Boxing
Luis Lopez feels ready to fight in the lion’s den against Angelo Leo for the 126-pound title
Published
6 months agoon
Luis Alberto Lopez celebrates winning the IBF featherweight title. Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Luis Lopez is the definition of a “road warrior.”
Not only does Lopez have no problem fighting in his opponents’ hometowns, but he also consistently wins and does so in impressive fashion.
Lopez, rated No. 1 by The Ring at 126 pounds, will defend his IBF featherweight world title Saturday night when he faces Angelo Leo in Leo’s hometown of Albuquerque, Modern Mexico. The 12-round fight will be headlined by Top Rank on ESPN (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).
In his last fight on March 2, Lopez (30-2, 17 knockouts) stopped Reiya Abe of Japan in the eighth round in Verona, Modern York. In his previous fight on September 15, Lopez defeated Joet Gonzalez by unanimous decision in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The 30-year-old has fought abroad in other world title defenses, including against Michael Conlan in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Lopez, who won the IBF world title against Josh Warrington in December 2022 in Leeds, England, had no problem fighting away from home, banking on his preparation and leaving nothing to chance.
“I’m used to it,” Lopez told The Ring in a recent interview. “It’s something we’ve been doing for a while. To face someone on the ‘A’ side. I’ve been to London, England, (Northern) Ireland, here in the United States. There’s no point in being uncomfortable fighting in front of any fans. We’ll be joyful to fight on August 10th to defend (my title) for the fourth time.”
“It’s the work that I put in in the gym. The way I train, the way I work, what I do in the gym, that’s the key to my confidence that wherever I go, I have the best possible preparation. I have a great team behind me. I think that’s why I have that mindset going into these types of fights. The great training camps that we have and the support of my whole team, I think that’s the key to my success in the ring.”
Lopez hasn’t lost since May 2019, when he lost a crucial fight to world title challenger Ruben Villa. Since then, Lopez has reeled off 13 consecutive wins.
Despite the setback against Villa, Lopez found success, solidifying his position at 126 pounds.
“We made mistakes and we made mistakes (in previous fights),” said Lopez, who is promoted by Top Rank. “Of course, I don’t have the best defense, but I think I have great reflexes and instincts. I have a lot of speed. I have endurance. And I have the confidence to be a champion. In the gym, we focus on our attributes and our strengths. We train to be the best version of ourselves in the ring. We have a style that works.”
Lopez has been open with the media and on his social media platforms about unifying the 126-pound world titles. He recently got into a spat with former WBO featherweight champion Robeisy Ramirez.
Despite other world titleholders interpreting this as positioning, Lopez will continue to demand unification fights with other world titleholders in the division.
“The whole world knows I wanted a unification fight when Robeisy Ramirez was the (WBO) champion,” Lopez said. “When Mauricio Lara was the WBA champion. That’s when I asked for those unification fights. I was ready and I’m ready for those substantial fights. This is my fourth title defense, but I should have had a unification fight by now.
“Every champion has his own motive, his own promoter, his own manager. But we’ll keep working and keep doing good things. Sooner or later, these fights will happen. We’ll keep trying to fight a unification fight as soon as possible. We’ll see.”
Despite being ranked number one at 126 pounds by The Ring, Lopez believes that in order to become the best in his division, one must become the undisputed champion.
Lopez has shown no fear of facing the best fighters in the division, considering where he has fought overseas and entering hostile territory in his opponent’s hometowns. He believes that more fighters should be willing to become undisputed, which will give the sport more weight.
“Honestly, I don’t think I’m the No. 1 fighter in the division until I’m the unified or undisputed champion. Every fighter has his own qualities and strengths. His own advantages. Every champion can beat another champion if he’s prepared to the max. Until there’s an undisputed champion, every fighter is just a belt holder. That’s it. Nothing’s going to happen in the division until those substantial fights are made.
Lopez hopes to one day fight in his hometown of Mexicali, Mexico. Junior flyweight Elwin Soto recently won a world title and hails from Mexicali.
The most famed fighter to come from Mexicali is former world champion Jorge “Maromero” Paez, who fought numerous times in his hometown.
Lopez has achieved success in the sport, winning a world title, but fighting for that title in his hometown of Mexicali would be the icing on the cake.
“It would be a dream come true for me. It would be a great fight, like years ago at Plaza de Toros Calafia, where Jorge “Maromero” Paez fought many times. Julio Cesar Chavez also fought there. I would be delighted. I have to keep winning fights so that I have the opportunity to defend my world title in Mexicali. And wait for the opportunity to make it happen. We have to work with the promoters to make this fight happen.”
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Boxing
BrianNorman Jr. prepares his father for a shocking comeback after 14 years
Published
16 hours agoon
January 23, 2025Undefeated twenty-four-year-old welterweight world champion Brian Norman Jr. he has been coached by his father, Brian Norman Sr., since he was seven years elderly. They changed course and Junior is now training Senior for his February 15 boxing match against Greg Hackett in Atlanta, Georgia.
The long-running feud between Brian Sr. and Hackett came to a head in November when the two participated on Coach Malachi’s Tru Media podcast. Things got heated when Norman told Hackett, “As an opponent, you were getting $400 to basically lose. You lose for a living.
Shortly thereafter, it was decided that they would lace them up and settle them in the ring. The event will be broadcast live on BLK Prime PPV.
Norman (17-11, 5 KO) from Atlanta and Greg Hackett (3-23) from Philadelphia will decide the result in a six-round lightweight heavyweight fight.
“I’m trained by a world champion who I trained to become that world champion,” Brian Sr. said. “He has the knowledge that I gave him. Now he can see this vision of what he is telling me, which is the same thing I was telling him. At the same time, he can visualize himself through me, observing how I respond to instructions. Ultimately, he helps himself as much, if not more, than he helps me.”
So, Junior, you’re getting him back after everything Dad’s been through all these years?
“Has it been a wonderful journey so far,” Brian Norman Jr. said. “I see a lot of similarities between me and him, mainly the drive for self-determination and the desire. It was a wonderful experience to witness. There were a few times when Dad got tired and wanted to stop and I shouted “no, two more rounds.” I have to push him, you know? We don’t like to lose – we’re both very competitive and I see that in him all day long.
“I like the way this fight turned out and it’s good for boxing,” Hackett said. “There’s no animosity here, but I’m going to hate him for eighteen minutes of our fight. There are many people who say they don’t want to go there, but we will go there. I’ve been training since the day it happened. It’s going to be a good fight. I think he’ll push it because he’s a bigger guy, but skill-wise I’m the better player. I just have to be prepared for whatever he brings to the table and make him pay for his mistakes. I will win this fight, whether by knockout or decision. I will win this fight.”
Boxing
Deontay Wilder: Warning against throwing in the towel on the fat suit myth
Published
1 day agoon
January 22, 2025Deontay Wilder is preparing to return to boxing this year and will face an opponent who has lost eleven times in Curtis Harper.
Wilder is on a losing streak, winning just once in his last five fights. The first of these four defeats remains a huge bone of contention. Wilder exploded with emotion after a one-sided rematch in February 2020 at the MGM Grand.
The “Brown Bomber” blamed everyone but himself for what happened when Fury beat him and put him through seven painful rounds. WBN witnessed the fight in the smoke-filled Garden Arena. Despite the sight, it was clear that Fury was the much better fighter that night.
Fury brought Steward SugarHill into his corner to make him more aggressive. The tactic paid off brilliantly as he regained the world heavyweight title. However, this was not what became the story of the event. Unfortunately, Deontay Wilder took that away from the “Gypsy King” with his post-fight accusations.
Wilder’s main target under his deal was Mark Breland. His longtime coach threw in the towel when the Tuscaloosa player came under massive fire and stared at his feet. But that’s not where Breland went wrong. Wilder’s problem was that the 1984 Olympic gold medalist ignored his previous instructions and never used a towel to end one of his fights.
That’s why Wilder was so irate, as he later told Brian Custer in “The Last Stand.”
“I have been preaching for five years. Never give up on Deontay Wilder,” said the former WBC champion.
The 36-year-old believed he could detonate on Fury at any time due to his one-punch KO skills.
“Deontay Wilder is never out until this is all over, because of my heart, my will and the strength I have. And yes, I really feel like he was part of it and it’s not my place to explain that to anyone. I said my peace and let out my emotions. I said it. People can believe what they want.”
Another story that got out of hand was the massive suit excuse. Wilder pointed out that he only mentioned something behind the scenes and someone in the media blew it up.
“They actually overheard something in the locker room,” Wilder explained. “I’m not justifying the costume. The costume was a bit massive. But it wasn’t enough to make me feel the way I felt in the ring. It wasn’t enough that I had no legs.
Strangely, however, Wilder blamed this part on someone who potentially gave him a demanding time. He will strive to ensure that the decision never falls on Malik Scott, who replaced Breland as coach.
Boxing
Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC
Published
1 week agoon
January 13, 2025The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).
If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.
“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”
29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.
Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.
“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”
Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.
The next move is Badou Jack’s.
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