.IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez defends his belt against Angelo Leo generally event of a Leading Rank on ESPN memory card at Tingley Col iseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Saturday (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET). Lopez's final loss was in May 2019 and he has actually gained 14 consecutive battles due to the fact that, consisting of outstanding triumphes over Josh Warrington in England as well as Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. But is he the most effective featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko recently turned down a beneficial battle versus fellow lightweight champion Gervonta "Storage tank" Davis and while he hasn't announced his retired life, are going to our experts find "Hi-Tech" in the band again?Canelo Alvarez are going to create his second ring appearance this year, but certainly not against the boxer followers have demanded. As Opposed To David Benavidez, Canelo will experience Edgar Berlanga, who's never ever combated at this level in his brief career. While Berlanga has astonishing power-- he began his occupation along with 16 consecutive first-round KOs-- may he locate a technique to succeed, or even at least go the distance versus Alvarez?Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will definitely defend a title for the very first time in two years. Joshua will definitely face IBF champion Daniel Dubois in Greater London, as "AJ" is preferred to become a three-time world champion (-550 per ESPN WAGER). As well as two-division champ Danny Garcia goes back to the band for simply the second attend just about 4 years to take on WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Garcia, that won waistbands at 140 as well as 147 extra pounds, is going up in weight for the possibility to become a three-division champion, but can easily he disturb a much older however still powerful Lara?Mike Coppinger as well as Scar Parkinson respond to these concerns and more, attempting to distinguish what's true as well as what is actually not.Real or not: Vasiliy Lomachenko will definitely resign without an additional fightNot actual ... for now. Lomachenko is actually reflecting upon retirement life, sources said to ESPN, component of the cause he decreased a beneficial battle along with Gervonta Davis in November. There is actually likewise a possibility that Lomachenko will definitely return in the first one-half of 2025 to protect his IBF light-weight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) showed up in a battling state of mind Saturday in Los Angeles: he as well as Shakur Stevenson needed to be separated at ringside throughout the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov memory card. Lomachenko was viewed telling Stevenson, "Permit's go appropriate now.If that's any sort of sign, Lomachenko will definitely combat once more. Maybe even against Davis or Stevenson, the 2 largest battles on the table for him. But if he never shoelaces up the gloves again, Lomachenko's tradition is actually secured. He is actually a three-division champ, a first-ballot Hall of Famer as well as an essential of the pound-for-pound list over the last 10 years.He likewise doesn't require to fight for the money. He's earned millions of dollars in his career and also still lives in Ukraine, where he's one of the country's very most well-liked athletes. Regardless if he combats once more, he undoubtedly won't do this a lot longer. He transforms 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Danny Garcia beats Erislandy Lara and comes to be a champion in a 3rd divisionNot genuine. Garcia has actually outplayed the probabilities prior to, including a stunning KO win over Amir Khan and also a leading selection victory over Lucas Matthysse. The first win elevated him to the higher tier of the sporting activity as well as the last glued that status.But the Matthysse match was 11 years ago, though, and also those two signature Garcia victories went to 140 extra pounds (he also succeeded a label at 147 pounds as well as moved up to 154 for a July 2022 get Jose Benavidez Jr.) Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) is actually still looking for a win that matches that, as well as a distressed triumph over Lara will match the bill.Garcia didn't appear like the stinging counterpuncher in the majority-decision triumph over Benavidez, and he have not completed because. Right now, he'll move up another weight course (though the Lara battle is actually happening at a catchweight between 155 and also 160 pounds) and have to emulate band stagnation. The Sept. 14 middleweight label match versus Lara are going to be actually Garcia's 2nd because December 2020, when he was routed by Errol Spence Jr.The choose below is Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), who, even at 41, presents tremendous power, albeit versus competitors below Garcia's amount. Lara is riding a three-fight KO streak.-- CoppingerReal or not: Canelo Alvarez's match against Edgar Berlanga doesn't go the distanceCanelo Alvarez, left, safeguards his unquestioned incredibly middleweight championship versus Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu by means of Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, punching's top celebrity, have not racked up a KO triumph due to the fact that he squashed Caleb Vegetation in a November 2021 match to gain the indisputable tremendously middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has actually racked up a presentation in his last 3 fights. Against a fighter in Berlanga, who are going to be actually battling on the best degree for the first time, Alvarez must incorporate the 40th KO of his illustrious career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has actually been actually hurt in the band in the past, particularly in a step-up fight versus Marcelo Coceres, that dropped him in Round 9. And also his self defense isn't exactly sound. Berlanga has energy (he began his profession along with 16 successive KO gains in the first round), and if he decides on to trade with Canelo, Alvarez needs to take him out.Alvarez assured as much at a pair of news conferences this week to advertise the battle.-- Coppinger Real or otherwise: Nothing else light champ may beat Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza looks a real hazard to Lopez after torturing Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round win in June and also defeating Robeisy Ramirez by a bulk choice to win the WBO title in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) defeated Chirinho in 3 of the four rounds, while his escapement gain with Ramirez was just one of the greatest matches in 2023. Editor's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the highest planet lightweight champion in past history-- would certainly be an obstacle for Lopez. Chirinho did well to get up from an uppercut from Espinoza in Round 1, just before he was quickly subdued. As a qualified, Chirinho had actually certainly never been torn down just before Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza produced a shock in beating two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, and also he outlanded him in the last 3 arounds. Although he is actually certainly not as skilled as Lopez, the volume of blows he has actually thrown in his last 2 fights, along with his elevation and also arrive at advantages, might verify insurmountable for Lopez.Rey Vargas has appeared implausible in latest matches, while our experts still require to see extra from Chip Ball prior to our experts declare him the branch's No. 1. Ball (20-0-1, 11 KOs) captured the WBA featherweight headline along with a split decision gain Raymond Ford in June. That conquest adhered to a controversial draw versus Vargas for the WBC title in March. However Espinoza would certainly overlook 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was actually unsatisfactory versus Sphere and has actually certainly not gained in nearly pair of years, so it is actually difficult to provide an argument for him in his present form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is actually the present ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after ceasing Reiya Abe in 8 rounds in a third self defense of the IBF belt in March. Lopez has actually gotten over significant obstacles in headline matches, like punching in a champion's home town and also receiving cut very early (vs. Josh Warrington), and if he wins on Sunday versus Angelo Leo, he might maybe encounter his biggest challenge however in a label unification match against Espinoza to dental crown the best fighter in the division.-- ParkinsonReal or not: Anthony Joshua will definitely KO Daniel DuboisReal. Just as good as Dubois' rebirth has actually been merely a year after being actually come by Oleksandr Usyk, latest form advises his very first IBF heavyweight label protection will end in a KO loss to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) resides in top form, even more thus than any other heavyweight. Like Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), Joshua has actually needed to reconstruct his job, after going through back-to-back decision losses to Usyk in 2021 as well as 2022. Joshua dealt with cautiously, with an unanimous selection gain Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, yet in his last 3 fights, he rounded off Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin as well as Francis Ngannou.Dubois returned coming from Saudi Arabia to Greater london as IBF interim heavyweight champion after he ceased Filip Hrgovic in Around 8. Usyk after that relinquished the IBF belt, which suggested Dubois was actually upgraded to total champ, consequently presents Joshua with the option to end up being a three-time world champ at Wembley Arena in London.Joshua will definitely attempt to exploit what Hrgovic had actually repeated success with against Dubois. Hrgovic regularly landed right-hand men on Dubois in the very early spheres, as well as Joshua has actually shown in current matches how harmful his right-hand men seek he ruined Ngannou in Round 2. Joshua landed a right hand on the former UFC heavyweight champ's face to knock him out chilly. Joshua will certainly take possession of the option if Dubois makes themself likewise accessible, as he did against Hrgovic. Joshua is a much bigger puncher than Hrgovic as well as, although Dubois showed durability to soak up type June, he has been stopped twice (by Joe Joyce in 2020 as well as Usyk in 2014) and was actually floored three times in the first round through Kevin Lerena prior to recouping to succeed in Round 3. Yet it is actually no walk in the park for Joshua, that likewise requires to appreciate Dubois' energy. Dubois pauperized Hrgovic's face as well as may likely manage a shock discontinuance against Joshua, similar to Andy Ruiz Jr. performed in 2019. Yet Joshua, that concluded as champion from 2016 to 2019 and then from 2019 to 2021, is more probable to gain this match by KO.-- Parkinson.