Next Saturday, June 29, at the James L. Knight Center in MiamiTeófimo López IV (20-1, 13 KOs) will defend against the Canadian Steve Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KOs) his title of welterweight champion of the World Organization Boxing.
On the same evening, the Cuban Robeisy Ramírez will clash against the Mexican Brandon León Benítez.
Father and son
At a meeting at the El Nuevo Orgullo Catracho restaurant on Calle Ocho in Miami, Teófimo López spoke about his relationship with his father and his search for something big in his career.
“I want to add to my legacy,” said Theofimo IV. “I’m only 26 years old and I’m growing up. Many, however, were left by the wayside.”
Teófimo IV has already achieved very important things: he is the greatest boxer of Honduran origin, he has been world champion in three organizations and in his record he has a sensational victory over the legendary Ukrainian champion Vasyl Lomachenko.
Much of this is due to his father, his creator and current coach.
“Now that I have a son, I understand my father better,” confessed Teofimo IV. “Now I listen to my father more and I want to be the same for my son as my father is for me. I am happy with a percentage of that.”
Their child is two years old and is called Teófimo V. The origin of the name comes from his great-great-grandfather Teófimo, then his grandfather Teófimo II and the father of the boxer Teófimo III.
“Theofimo IV was born by accident,” said Theofimo III. “My wife had given me two daughters, Andrea and Jazmín, and she no longer wanted to have more because she said that she was going to have another daughter, but she became pregnant. Only when she gave birth did we know that he was a man.”
A possessed one
When he was five years old, Teofimo III emigrated with his mother to the United States. After living interchangeably in New York and Honduras, he settled in Brooklyn.
Following the birth of Teofimo IV in Brooklyn 26 years ago, the family settled in Davie, South Florida.
At the age of six, Teófimo IV began to practice boxing after having accompanied his father to the gym.
“He was a docile, obedient, disciplined and very good-natured boy,” his father recalls. “We were always together.”
The father was struck by his son’s good behavior and then by his transformation inside the rings.
“You don’t understand that change, it’s as if you were possessed,” commented the father. “It’s like another power came out of him, you can see it in his eyes.”
He has that instinct that is needed in boxing to define the fights, and that is why this sport arouses so much controversy because to succeed you do not have to score a goal, a basket, a hit, or touch the opponent, as in fencing. For example, if not, you have to hurt your opponent and, if possible, knock him out. That’s what they brutally call “the killer instinct.”
Theofimo IV has it, that’s why he is at the top.
Brave heart
Not only in attack Teófimo IV is determined and decisive but also in defense and has a huge heart.
His father remembers that when he lost his only fight, against the Australian George Kambosos Jr., on November 27, 2021 at Madison Square Garden in New York, he was about to lose his life.
That fight had been postponed because Teófimo IV fell ill with Covid 19 and was left with an after-effect that was only discovered after the defeat when he was rushed to the hospital.
“My son fought Kambosos with a hole in his chest and another in his throat,” his father recalled. “He had only 94 oxygen. He complained before the fight, and I was sure the NY State Medical Commission wasn’t going to approve him, but to my surprise they gave him the go-ahead.”
Theofimo III remembers that his son began to fight in a horrible, disorderly manner and did not obey his instructions.
“Later he explained to me that when he defended himself he choked, and that’s why he attacked as best he could because that’s where he felt more relieved. Several times I told him to stop the fight, but he didn’t want to and fought until the end.”
Anguish, happiness, love, trust, close ties, an inseparable life. These are the Teófimo López, an exciting family experience, a clear example that unity makes strength. In private they are deeply close and perhaps this story would never have been known if Teófimo IV had not gone so far. He has achieved it and wants more, because his goal now is to enrich his legacy.
June 29 program in Miami
Teofimo López vs. Steve Claggett, junior welterweight, 12 rounds
Robeisy Ramírez vs. Brandon León Benítez, feather, 10 rounds
Yan Santana vs. Brandon Valdes, pen, 10 rounds
Rohan Polanco, Luis Hernández Ramos, welterweight, 8 rounds
Euri Cedeño vs. Dormedes Pots, medium, 8 rounds
Emiliano Vargas vs. José Zaragoza, Jr. welterweight, 8 rounds
Lorenzo Medina vs. Colby Madison, heavyweight, 10 rounds
Nico Ali Walsh vs. Sona Akale, medium, 6 rounds
