Teofimo Lopez vs Steve Claggett Picks, Predictions, & Odds: Lopez Lands Lopsided Victory

Teofimo Lopez defends his WBO junior welterweight title against Steve Claggett in one of our featured boxing attractions this weekend, taking place at the James L. Knight Center in Miami Beach.

“The Takeover" nearly choked on the main stage earlier this year in a lackluster win over Jamaine Ortiz, and the upset-minded Claggett hopes to make the most of his long-awaited title shot. 

Boxing odds have Lopez as a major -1,100 favorite and Claggett as a +650 underdog. Read my Lopez vs. Claggett predictions and free betting picks below.

Lopez vs Claggett prediction and pick

• My fight prediction
  Teofimo Lopez moneyline (+1,100 at DraftKings)
  
  
• My best bet
  Teofimo Lopez to win by decision (+160 at DraftKings)

Fight analysis

Teofimo Lopez faces a challenging scenario each time he steps into the ring. He has outboxed Vasiliy Lomachenko and pummeled Josh Taylor but dropped a decision to George Kambosos Jr. and nearly lost to Jamaine Ortiz in his last fight simply because he wasn’t 100% focused.

When he’s on, Lopez looks like one of the best fighters in the world. However, when he isn’t fully invested, he tends to fight down to his opponent’s level, which can derail his momentum. This dynamic makes his fight with journeyman Steve Claggett more intriguing, as Lopez must prove he can stay out of his own way. Claggett, a rough-and-tumble brawler, should be an easy target for a focused Lopez. I’m banking on Lopez being motivated to erase the memory of his poor performance against Ortiz.

Claggett is a gatekeeper with clubbing power and is as rugged as they come. He has taken down many unprepared prospects on the regional scene and has won his last nine fights since 2021. While Claggett can be a problem for those accustomed to shorter fights, he's facing his first world-class challenge at 35 years old because he's predictable. Claggett moves forward, stays on his opponent’s chest, and swings away to the head and body while applying heavy pressure.

Lopez, who is naturally a counter-puncher, should have an easy time against Claggett, who isn’t as fleet-footed as Ortiz to exploit Lopez’s occasional lack of ring-cutting ability. This should provide Lopez with an easy target, one that should fall victim to his superior skill and technique.

Claggett’s heart and pride will push him to give his all in what could be his only shot at a world title. This fight has all the makings of a confidence booster for Lopez, but an unmotivated or disinterested Lopez could make the fight more competitive than necessary.

I believe Lopez’s decision to face Claggett comes from knowing he needs to put on a great performance. Even if Lopez underperforms, he can still rely on his boxing technique to win. However, Claggett could make the early rounds challenging if Lopez takes them off to formulate his attack. Either way, Lopez should secure the win.

Pick: Teofimo Lopez moneyline (+1,100 at DraftKings)

Best best analysis

Lopez hasn’t shown the same power at junior welterweight that he had as a physically imposing lightweight, and Claggett’s lone stoppage loss came 13 years ago in the early stages of his career. This is a big jump in class for Claggett, and Lopez will aim to dominate in hopes of restoring momentum after his previous stale performance.

I fully expect Lopez to win. He’s too smart to risk punching himself out or fighting Claggett’s game by giving up his distance and trying to out-tough him on the inside, and he won't allow himself to deliver another dull performance. Expect Lopez to secure a one-sided decision victory.

Pick: Teofimo Lopez to win by decision (+160 at DraftKings)

Teofimo Lopez vs Steve Claggett odds

Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of 6-27.

Teofimo Lopez vs Steve Claggett tale of the tape

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