights and appears to be in control. Claggett connecting too, but with less frequency and force. Lopez 20, Claggett 18.
Claggett knows one speed and direction: hard and straight ahead. Lopez would probably prefer some more space to work. But he’s grinning. Lopez now taking punches to give punches. Maybe more than desired. Strong finish by Lopez. Lopez 30, Claggett 27.
Lopez fires speedy combos, and that slows Claggett in his tracks. Well, for a few seconds. Claggett connecting now. Lopez delivers an uppercut that staggers Claggett. Lopez finds the range here. Lopez connecting with combos and body punches and, wow, Lopez in top form. Lopez 40, Claggett 36.
Lopez working harder to keep a distance from Claggett. Good footwork. But now Claggett has him in the corner again. Lopez responds with two hard lefts. Fast finish again for Lopez. Lopez 50, Claggett 45.
Claggett emerges as before, Lopez’s shadow. Into the corner they go, and Claggett is connecting. Claggett pumps his right gloves as the round ends. Maybe he knows something we don’t? Lopez 60, Claggett 54. 
Claggett rushes forward. Yeah, you guessed, right? Lopez delivers some punishing rights. Then a left uppercut. But Claggett still coming forward. Is Lopez getting tired? Lopez connects with some heavy punches. But Claggett seems almost impervious. Lopez 70, Claggett 63.
The scariest thing about Claggett is his ability to push forward. Leaves so little breathing room. Lopez connects with a huge uppercut. Stuns Claggett, and yet back comes Claggett. Lopez connects with another big punch at the bell. Lopez 80, Claggett 72. 
Lopez flashy as he evades a few punches. Oh, here come the uppercuts again. Gutsy performance by Claggett. Eerie, too. What does it take to stop this guy? Lopez 90, Claggett 81.  
Claggett stalking and firing. But he takes a big right. Two big punches to Lopez. “Teo! Teo.’’ Crowd doing its best to propel Lopez to a big finish. It’s not coming. Lopez unfurls a flurry to finish the round. Lopez 100, Claggett 90.
Lopez still handling this skillfully, but no KO blow? He’s drawn blood from Claggett’s nose, but can he put Claggett on the canvas? Lopez grinning. Or so it seemed. What an active fight. Another flourish from Lopez at the end of the round. Lopez 110, Claggett 99.
As expected … here comes Claggett. Lopez throwing impressive combos and moving well around the ring. Huge right uppercut from Lopez. Claggett incredibly still on his feet and throwing punches. Another strong finish, but without a KO to show for it. Lopez 120, Claggett 108.
Ramirez, the two-time Olympic gold medalist from Cuba, looked like gold again in this featherweight bout.
With creativity and great footwork, Ramirez dominated the fight from start to finish.
His masterful performance culminated with a vicious left-hand uppercut and a right that knocked out Benitez.
Ramirez, who won Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016, improved to 14-2.
Benitez fell to 21-3.
A tactical round for Ramirez. Cagy as he fired with his left and right hands, Benitez at times looked more active and aggressive but not clear if he’s scoring. Ramirez 10, Benitez 9.
Ramirez delivers a big left. And another, this one to the body. More artful footwork from Ramirez, and he makes it count with a hard right. Ramirez 20, Benitez 18. 
Ramirez whaling away early. But Benitez fighting back. Well, trying. Ramirez delivering combos and Benitez walking his way into jabs. Benitez getting in his licks, too – just not enough. Ramirez 30, Benitez 27. 
Good pace early. Benitez pushes Ramirez to the canvas. That might be the only way he’ll get him down, but it’s not going to count. Benitez unloading a lot of punches, but Ramirez is doing it with accuracy and devastation. Blood coming from Benitez’s nose. Ramirez 40, Benitez 36.
Poor Benitez. Blood flowing from that split nose. Ramirez looks like an artist who’s chosen Benitez as his canvas. Benitez trying to mimic Ramirez’s style. Maybe baiting him. Not working. Ramirez 50, Benitez 45. 
Remarkably, Benitez emerges aggressive again. Ramirez dissecting more than pounding with his pinpoint punches. Crowd’s whistling. Maybe ready for Ramirez to end this. Ramirez 60, Benitez 54.
Benitez still game, but maybe against his better judgment. Ramirez’s gloves waiting for Benitez’s face at every turn. Huge left hand uppercut from Ramirez. Down goes Benitez! A left uppercut followed by a right. Good night. KO victory.
Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of Muhammad Ali, scored a third-round knockdown, then survived the sixth and final round with a seemingly dislocated left shoulder and for his trouble he got booed.
The crowed expressed its displeasure after Ali Walsh won the middleweight bout by unanimous decision. The judges scored it 58-55, 57-56 and 57-56.
With the victory, Ali Walsh (10-1) avenged his only loss, a majority decision defeat against Akale on Aug. 26, 2023.
Ali Walsh noticeably taller and leaner than Akale. But they look well matched as they exchange jabs and a combination or two. Ali Walsh lands two strong rights and shows some flair in slipping Akale’s rights. Ali Walsh 10, Akale 9.
Akale trying to land the overhand right. Ali Walsh having none of it. But Akale does land a left – and Walsh felt it. Ali Walsh 19, Akale 19. 
Ali Walsh showing good footwork and a little showmanship. Baiting Akale. But Akale moving forward and cutting the distance between the two fighters. Brawling ensues and Akale loses his mouthpiece. Down goes Akale. Tagged by a left hook from Ali Walsh. He’s up but the round is over. Ali Walsh 29, Akale 27.
Akale showing no effects from that knockdown. Aggressively coming after Ali Walsh. But Ali Walsh peppers Akale with jabs and appears to be in control. Just like that, Akale lands a solid right and moves into control. Ali Walsh 39, Akale 36.
Akale charges out and is unloading punches. Referee briefly intervenes. Now they’re back at it. Ali Walsh’s face looks battered. Again, the brawling begins, and Akale seems to be in his element. Ali Walsh trying to keep his distance – wisely. Akale pounding Ali Walsh with huge punches. Gaping cut under Akale’s eye. What a scene. Ali Walsh 48, Akale 46.
Ali Walsh appears to be fighting with a dislocated left shoulder. Appears he was trying to punch it to get it back into place. Now switching to southpaw stance. Somehow creative and resourceful enough to stay afloat here. Ali Walsh 57, Akale 56.
The main card starts at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday night.
The fight can be watched on ESPN and streamed via ESPN+. 
FanDuel: Lopez -1200 favorite, Claggett +710 underdog 
DraftKings: Lopez -1150, Claggett +650 
BetMGM: Lopez -900, Claggett +600 
Caesars: Lopez -1400, Claggett +750 
Harrison Campbell, The Tennessean: Claggett’s only ever been knocked out once, but he’s also never faced a fighter like Lopez. Prediction: Lopez by KO, 10th round. 
Abraham Gonzalez, Fights Around the World: Teofimo Lopez is too smart and athletic of a fighter to succumb to Steve Claggett’s pressure. Prediction: Lopez by TKO, seventh round or later.  
Saturday’s Teofimo Lopez-Steve Claggett fight is being held at the James L. Knight Center in Miami Beach, Florida.
20-1 with 13 KOs. Steve Claggett is 38-7-2 with 26 KOs. 
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