.IBF featherweight champ Luis Alberto Lopez defends his belt versus Angelo Leo generally celebration of a Leading Rank on ESPN memory card at Tingley Col iseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Sunday (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET). Lopez's last loss resided in May 2019 as well as he has succeeded 14 consecutive battles since, including excellent triumphes over Josh Warrington in England as well as Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. However is he the greatest featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko just recently turned down a beneficial match versus fellow light in weight champion Gervonta "Storage tank" Davis and also while he have not announced his retirement life, will definitely our team find "Hi-Tech" in the band again?Canelo Alvarez will create his 2nd ring appeal this year, yet not versus the fighter fans have clamored for. Instead of David Benavidez, Canelo will definitely encounter Edgar Berlanga, who is actually certainly never fought at this amount in his brief job. While Berlanga has incredible power-- he started his job along with 16 consecutive first-round KOs-- may he discover a way to win, or at the very least go the span against Alvarez?Former abundant champ Anthony Joshua will certainly fight for a headline for the first time in two years. Joshua will experience IBF champ Daniel Dubois in London, as "AJ" is actually preferred to come to be a three-time globe champ (-550 every ESPN WAGER). And also two-division champ Danny Garcia returns to the band for simply the 2nd attend nearly four years to handle WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Garcia, that succeeded belts at 140 as well as 147 extra pounds, is going up in weight for the possibility to come to be a three-division champion, but may he upset a much older however still powerful Lara?Mike Coppinger as well as Chip Parkinson respond to these inquiries and additional, making an effort to distinguish what's true as well as what's not.Real or not: Vasiliy Lomachenko are going to resign without yet another fightNot actual ... meanwhile. Lomachenko is actually reflecting upon retired life, resources informed ESPN, part of the main reason he declined a highly profitable match with Gervonta Davis in November. There's additionally an opportunity that Lomachenko are going to come back in the 1st half of 2025 to safeguard his IBF light in weight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) appeared in a dealing with mood Sunday in Los Angeles: he as well as Shakur Stevenson needed to be split at ringside during the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov memory card. Lomachenko was viewed saying to Stevenson, "Permit's go correct now.If that is actually any sort of sign, Lomachenko will certainly battle again. Perhaps even versus Davis or Stevenson, the 2 most significant matches on the desk for him. But if he never shoelaces up the gloves once more, Lomachenko's tradition is safeguarded. He is actually a three-division champ, a first-ballot Venue of Famer and a mainstay of the pound-for-pound list over the last 10 years.He also does not require to combat for the money. He's gained countless bucks in his occupation and also still lives in Ukraine, where he's one of the country's very most popular sportsmens. Whether he combats again, he absolutely won't do this much longer. He switches 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or not: Danny Garcia hammers Erislandy Lara and also comes to be a champion in a 3rd divisionNot genuine. Garcia has actually upset the odds just before, featuring a surprising KO get Amir Khan and a dominant decision success over Lucas Matthysse. The initial gain elevated him to the top tier of the sporting activity as well as the second sealed that status.But the Matthysse battle was actually 11 years ago, though, and those two signature Garcia triumphes went to 140 extra pounds (he likewise gained a headline at 147 pounds as well as went up to 154 for a July 2022 gain Jose Benavidez Jr.) Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) is actually still seeking a gain that matches that, as well as a dismayed success over Lara would certainly match the bill.Garcia failed to resemble the stinging counterpuncher in the majority-decision victory over Benavidez, and he have not competed because. Now, he'll go up an additional body weight course (though the Lara battle is taking place at a catchweight in between 155 and also 160 pounds) as well as must emulate ring inactivity. The Sept. 14 middleweight label match versus Lara will be actually Garcia's 2nd since December 2020, when he was actually directed through Errol Spence Jr.The pick listed here is Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), who, also at 41, reveals enormous electrical power, albeit versus fighters beneath Garcia's amount. Lara is actually using a three-fight KO streak.-- CoppingerReal or not: Canelo Alvarez's fight versus Edgar Berlanga doesn't go the distanceCanelo Alvarez, left behind, protects his recognized incredibly middleweight championship against Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu using Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, punching's top star, hasn't scored a KO triumph considering that he flattened Caleb Vegetation in a Nov 2021 battle to succeed the indisputable very middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has actually racked up a presentation in his last 3 battles. Against a competitor in Berlanga, that will certainly be battling on the leading level for the first time, Alvarez needs to include the 40th KO of his renowned career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has been injured in the ring previously, particularly in a step-up match versus Marcelo Coceres, who lost him in Round 9. And his protection isn't precisely sound. Berlanga possesses power (he began his profession along with 16 successive KO wins in the first round), and also if he opts for to trade along with Canelo, Alvarez ought to take him out.Alvarez promised as much at a set of news conferences this week to promote the battle.-- Coppinger Real or otherwise: Nothing else featherweight champ may beat Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza looks a genuine hazard to Lopez after agonizing Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round gain in June as well as defeating Robeisy Ramirez by a majority choice to gain the WBO title in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) defeated Chirinho in 3 of the 4 shots, while his outbreak win along with Ramirez was among the best battles in 2023. Publisher's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the tallest planet light champ in past-- would be actually an obstacle for Lopez. Chirinho succeeded to stand up coming from an uppercut from Espinoza in Sphere 1, before he was actually soon overwhelmed. As an expert, Chirinho had certainly never been knocked down before Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza produced a shock in beating two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, and also he outlanded him in the final 3 rounds. Although he is not as knowledgeable as Lopez, the quantity of punches he has actually thrown in his last two matches, together with his elevation and also arrive at perks, could prove overwhelming for Lopez.Rey Vargas has appeared unconvincing in latest matches, while our team still need to have to find a lot more coming from Scar Ball before our experts declare him the branch's No. 1. Round (20-0-1, 11 KOs) recorded the WBA featherweight label along with a split choice gain Raymond Ford in June. That conquest complied with a controversial draw versus Vargas for the WBC title in March. But Espinoza would certainly tower above 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was frustrating versus Sphere and also has actually not won in almost two years, so it is tough to provide a debate for him in his current form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is the present ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after quiting Reiya Abe in eight spheres in a 3rd protection of the IBF belt in March. Lopez has actually overcome major obstacles in headline battles, like punching in a champion's home town and also receiving slice early (vs. Josh Warrington), and if he succeeds on Saturday versus Angelo Leo, he may perhaps face his greatest challenge however in a title unification match against Espinoza to dental crown the very best competitor in the department.-- ParkinsonReal or otherwise: Anthony Joshua will certainly KO Daniel DuboisReal. Just as good as Dubois' revival has been actually just a year after being visited Oleksandr Usyk, recent form recommends his initial IBF heavyweight title self defense are going to end in a KO defeat to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) is in best form, more therefore than every other abundant. Like Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), Joshua has actually had to fix his career, after going through next decision losses to Usyk in 2021 and 2022. Joshua combated carefully, with an unanimous choice draw Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, however in his final three battles, he finished off Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and also Francis Ngannou.Dubois returned coming from Saudi Arabia to Greater london as IBF acting big-time champion after he stopped Filip Hrgovic in Round 8. Usyk at that point gave up the IBF waistband, which meant Dubois was upgraded to complete champion, consequently presents Joshua along with the option to come to be a three-time planet champ at Wembley Arena in London.Joshua will try to manipulate what Hrgovic had repeated effectiveness with against Dubois. Hrgovic consistently landed right-hand men on Dubois in the early spheres, as well as Joshua has actually received latest fights just how destructive his right-hand men want he damaged Ngannou in Around 2. Joshua landed a right-hand man on the former UFC big-time champ's face to take him out chilly. Joshua is going to take possession of the opportunity if Dubois produces themself likewise on call, as he did versus Hrgovic. Joshua is a larger puncher than Hrgovic and, although Dubois presented resilience to take in punches in June, he has actually been ceased two times (by Joe Joyce in 2020 and also Usyk in 2013) as well as was actually floored three attend the first round through Kevin Lerena prior to recouping to win in Cycle 3. However it is no walk in the park for Joshua, that additionally needs to have to value Dubois' energy. Dubois made a mess of Hrgovic's face and also may potentially pull off a surprise deduction against Joshua, just like Andy Ruiz Jr. performed in 2019. But Joshua, that concluded as champion coming from 2016 to 2019 and then from 2019 to 2021, is actually more likely to gain this battle by KO.-- Parkinson.