.IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez defends his belt versus Angelo Leo generally occasion of a Leading Rank on ESPN card at Tingley Col iseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Saturday (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET). Lopez's final reduction was in May 2019 and he has actually won 14 successive matches due to the fact that, featuring impressive success over Josh Warrington in England and also Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. But is he the greatest featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko recently declined a rewarding fight versus fellow lightweight champ Gervonta "Container" Davis and also while he hasn't introduced his retired life, will definitely we find "Hi-Tech" in the ring again?Canelo Alvarez will definitely make his second band appearance this year, however certainly not against the boxer supporters have demanded. As Opposed To David Benavidez, Canelo is going to encounter Edgar Berlanga, who is actually certainly never battled at this degree in his quick job. While Berlanga has fabulous electrical power-- he started his career along with 16 consecutive first-round KOs-- can he locate a method to succeed, or at least go the span against Alvarez?Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will certainly defend a title for the first time in pair of years. Joshua will definitely deal with IBF champ Daniel Dubois in Greater London, as "AJ" is chosen to come to be a three-time globe champion (-550 every ESPN BET). As well as two-division champ Danny Garcia comes back to the band for only the 2nd attend virtually four years to handle WBA middleweight champ Erislandy Lara. Garcia, that won belts at 140 as well as 147 extra pounds, is actually moving up in body weight for the odds to end up being a three-division champ, yet can he disturb an older but still strong Lara?Mike Coppinger and also Nick Parkinson answer these inquiries and also even more, attempting to differentiate what's real as well as what's not.Real or not: Vasiliy Lomachenko will definitely retire without one more fightNot genuine ... in the meantime. Lomachenko is considering retirement, resources told ESPN, aspect of the cause he declined a highly profitable battle along with Gervonta Davis in Nov. There is actually likewise a probability that Lomachenko will definitely come back in the initial one-half of 2025 to shield his IBF light in weight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) seemed in a combating state of mind Sunday in Los Angeles: he and Shakur Stevenson must be actually divided at ringside during the course of the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov card. Lomachenko was actually seen informing Stevenson, "Allow's go best now.If that is actually any sort of indicator, Lomachenko will certainly fight again. Perhaps even versus Davis or Stevenson, both most significant matches on the table for him. But if he certainly never laces up the gloves again, Lomachenko's legacy is gotten. He's a three-division champ, a first-ballot Venue of Famer and an essential of the pound-for-pound list over the final 10 years.He also doesn't require to overcome for the cash. He is actually gained countless bucks in his profession as well as still lives in Ukraine, where he's one of the nation's very most popular professional athletes. Regardless if he combats again, he absolutely will not do this a lot longer. He switches 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Danny Garcia beats Erislandy Lara as well as comes to be a champ in a 3rd divisionNot genuine. Garcia has actually outplayed the chances just before, consisting of a shocking KO win over Amir Khan and a leading decision triumph over Lucas Matthysse. The initial win elevated him to the top echelon of the sporting activity as well as the second sealed that status.But the Matthysse fight was actually 11 years back, though, and also those 2 trademark Garcia victories went to 140 extra pounds (he also won a title at 147 extra pounds and moved up to 154 for a July 2022 gain Jose Benavidez Jr.) Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) is actually still searching for a win that matches that, as well as a dismayed success over Lara would certainly suit the bill.Garcia really did not resemble the stinging counterpuncher in the majority-decision triumph over Benavidez, as well as he hasn't competed considering that. Now, he'll go up yet another body weight training class (though the Lara match is actually happening at a catchweight between 155 and 160 pounds) and also need to contend with ring inactivity. The Sept. 14 middleweight headline match versus Lara will be Garcia's second due to the fact that December 2020, when he was actually directed through Errol Spence Jr.The decide on here is actually Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), who, also at 41, reveals significant power, albeit versus competitors below Garcia's amount. Lara is using a three-fight KO streak.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Canelo Alvarez's match against Edgar Berlanga doesn't go the distanceCanelo Alvarez, left behind, safeguards his undisputed incredibly middleweight championship against Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, punching's best celebrity, have not scored a KO victory since he smoothed Caleb Plant in a Nov 2021 match to win the recognized extremely middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has scored a knockdown in his final three fights. Versus a competitor in Berlanga, who will certainly be battling on the best amount for the first time, Alvarez ought to add the 40th KO of his renowned career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has been actually harmed in the ring before, specifically in a step-up battle versus Marcelo Coceres, that fell him in Round 9. And also his self defense isn't specifically sound. Berlanga possesses power (he began his occupation with 16 consecutive KO wins in the first round), and if he selects to swap with Canelo, Alvarez ought to take him out.Alvarez vowed as much at a pair of press conference today to market the match.-- Coppinger Real or not: No other lightweight champ may hammer Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza appears a real hazard to Lopez after agonizing Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round win in June and defeating Robeisy Ramirez by a majority choice to gain the WBO title in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) knocked down Chirinho in three of the 4 rounds, while his breakout gain with Ramirez was one of the most ideal battles in 2023. Editor's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the tallest world featherweight champ in past history-- would certainly be a difficulty for Lopez. Chirinho prospered to rise from an uppercut from Espinoza in Around 1, before he was actually very soon subdued. As a specialist, Chirinho had actually never ever been torn down before Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza generated a surprise in pounding two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, and also he outlanded him in the final 3 spheres. Although he is certainly not as expert as Lopez, the quantity of punches he has included his final two battles, in addition to his elevation and get to conveniences, can confirm insurmountable for Lopez.Rey Vargas has actually looked unconvincing in recent battles, while our experts still require to observe extra from Chip Sphere prior to our team declare him the division's No. 1. Round (20-0-1, 11 KOs) captured the WBA featherweight title along with a split selection sway Raymond Ford in June. That conquest followed a controversial draw versus Vargas for the WBC title in March. However Espinoza would certainly stand over 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was actually unsatisfactory versus Ball and also has not succeeded in virtually two years, so it is hard to provide an argument for him in his current form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is the current ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after quiting Reiya Abe in 8 rounds in a third protection of the IBF belt in March. Lopez has actually beat large challenges in headline fights, like boxing in a champ's hometown and also receiving cut very early (vs. Josh Warrington), and if he wins on Sunday versus Angelo Leo, he might perhaps encounter his greatest obstacle yet in a title unification match against Espinoza to dental crown the most effective boxer in the division.-- ParkinsonReal or not: Anthony Joshua will KO Daniel DuboisReal. Just as good as Dubois' rebirth has actually been actually just a year after being actually visited Oleksandr Usyk, recent form proposes his 1st IBF heavyweight headline defense will definitely end in a KO loss to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) resides in top type, even more so than every other abundant. Like Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), Joshua has needed to restore his career, after going through back-to-back decision reductions to Usyk in 2021 and 2022. Joshua fought very carefully, with an unanimous decision draw Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, however in his final three matches, he accomplished Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and also Francis Ngannou.Dubois came back from Saudi Arabia to London as IBF interim big-time champ after he quit Filip Hrgovic in Round 8. Usyk at that point gave up the IBF waistband, which suggested Dubois was actually updated to total champ, consequently presents Joshua with the chance to become a three-time world champ at Wembley Coliseum in London.Joshua will try to manipulate what Hrgovic had actually repeated results along with versus Dubois. Hrgovic consistently landed right-hand men on Dubois in the early spheres, and Joshua has actually received latest fights exactly how harmful his right-hand men are after he destroyed Ngannou in Around 2. Joshua landed a right hand on the previous UFC big-time champ's face to take him out cold. Joshua will seize the chance if Dubois makes themself in a similar way readily available, as he carried out against Hrgovic. Joshua is a greater puncher than Hrgovic as well as, although Dubois presented longevity to take in type June, he has actually been ceased two times (through Joe Joyce in 2020 and also Usyk in 2014) and also was defeated 3 times in the preliminary by Kevin Lerena just before recovering to succeed in Round 3. However it is actually no stroll in the playground for Joshua, that additionally needs to respect Dubois' power. Dubois pauperized Hrgovic's skin and may likely manage a shock halt against Joshua, just like Andy Ruiz Jr. performed in 2019. Yet Joshua, who ruled as champion coming from 2016 to 2019 and afterwards coming from 2019 to 2021, is actually more probable to gain this match by KO.-- Parkinson.