.IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez defends his belt versus Angelo Leo generally occasion of a Top Rank on ESPN memory card at Tingley Col iseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Sunday (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET). Lopez's last reduction remained in May 2019 and also he has actually succeeded 14 consecutive fights since, consisting of exceptional triumphes over Josh Warrington in England as well as Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. But is he the very best featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko lately turned down a beneficial fight versus fellow lightweight champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis and while he have not announced his retired life, are going to our company see "Hi-Tech" in the band again?Canelo Alvarez will definitely make his second ring appearance this year, but certainly not versus the boxer followers have demanded. Instead of David Benavidez, Canelo will certainly encounter Edgar Berlanga, that is actually never battled at this amount in his quick job. While Berlanga has unbelievable energy-- he started his profession along with 16 consecutive first-round KOs-- may he locate a way to succeed, or even at the very least go the range against Alvarez?Former abundant champ Anthony Joshua will certainly fight for a headline for the very first time in two years. Joshua will definitely encounter IBF champ Daniel Dubois in London, as "AJ" is favored to end up being a three-time globe champ (-550 per ESPN WAGER). As well as two-division champion Danny Garcia goes back to the ring for merely the 2nd time in practically 4 years to take on WBA middleweight champ Erislandy Lara. Garcia, that gained belts at 140 and also 147 pounds, is going up in weight for the chance to become a three-division champ, however can easily he distress a more mature however still powerful Lara?Mike Coppinger and also Nick Parkinson answer these inquiries as well as additional, trying to identify what's genuine and also what's not.Real or not: Vasiliy Lomachenko are going to retire without yet another fightNot actual ... in the meantime. Lomachenko is actually reflecting upon retirement, resources said to ESPN, part of the factor he decreased a financially rewarding fight along with Gervonta Davis in Nov. There is actually likewise an option that Lomachenko will definitely come back in the first half of 2025 to shield his IBF light-weight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) seemed in a combating state of mind Sunday in Los Angeles: he as well as Shakur Stevenson must be actually separated at ringside during the course of the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov memory card. Lomachenko was actually observed saying to Stevenson, "Allow's go best now.If that's any evidence, Lomachenko is going to combat again. Maybe even against Davis or Stevenson, the 2 greatest matches on the desk for him. However if he never shoelaces up the gloves once again, Lomachenko's heritage is actually secured. He's a three-division champ, a first-ballot Hall of Famer and also an essential of the pound-for-pound checklist over the last 10 years.He also does not need to have to eliminate for the cash. He's made millions of dollars in his career and still resides in Ukraine, where he's one of the country's most well-known professional athletes. Whether he combats once again, he definitely will not do so a lot longer. He transforms 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Danny Garcia beats Erislandy Lara as well as comes to be a champion in a 3rd divisionNot actual. Garcia has actually outplayed the possibilities prior to, consisting of an astonishing KO get Amir Khan as well as a prevalent choice victory over Lucas Matthysse. The 1st gain raised him to the upper tier of the sporting activity and also the last cemented that status.But the Matthysse match was 11 years back, however, and those pair of trademark Garcia success went to 140 pounds (he also gained a title at 147 pounds and also moved up to 154 for a July 2022 draw Jose Benavidez Jr.) Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) is still seeking a win that matches that, as well as a dismayed success over Lara would certainly suit the bill.Garcia didn't be similar to the stinging counterpuncher in the majority-decision success over Benavidez, and also he hasn't completed considering that. Currently, he'll move up one more weight lesson (though the Lara fight is actually taking place at a catchweight between 155 and 160 pounds) as well as need to emulate ring inactivity. The Sept. 14 middleweight label match against Lara are going to be Garcia's second due to the fact that December 2020, when he was directed by Errol Spence Jr.The select listed here is Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), who, also at 41, presents tremendous electrical power, albeit against competitors below Garcia's amount. Lara is actually using a three-fight KO touch.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Canelo Alvarez's fight against Edgar Berlanga doesn't go the distanceCanelo Alvarez, left behind, guards his undeniable very middleweight champion against Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Sin City. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu by means of Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, punching's best superstar, hasn't racked up a KO victory since he flattened Caleb Vegetation in a November 2021 battle to succeed the undisputed super middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has racked up a knockdown in his final 3 matches. Versus a boxer in Berlanga, who will be fighting on the leading level for the first time, Alvarez should include the 40th KO of his remarkable career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has been actually hurt in the band previously, namely in a step-up fight against Marcelo Coceres, who dropped him in Cycle 9. And his defense isn't specifically seem. Berlanga has power (he started his occupation along with 16 consecutive KO gains in the preliminary), as well as if he decides on to exchange along with Canelo, Alvarez ought to take him out.Alvarez guaranteed as a lot at a set of news conferences recently to ensure the match.-- Coppinger Real or not: Not one other lightweight champion may beat Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza appears a genuine threat to Lopez after torturing Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round succeed in June as well as defeating Robeisy Ramirez by a bulk selection to succeed the WBO title in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) knocked down Chirinho in 3 of the four shots, while his breakout succeed along with Ramirez was one of the most ideal matches in 2023. Editor's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the highest globe featherweight champion in history-- would be actually an obstacle for Lopez. Chirinho prospered to rise from an uppercut from Espinoza in Around 1, prior to he was actually quickly subdued. As a professional, Chirinho had actually certainly never been actually brought down just before Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza made a surprise in beating two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, as well as he outlanded him in the last three arounds. Although he is not as experienced as Lopez, the amount of hits he has actually thrown in his last pair of matches, in addition to his elevation and also reach advantages, can show unbeatable for Lopez.Rey Vargas has actually appeared unconvincing in latest battles, while our experts still require to find a lot more coming from Nick Round prior to we announce him the department's No. 1. Ball (20-0-1, 11 KOs) recorded the WBA featherweight label along with a split decision get Raymond Ford in June. That conquest observed a controversial draw versus Vargas for the WBC label in March. Yet Espinoza would certainly stand over 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was frustrating versus Round as well as has certainly not won in almost two years, so it is hard to present a debate for him in his current form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is the existing ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after ceasing Reiya Abe in 8 rounds in a 3rd self defense of the IBF waistband in March. Lopez has gotten rid of large difficulties in label matches, like boxing in a champ's home town as well as acquiring slice very early (vs. Josh Warrington), and if he succeeds on Saturday against Angelo Leo, he might perhaps experience his greatest challenge but in a title unification battle against Espinoza to dental crown the greatest competitor in the department.-- ParkinsonReal or not: Anthony Joshua will definitely KO Daniel DuboisReal. As good as Dubois' revival has been actually merely a year after being actually visited Oleksandr Usyk, latest form proposes his very first IBF heavyweight headline self defense will definitely finish in a KO loss to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) remains in best type, a lot more thus than some other abundant. Like Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), Joshua has actually must rebuild his profession, after experiencing next choice losses to Usyk in 2021 and also 2022. Joshua combated meticulously, with an unanimous decision draw Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, yet in his final three fights, he accomplished Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin as well as Francis Ngannou.Dubois returned from Saudi Arabia to London as IBF acting heavyweight champ after he quit Filip Hrgovic in Sphere 8. Usyk at that point gave up the IBF belt, which implied Dubois was updated to total champ, therefore offers Joshua along with the chance to come to be a three-time globe champ at Wembley Stadium in London.Joshua will definitely try to exploit what Hrgovic had redoed excellence along with against Dubois. Hrgovic continuously landed right hands on Dubois in the early rounds, and Joshua has displayed in recent battles just how damaging his right-hand men are after he ruined Ngannou in Around 2. Joshua landed a right-hand man on the former UFC big-time champ's jaw to knock him out cool. Joshua will certainly take the possibility if Dubois produces themself similarly accessible, as he did versus Hrgovic. Joshua is actually a bigger puncher than Hrgovic as well as, although Dubois showed sturdiness to take in punches in June, he has been ceased twice (by Joe Joyce in 2020 and Usyk in 2014) as well as was actually defeated 3 times in the preliminary through Kevin Lerena prior to recuperating to succeed in Round 3. Yet it is actually no walk in the playground for Joshua, that additionally needs to recognize Dubois' power. Dubois pauperized Hrgovic's face as well as may potentially carry out a surprise discontinuance against Joshua, similar to Andy Ruiz Jr. carried out in 2019. However Joshua, that ruled as champ coming from 2016 to 2019 and after that from 2019 to 2021, is more likely to gain this fight by KO.-- Parkinson.