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The heat continues: Miami fight night featuring Teofimo Lopez-Steve Claggett WBO junior welterweight world title fight June 29 at the James L. Knight Center LIVE on ESPN

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The Takeover returns to its South Florida roots.

Teofimo Lopez will defend his Ring Magazine WBO junior welterweight world titles against Canadian challenger Steve Claggett on Saturday, June 29 at the James L. Knight Center in Downtown Miami, Florida.

In a 10-round featherweight fight, Cuban former WBO world champion Robeisy Ramirez will face Mexican Brandon Leon Benitez.

In the televised six-round opening bout, middleweight Nico Ali Walsh seeks revenge for his only loss in a rematch against Sona Akale.

Teofimo-Claggett, Ramirez-Benitez and Ali Walsh-Akale II will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT. Sky Sports will broadcast the event in the UK and Ireland.

Tickets promoted by Top Rank in cooperation with Eye of The Tiger will go on sale on Wednesday, May 22 at 2:00 PM ET on Ticketmaster.com.

“Teofimo Lopez is one of the most electrifying fighters in the sport and I know he is motivated to put on a show against a very tough challenger in Steve Claggett,” said top president Bob Arum. “Robeisy Ramirez wants to become a two-time world champion, and the road back begins in his adopted hometown. Nico Ali Walsh has been asking for an Akala rematch since the judges decided their first fight, and now he has a chance for revenge.”

Lopez (20-1, 13 KO), a two-weight lineal champion who grew up in South Florida, won the IBF lightweight world title with a second-round knockout of Richard Commey in December 2019. The following year, triumphant pound-for-pound king Vasily Lomachenko would win the WBA, WBO and WBC Franchise titles. He lost the belts in a shocking situation to George Kambosos Jr. in November 2021. The 26-year-old made his junior welterweight debut in August 2022, registering a seventh-round TKO against Pedro Campa before earning a points verdict over Spanish southerner Sandor. Martin in December. In June 2023, Lopez painted a boxing masterpiece when he upset former undisputed champion Josh Taylor to capture the WBO and Ring Magazine titles. He defended his crown by unanimous decision over former amateur rival Jamaine Ortiz in February.

Lopez said: “I have always wanted to fight in South Florida, where I grew up and developed as a fighter. I never thought it would happen, but now, on June 29, I get the chance to do it not only as a world champion, but as a lineal world champion in my division. This has been one of my goals since I became a professional, and I am motivated to showcase my talent there in front of my Honduran fans and the entire Latin community. It’s like a Rocky Balboa story for Steve Claggett. I can’t wait to see what style I see. There were no other fighters who were interested in fighting me and I felt like he would give not only me but also the fans a great fight to watch.”

Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KO), from Calgary, Canada, is a 15-year veteran who has not lost a fight since 2021. The 34-year-old achieved a 4-0 result in 2023 after two knockouts. In March, he defeated Rafael Guzman Lugo in seven fights and won the vacant NABF junior welterweight belt. He defended it via third-round TKO against former world champion Alberto Machado in June, followed by decision victories over Carlos Sanchez in September and Miguel Madueño in November. He started 2024 in January by sending out Marcos Gonzalez Barrera in two.

Claggett said: “I have worked all my life for this opportunity and I intend to make the most of it. I am more motivated than ever before and ready to give my all. “

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UK Boxing

Tyson Fury sends an ominous warning to Oleksandr Usyk

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Tyson Fury has promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Tyson Fury vowed to hurt Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday's rematch. Photo: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry
Tyson Fury vowed to hurt Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday’s rematch. Photo: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry

Tyson Fury vowed to “seriously hurt” him in Saturday’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury is for revenge first defeat his professional career when he meets Usyk at the Kingdom Arena in Riyad, seven months after he was dropped by split decision at the same venue.

“The Gypsy King” has put in a solemn performance throughout the build-up and continued that attitude during Wednesday’s public training session.

The 36-year-old put on his gloves, greeted the audience and took off his gloves without landing a single blow on his pads.

The Briton, who is generally in a cheerful mood, revealed little in the interview DAZN then, but sent his rival a dire warning.

Tyson Fury promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Tyson Fury promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

“A lot of pain.

“Smash and destroy.

“A lot of pain, solemn hurt.”

Fury, who is aiming to become a three-time world heavyweight champion, held a training camp in Malta ahead of the rematch and earlier this week claimed he had not had contact with his wife Paris for three months.

Usyk secured the undisputed heavyweight title in May but vacated the IBF belt to secure a rematch, while Daniel Dubois, who arrived in Riyadh earlier this week, was elevated to full champion after winning the interim title.

If the fighter from Morecambe exacts revenge, according to Fury’s British promoter, Frank Warren, a third fight with the Ukrainian has already been contracted.

However, Fury promised a victory so comprehensive that the 37-year-old would never fight again.

“I will definitely make him feel 37 years vintage,” Fury said Queensberry Promotions.

– He’ll be there with the Gypsy King, not whoever I was last time.

“I feel very good and I can’t wait for Saturday’s fight.

Usyk performed brilliantly, defeating Fury in the first fight. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Usyk performed brilliantly, defeating Fury in the first fight. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

“I’m going to end him, end his career.

“You will never hear from Oleksandr Usyk again after this.”

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UK Boxing

Referee Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk has always played a controversial role

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Roberto Ramirez Jnr has been appointed referee for the highly anticipated rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, and his past has been controversial.

The two heavyweight titans will clash again next weekend, with the “Gypsy King” looking to settle the score following his first professional loss to the Ukrainian in May in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

However, main center Ramirez Jnr, who will be overseeing the fight, has been embroiled in controversy before. Last year he officiated Chantelle Cameron’s high-profile rematch with Katie Taylor, in which Cameron became the first to defeat the Irish star before losing in the next fight. After the match, Cameron’s coach Jamie Moore criticized Ramirez Jnr, blaming him for Cameron’s defeat.

“She’s clearly devastated, you can imagine,” Moore revealed to BBC 5 Live Boxing. “She just feels like this whole scenario was set up for her to lose. In a way, we were determined to prove everyone wrong, just like we did last time. But last time she got away with it. I’m not saying, “First of all, I just want to say that from what I watched, it was a close fight that could have gone either way.”

“We were denied a knockdown in the first round, which should have happened. The knockdown is 100% justified. Before the fight, I was begging the referee in the locker room, please, she got away with it last time, holding tight. My athlete’s best work is close. Please don’t let her hold you like last time. And he let her do worse this time than last time. After securing victory, brawler Bray became the undisputed world champion in two weight classes.

Cameron herself later expressed doubts about the referee’s choice for their rematch with Taylor, speaking to BBC Radio Northampton: ‘It wasn’t just me and Katie in that ring. If that were the case, I would have accepted defeat and said I had won the better women that night. I had everything against me. The referee that night… it was such a high level fight, why would you hire a referee no one had heard of. It’s not my job, it’s my job, it’s my job to fight, don’t look at who’s refereeing, I’m just frustrated – if I could go back, I’d make sure everything was taken into account.

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UK Boxing

Eddie Hearn turns heads in Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 pick

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Tyson Fury has promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Eddie Hearn has picked Tyson Fury to win his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk after initially siding with the Ukrainian team. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing/Top Rank
Eddie Hearn has picked Tyson Fury to win his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk after initially siding with the Ukrainian team. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing/Top Rank

Eddie Hearn has changed his mind about the outcome of Saturday’s rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.

Hearn will be a guest pundit on Riyad’s DAZN broadcast as Fury looks to exact revenge on Usyk, seven months after losing his undefeated record to the Ukrainian in the same arena via split decision.

The Matchroom boss initially sided with Usyk and secured his second victory in a row over “The Gypsy King”.

“I think it’s demanding for anyone to pick Tyson Fury to win the fight with balance,” Hearn said. talkSPORT.

“I think it will be an incredibly close fight. I think the last one was too.

Tyson Fury promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Tyson Fury promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

“But I think given what we saw from Usyk in the first fight, his ability to absorb information, I think he’s very complex to put.

“I want Fury to win, I think he can win.

“I think he will have to do something extraordinary that we have seen before.

“But I think with common sense it is very complex not to choose Oleksandr Usyk in this fight.”

Fury took a disastrous ninth round to a eternal eight count before reaching the final bell and earlier this week vowed to end the 37-year-old’s career, although his promoter Frank Warren insists a third fight will be booked if he emerges victorious.

However, Hearn has now changed his mind and is backing his compatriot to seek revenge for the only loss of his professional career.

“I expect another really close fight on Saturday,” said the 45-year-old Boxing in the match room.

“I choose Tyson Fury for many reasons.

“I just have a sneaky feeling.”

Hearn will be present on the DAZN broadcast of the Usyk vs Fury 2 match. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Hearn will be present on the DAZN broadcast of the Usyk vs Fury 2 match. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

“You start focusing on your pre-fight preparations.

“I saw these things yesterday [at the grand arrivals].

“I thought he looked very relaxed.

“Usyk talks really cocky, really different.

“I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but I’m going with Tyson Fury and Tyson Fury on points.”

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