Luis Alberto Lopez’s win streak and title reign ended within the worst conceivable manner.
ESPN’s Mark Kriegel reported that the dethroned IBF featherweight titlist suffered a small mind bleed after his Aug. 10 knockout defeat to Angelo Leo. Their aggressive title combat noticed Leo counter a jab with a wonderfully timed left hook. Lopez was put flat on his again the place he remained till referee Ernie Sharif waved off the competition.
Leo (25-1, 12 knockouts) entered Tingley Coliseum in his Albuquerque hometown because the overwhelming crowd favourite. He left because the newly topped IBF titlist and The Ring’s No. 2-rated featherweight.
Lopez (30-3, 17 KOs) snapped a thirteen-fight win streak, although it pales compared to the much more grim aftermath. The analysis prompted the New Mexico Athletic Fee to position the Mexicali native on a 90-day suspension. It can doubtless be prolonged together with a crimson flag subsequent to his Federal ID, given the severity of the harm.
Three professional boxers have handed away inside this calendar 12 months.
Japan’s Kazuki Anaguchi (6-1, 2 KOs) suffered a subdural hematoma on the appropriate facet of his mind in a Dec. 26 defeat to Seiya Tsutsumi in Tokyo. Their Combat of the 12 months contender got here on the final worth. Anaguchi’s legs started to twitch as medical consideration was paid to a ugly reduce over his left eye. He was taken to a close-by hospital, the place docs carried out a right away craniotomy. The 23-year-old remained in a coma till his premature loss of life on Feb. 2.
Congo’s Ardi Ndembo died on April 26, three weeks after accidents sustained throughout an April 5 Workforce Fight League bout versus Cuba’s Nestor Santana. Simply two weeks later, England’s Sharif Lawal was pronounced useless simply sooner or later after a knockout loss in his Could 11 professional debut. The bout was the primary combat of the evening, its tragic ending which prompted the cancellation of the remainder of the present.
The horrific destiny of South Africa’s Simiso Buthelezi was sadly witnessed in actual time. The 24-year-old was in management throughout his June 2022 ten-round light-weight bout versus Siphesihle Mntungwa. He drove his countryman into the ropes, which prompted a break within the motion. Buthelezi then oddly adopted the referee as soon as motion resumed and commenced punching on the air. The competition was dropped at a right away halt.
Buthelezi was dropped at an area hospital, and was recognized with a mind bleed. He handed away simply two days in a while June 7, 2022.
Lopez gained the IBF featherweight title in a Dec. 2022 factors win over Josh Warrington on the street in Leeds, England. Three of his 5 title fights got here in his opponent’s hometown. Along with Warrington and Leo, Lopez met Michael Conlan in his yard of Belfast, Northern Eire. It mattered little ultimately, as Lopez delivered a spotlight reel fifth-round knockout in his first title protection.
Wins over Joet Gonzalez and Reiya Abe adopted earlier than his scary defeat to Leo—much more horrifying, on reflection.
The Ring joins the remainder of the boxing neighborhood in wishing Lopez a well timed restoration all the way in which again to good well being.
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