TEOFIMO LOPEZ is determined to reclaim his love for boxing, not the business, starting with Saturday’s meeting with Steve Claggett.

The 26-year-old may have produced a narrow edition Teofimo figurine that will retail for $250, but he insists that making money isn’t the most critical thing, considering it was the pursuit of glory that ignited his love for sports in the first place.

Lopez was a boxing prodigy who broke into hardware as a teenager, but his meteoric rise to the top has slowed somewhat due to a shock loss to George Kambosos Jr in 2021 and a string of personal issues outside the ring.

He has also managed to hide his financial turmoil despite numerous money rows over the course of his eight-year career and has stated that even now he is not receiving the required funds.

He will face Claggett on Saturday at the James L Knight Center in Miami Beach in a fight that likely won’t earn him the money he’s received on the biggest nights of his career. But that doesn’t stop Lopez, who is redoubling his efforts to add to his already impressive legacy

“I don’t like that it’s a business,” he says. “When I was a little kid, my only focus was on legacy, fame and the accolades that come with it.

I understand all this, but will I ever get the amount of money other players got? It’s absolutely not that obvious that they mean the business side, but they don’t have the credentials that I have. He tries to change the way of thinking and point of view of business.

“I may not be getting the funds I need in my life right now, but it’s not even a need, it’s a want. I try to compare myself to others, but I just have to stay in my lane and appreciate what I have because it is so much better than many people in the world. And it’s so much better than I ever dreamed of as a little kid. Boxing is a great way to live. It shaped me into a champion.”

He is currently the WBO super lightweight champion thanks to his victory over Josh Taylor in June. He made a successful, if penniless, first defense against Jamaine Ortiz in February and is back in action just four months later.

He is currently one of four world champions in his weight class, but with no real path to a unification fight with anyone, Top Rank decided that Claggett would be a viable opponent in this fight.

“I try my best to be No. 1 and do what I have to do,” Lopez added. “Activity is the key.

“I’m just giving it time. Everything comes to those who wait and work demanding for it. I’m really doing it at this point. I’m the champion, the king of the division and really, when it comes down to it, I can’t wait to see how much more I can do and how much I can learn and grow in the sport of boxing.

Claggett, for his part, comes to Miami on a nine-game winning streak. The Canadian has suffered seven defeats in his career, but the last one took place in May 2021. However, he never fought more than 12 rounds in his career, and although he made several welterweight appearances during his career, he never fought at welterweight. anyone who can hit like Lopez.

Lopez, however, was flattered that he had deceived Ortiz at times and tried to cut off the ring to find a way to really hurt the challenger that night. Let’s not forget that after a split decision victory over Sandor Martin in 2022, during which he fell, Lopez became renowned for asking, “Do I still understand it?”

A win over Taylor in his next outing showed he’s still at it and Claggett will do well if he can go the full 12 round distance here. It’s more likely that Lopez will take control of the fight in the first quarter, tighten the screws in the second and close out the show shortly thereafter.

Then he can go back to whipping his action figures.

A crossroads clash between junior lightweight prospects will take center stage tonight in Southern California.

Eric Mondragon and Kevin Piedrahita will face off at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California. The six-round fight will precede the main event between lightweights Tayden Beltran and Cesar Villarraga.

Both fights will be broadcast live on FOX Deportes, Fubo Sports, Stadium and Gray Television (11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT).

At Friday’s weigh-in, which was held at contracted weights, Mondragon weighed 132.5 pounds. Piedrahita weighed 131.7 pounds.

“Mondragon vs. Piedrahita is a fight boxing fans won’t want to miss,” said Alex Camponovo, president of CBN Promotions and longtime matchmaker and CEO of Thompson Boxing. “Both fighters are at a pivotal point in their careers and their hunger for victory will make this fight explosive. This is what boxing is all about – skill, heart and the pursuit of greatness.

Mondragon (9-1-1, 4 knockouts), who lives in nearby Maywood, last fought on March 30, defeating Jenel Laus by unanimous decision. The victory over Lausa came almost a year and a half after suffering the first loss of his professional career at the hands of undefeated Haven Brady.

The 25-year-old Mondragon fought on a top-tier card at “The Bubble” in June 2020, fighting to a majority draw against Mike Sanchez in a fight that saw both undefeated fighters get knocked down. Mondragon understands the importance of this fight, but believes he should be watched at 130 pounds.

“This fight is a pivotal moment for me,” said Mondragon, who made his professional debut in April 2019. “I am ready to show that I am among the elite in the junior lightweight division and I will do everything in my power to come out on top. Saturday’s victory will be a significant step forward in my career. I had a great training camp and I’ll be ready to go.”

Piedrahita (9-1, 8 KO), originally from Pereira, Colombia, and currently living and training in Las Vegas, Nevada, stopped Johan Rodriguez Arreguin in the third round of his last fight on April 19. In his previous fight, which took place in November on January 3, Piedrahita stopped once-defeated lightweight prospect Pedro Hernandez Martinez in the fourth round.

The 24-year-old has won his last four fights since losing to Lisandro Barazarte in a clash of undefeated fighters in July 2022. Piedrahita is confident that he has the skill and will to win at Mondragon’s expense.

“I trained difficult for this fight,” said Piedrahita, who is promoted by Shane Shapiro. “Winning is the only option. Defeating Mondragon will put me on the map and open the door to greater opportunities. I’m here to make a statement and show the world that now, after my first defeat, I’m a better player.”

The fight between Beltran, who resides in nearby Huntington Beach, and Villarraga is scheduled for eight rounds.

Beltran (8-0-1, 4 KO) weighed 134.9 pounds. Colombian-born Villarraga (10-9-1, 5 KO) weighed 134.3 pounds.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for the Watch Party, where fans will be able to watch the Copa America soccer match between Mexico and Jamaica on huge screens inside the facility.

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Junior lightweight Maliek Montgomery will face Cesar Juarez on Friday, but he has his sights set on a future fight with amateur rival and current WBA titleholder Lamont Roach Jr.

Montgomery will compete in an eight-round match in Atlanta, Georgia as part of the OTX 8 gala organized by Overtime Boxing (OTX). Meanwhile, Roach Jr. will defend his title against Feargal McCrory in Washington, D.C. via the ProBox TV app.

Montgomery (17-0, 16 KO), a 28-year-old native of Macon, Georgia, was a top amateur but had yet to have a significant power-up fight in his professional career. He will face Juarez (29-15, 22 KO), 32, a former title challenger who fiercely fought Nonito Donaire almost a decade ago. Montgomery intends to make a statement in this fight that will be reminiscent of his sturdy amateur performances.

“I feel like I have to put on a dominant, explosive performance,” Montgomery told BoxingScene. “It shouldn’t be that far off. Regardless of who he was in the ring with and how many rounds he played, we plan to really set the tone for the rest of the year and show people that we belong in the ring with the best.

Montgomery also talked about working with his father, Michael Montgomery, his amateur coach. He reflected on the challenges of coming from Georgia, a state not as renowned in boxing as Nevada, Modern York or California despite producing standout fighters such as Evander Holyfield and Brian Norman Jr., and the birth of legends such as Ezzard Charles and Ray Leonard.

“The amateurs were a hard competitor for me because we didn’t get fair support in the large national competitions. We didn’t come from the best gym or popular cities,” Montgomery said. “We never mold the template to how they want their Olympic fighters to fight.”

This feeling fueled Montgomery’s determination, making him a tough fighter who took every defeat as motivation. Montgomery fought with the intensity and brutal style often seen in professionals, rather than the finesse game of amateur boxing.

“We had to be extra every time,” Montgomery said. “When we lost, I took it to heart, went back to camp and came back 10 times stronger.”

Montgomery hinted at unfinished business with Roach Jr., recalling their amateur meetings.

“He actually beat me twice at the National Junior Olympics,” Montgomery said. “The first year I went to the National Golden Gloves, he beat me in the finals. Now we’re both in the same weight class and he’s the champion. It’s definitely something I want in the future.”

As for Roach Jr.’s upcoming fight, Montgomery candidly shared his expectations.

“I don’t think the guy he’s fighting right now is at his level,” Montgomery said. “So I think he should get over it quickly.”