Luis Alberto Lopez celebrates profitable the IBF featherweight title. Photograph by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Mexico’s street warrior is about to enter a brand new enemy territory.
Luis Alberto “Venado” Lopez will put his IBF featherweight world championship on the road towards Angelo Leo on Saturday, August 10, at Tingley Coliseum in Leo’s hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Within the 10-round junior welterweight co-feature, Lindolfo Delgado and Bryan Flores will lock horns in an all-Mexican showdown.
Lopez-Leo and Delgado-Flores will likely be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Sky Sports activities will broadcast the occasion within the UK & Eire.
Promoted by Prime Rank, in affiliation with Legacy Boxing Promotions, tickets go on sale Tuesday, June 18 at 11 a.m. MST by way of Etix.com.
Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs), from Mexicali, Mexico, is rated at No. 1 by The Ring at featherweight. The 30-year-old powerhouse captured the IBF featherweight crown by dethroning Josh Warrington in his hometown of Leeds, England, in December 2022. He traveled once more to hostile terrain in his first protection, stopping Belfast’s Michael Conlan by way of fifth-round TKO in Could 2023. He returned stateside that September to beat division mainstay Joet Gonzalez by unanimous choice. In his final outing, he knocked out necessary challenger Reiya Abe within the eighth spherical, handing the Japanese contender his first stoppage defeat. Venado is gearing up for his third world title look on enemy turf.
“On August 10, I’ll make it abundantly clear who the king of the featherweight division is. This would be the fourth protection of my world title, and I’m getting ready for an amazing battle towards a former world champion like Angelo Leo,” Lopez mentioned. “It will likely be a magical night time for all of the followers in New Mexico. I do know he’s the native fighter, however you already know what occurs after I enter enemy territory. The ‘Street Warrior’ is again, and I’ll put all of the division’s champions on discover.”
Angelo Leo (left) takes it to the very sport Aaron Alameda.
Leo (24-1, 11 KOs) has already made historical past as one among six New Mexicans to win a world title. When Leo defeated Tramaine Williams for the vacant WBO junior featherweight strap in 2020, he joined Bob Foster, Johnny Tapia, Danny Romero, Holly Holm, and Austin Trout as “Land of Enchantment” boxers to achieve the skilled mountaintop. He misplaced the title 5 months later to Stephen Fulton and spent greater than two years out of the ring following a 2021 victory over Aaron Alameda. Leo moved as much as featherweight and received three fights, together with a call over former world title challenger Eduardo Baez in April.
“I’m honored to combat for my second world title, particularly in my hometown of Albuquerque. I couldn’t ask for extra,” Leo mentioned. “I do know Lopez is among the prime champions in my division, and a win over him could be large for me and my metropolis. I’m within the prime of my profession and might’t wait to point out the world the fighter I’ve grow to be since profitable my first world title in 2020.”
Delgado (20-0, 15 KOs), who just lately signed a long-term contract extension with Prime Rank, had a 3-0 2023 marketing campaign however entered 2024 intent on crashing the world title image. In March, he overcame a troublesome problem from countryman Carlos Sanchez earlier than dropping him within the fifth spherical and knocking him out with a sweeping proper hand within the seventh. Delgado has bested three undefeated fighters in his profession, together with a 2022 choice over Omar Aguilar in an eight-round battle of attrition.
Delgado, rated at No. 10 by The Ring at 140 pounds, mentioned that “I’m able to ship one other spectacular efficiency on August 10. I’ve been bettering in each combat, and I imagine you’ll all see a Lindolfo Delgado who’s extra prepared than ever for a world title. Bryan Flores is a troublesome, undefeated fighter. He has numerous expertise. And like all Mexicans, he’s going to deliver a battle. I hope that’s the case so I can once more showcase my skills as a boxer.”
Flores (26-0-1, 15 KOs), from Juarez, Mexico, has received 22 straight fights since 2015. He’s 2-0 when preventing in America, together with a nationally televised break up choice over extremely touted prospect Shinard Bunch in April 2023. Bunch dropped Flores within the opening spherical, however Flores dominated the second half of the 10-rounder to earn the victory. He has received two fights by stoppage in his hometown for the reason that Bunch triumph, most just lately knocking out Jorge Abel Bermudez in 4 rounds.
“That is the combat and the chance that I’ve been ready for,” Flores mentioned. “Lindolfo Delgado is a troublesome Mexican warrior like I’m, and we’ll give the followers a combat worthy of ESPN.”
The ESPN+-streamed undercard contains the next fights:
Undefeated flyweights and Albuquerque natives Abraham Perez (10-0, 5 KOs) and Matthew Griego (14-0, 10 KOs) will collide within the 10-round “Duke Metropolis Civil Battle.”
U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (10-0, 10 KOs) returns in an eight-round heavyweight bout towards Joshua Temple (13-3, 10 KOs). He’ll make his third 2024 look following his most important victory, a fifth-round stoppage over then-undefeated prospect Brandon Moore final month.
Light-weight Alan “Child Kansas” Garcia (13-0, 10 KOs) will put his unbeaten file on the road versus Donnie Reeves (9-9, 7 KOs) in an eight-rounder. Garcia started his 2024 marketing campaign in February by toppling Tomas Ornelas within the first stanza earlier than dispatching Gonzalo Fuenzalida in two rounds the next month. He decisioned Wilfredo Flores throughout eight rounds final month.
Junior middleweight contender Vito Mielnicki Jr. (18-1, 12 KOs) will make his Prime Rank debut in a 10-rounder. Mielnicki is 10-0 for the reason that solely defeat on his ledger. In his final efficiency, he tallied a one-sided unanimous choice over Ronald Cruz on the Canelo Alvarez-Jaime Munguia undercard.
Ukrainian featherweight contender Arnold Khegai (21-1-1, 13 KOs) will see motion below the Prime Rank banner for the primary time in a 10-round tilt towards Belmar Preciado (22-7-1, 15 KOs). Khegai, who’s ranked No. 1 by the WBO, will look to increase his profitable streak to 6 following a third-round TKO towards Jon Martinez in January.
A press launch by Prime Rank was used on this article.
