Mexico’s highway warrior is about to enter a brand new enemy territory. Venado Lopez will put his IBF featherweight world championship on the road in opposition to 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.
Venado-Leo and Delgado-Flores will probably 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.
“Albuquerque is a superb struggle metropolis, and we’re thrilled to be again with an thrilling card headlined by a ferocious world champion in Venado Lopez in opposition to the hometown child, Angelo Leo,” stated Prime Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Lindolfo Delgado is one among Mexico’s rising superstars, and his struggle in opposition to Bryan Flores has all of the makings of a Struggle of The 12 months contender. It’s an actual throwback card in a spot the place so many basic fights have occurred.”
Venado (30-2, 17 KOs), from Mexicali, Mexico, is rising as one among his nation’s most adorned champions. 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 Might 2023. He returned stateside that September to beat division mainstay Joet Gonzalez by a unanimous resolution. 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 making ready for an incredible battle in opposition to a former world champion like Angelo Leo,” Lopez stated. “Will probably 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 once I enter enemy territory. The ‘Street Warrior’ is again, and I’ll put all of the division’s champions on discover.”
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 succeed in 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 gained three fights, together with a convincing resolution over former world title challenger Eduardo Baez in April.
“I’m honored to struggle for my second world title, particularly in my hometown of Albuquerque. I couldn’t ask for extra,” Leo stated. “I do know Lopez is among the prime champions in my division, and a win over him can be big for me and my metropolis. I’m within the prime of my profession and may’t wait to indicate the world the fighter I’ve turn out to be since profitable my first world title in 2020.”
Delgado (20-0, 15 KOs), who lately signed a long-term contract extension with Prime Rank, is world-ranked by the IBF and WBC. Following a 3-0 2023 marketing campaign, Delgado entered 2024 intent on crashing the world title image. In March, he overcame a tricky 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 resolution over Omar Aguilar in an eight-round struggle of attrition.
Delgado stated, “I’m able to ship one other spectacular efficiency on August 10. I’ve been bettering in each struggle, and I consider you’ll all see a Lindolfo Delgado who’s extra prepared than ever for a world title. Bryan Flores is a tricky, undefeated fighter. He has quite a lot of expertise. And like all Mexicans, he’s going to deliver a struggle. 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 gained 22 straight fights since 2015. He’s 2-0 when combating in America, together with a nationally televised break up resolution 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 gained two fights by stoppage in his hometown because the Bunch triumph, most lately knocking out Jorge Abel Bermudez in 4 rounds.
“That is the struggle and the chance that I’ve been ready for,” Flores stated. “Lindolfo Delgado is a tricky Mexican warrior like I’m, and we are going to give the followers a struggle worthy of ESPN.”
The ESPN+-streamed undercard consists of 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 Warfare.” Albuquerque has a wealthy historical past of all-ABQ showdowns, most notably the 1997 junior bantamweight battle between Johnny Tapia and Danny Romero.
U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (10-0, 10 KOs) returns in an eight-round heavyweight bout in opposition to 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 document 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 because the solely defeat on his ledger. In his final efficiency, he tallied a one-sided unanimous resolution over Ronald Cruz on the Canelo Alvarez-Jaime Munguia undercard.
Ukrainian featherweight contender Arnold Khegai (21-1-1, 13 KOs) will see motion beneath the Prime Rank banner for the primary time in a 10-round tilt in opposition to 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 in opposition to Jon Martinez in January.
