Angelo Leo became the new IBF featherweight champion at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico as he stunned Luis Alberto Lopez with an tenth round knockout win.
Lopez (30-3, 17 KOs) took a majority decision win in Leeds against Josh Warrington to win the title, and the 30-year-old then ruthlessly defended in five rounds in Belfast against Michael Conlan, and after widely outscoring Joet Gonzalez in September last year, ‘El Venado’ was last seen in March, stopping Reiya Abe in eight.
Leo (25-1, 12 KOs) was a brief WBO world champion at super bantamweight, but he only briefly reigned, but lost in his first defence in January 2021 against Stephen Fulton. He defended his WBA Continental North American featherweight bauble in his last contest by winning over ten rounds against Eduardo Baez.
Leo showed his intent early on, as Lopez was wobbled by a big right hand, and then ate a solid Leo combination in the second. Lopez did come into the argument, landing with a couple of uppercuts in the third, but they had little effect on the champion and Leo was bossing the contest.
Round seven saw Leo land to the body of Lopez, and he complained about the shot being low, and Leo continued his assault, not giving Lopez a moment’s peace. Lopez battled hard, but he was always second best in the battle, and that battle came to a shuddering end in round ten, when Leo detonated a massive left hand that had Lopez horizontal and out on the canvas.
Delgado edges past Flores
On the undercard, Lindolfo Delgado (21-0, 15 KOs) took a third round knockdown, but had to settle for a split decision win in his all-Mexican super lightweight clash against Bryan Flores (26-1-1, 15 KOs). Scores of 96-92 and 95-93 won the bout for Delgado, with a third judge scoring 96-92 for Flores, who had a point taken away in round seven for a low blow.
Mielnicki cleans out Toth
Vito Mielnicki Jr (19-1, 12 KOs) banked an early win, and the super welterweight unloaded a left hand in round two that scrambled the senses of Laszlo Toth (32-9-2, 20 KOs), and the bout was over
.@VITOMIELNICKIJR WITH A THUNDERING LEFT HAND TO END IT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TXUuGp5N8t
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 11, 2024
Further undercard review
Ukrainian featherweight Arnold Khegai (22-1-1, 14 KOs) also won early, as he stopped Belmar Preciado (22-8-1, 15 KOs) in round eight of their meeting.
Alan Garcia (14-0, 11 KOs) stopped Maickol Lopez Villagrana (16-6, 8 KOs) in round three of their lightweight attraction, and featherweight prospect Albert Gonzalez (10-0, 6 KOs) won in the same round against Damian Alcala (8-5, 2 KOs).
Matthew Griego (15-0, KO10) took a points win over eight at flyweight against late replacement Gilberto Mendoza (23-19-4, KO11).
Steven Navarro (3-0, KO2) won by first round knockout at super flyweight against Israel Camacho (2-12, KO0).
