Mike Coppinger
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ESPN Boxing InsiderMike Coppinger has covered boxing since 2010 with roles at USA Today, Ring Magazine and The Athletic before he joined ESPN in 2021. You can follow him on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger
Paul Gutierrez
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ESPN Staff WriterPaul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and serves as its Las Vegas Raiders reporter. He has a multi-platform role - writing on ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years at CSN Bay Area as a multi-platform reporter, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as the PFWA's Las Vegas chapter president. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis' Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Raiders Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box with Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN
Feb 9, 2024, 02:33 AMLAS VEGAS -- Teofimo Lopez strutted his way to the ring accompanied by a sword eater and other circus acts as he channeled Hugh Jackman's "The Greatest Showman" complete with top hat and ringmaster robe.
He was anything but in an uneventful junior welterweight title defense against Jamaine Ortiz, a unanimous-decision victory for Lopez which elicited constant boos from the Mandalay Bay crowd.
Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs) prevailed via scores of 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113. And while he retained his WBO title at 140 pounds, he failed to put on a show and was frustrated once again by a slick southpaw boxer.
"I believe I won the fight," said Ortiz, ESPN's No. 8 lightweight, who moved up to 140 pounds for his first title shot. "What can I say, I came out on the short end of the stick once again. He couldn't hit me. ... He wasn't landing any shots on me. ... I always stay true to who I am. ... Make some adjustments and come back for another title shot."
Full fight recap here...