.IBF featherweight champ Luis Alberto Lopez defends his waistband versus Angelo Leo in the main activity 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 loss resided in May 2019 and he has gained 14 successive fights since, consisting of outstanding triumphes over Josh Warrington in England and also Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. Yet is he the most effective featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko recently turned down a profitable fight versus fellow lightweight champ Gervonta "Tank" Davis as well as while he have not declared his retired life, will certainly we find "Hi-Tech" in the band again?Canelo Alvarez will definitely create his second ring appeal this year, however not against the fighter enthusiasts have clamored for. As Opposed To David Benavidez, Canelo will certainly deal with Edgar Berlanga, that is actually certainly never dealt with at this amount in his short occupation. While Berlanga possesses astonishing energy-- he started his career with 16 consecutive first-round KOs-- may he locate a technique to win, or at least go the span against Alvarez?Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will defend a label for the very first time in 2 years. Joshua will definitely deal with IBF champion Daniel Dubois in Greater London, as "AJ" is actually preferred to become a three-time world champ (-550 every ESPN WAGER). And also two-division champ Danny Garcia returns to the ring for merely the second attend just about four years to handle WBA middleweight champ Erislandy Lara. Garcia, that gained waistbands at 140 and 147 pounds, is moving up in weight for the possibility to become a three-division champ, however can easily he disturb a much older yet still strong Lara?Mike Coppinger and Nick Parkinson respond to these inquiries and even more, trying to identify what's actual as well as what's not.Real or otherwise: Vasiliy Lomachenko are going to resign without another fightNot actual ... in the meantime. Lomachenko is considering retirement life, resources said to ESPN, aspect of the explanation he declined a highly profitable fight along with Gervonta Davis in November. There's likewise a probability that Lomachenko will come back in the initial fifty percent of 2025 to guard his IBF light in weight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) showed up in a battling mood Saturday in Los Angeles: he as well as Shakur Stevenson needed to be actually divided at ringside throughout the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov card. Lomachenko was observed saying to Stevenson, "Let's go right now.If that is actually any evidence, Lomachenko will certainly deal with again. Perhaps even versus Davis or Stevenson, the two largest matches on the table for him. But if he never shoelaces up the gloves once again, Lomachenko's legacy is protected. He is actually a three-division champion, a first-ballot Hall of Famer and also an essential of the pound-for-pound listing over the last 10 years.He likewise does not need to fight for the cash. He's earned millions of dollars in his job as well as still lives in Ukraine, where he is among the nation's most preferred athletes. Whether he fights once more, he absolutely won't accomplish this a lot longer. He transforms 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Danny Garcia hammers Erislandy Lara and also ends up being a champ in a third divisionNot real. Garcia has actually upset the odds before, featuring a stunning KO draw Amir Khan and also a prevalent choice victory over Lucas Matthysse. The first gain raised him to the higher tier of the sporting activity as well as the last cemented that status.But the Matthysse fight was 11 years ago, however, and also those two trademark Garcia triumphes were at 140 extra pounds (he likewise gained a headline at 147 pounds as well as moved up to 154 for a July 2022 win over Jose Benavidez Jr.) Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) is actually still looking for a gain that matches that, as well as a dismayed triumph over Lara will fit the bill.Garcia didn't be similar to the stinging counterpuncher in the majority-decision triumph over Benavidez, and also he have not contended given that. Right now, he'll go up another body weight training class (though the Lara fight is occurring at a catchweight between 155 and 160 extra pounds) and also have to emulate ring sluggishness. The Sept. 14 middleweight title fight versus Lara are going to be actually Garcia's second due to the fact that December 2020, when he was routed through Errol Spence Jr.The choose here is actually Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), who, even at 41, presents significant energy, albeit against fighters below Garcia's degree. Lara is actually riding a three-fight KO touch.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Canelo Alvarez's match versus Edgar Berlanga does not go the distanceCanelo Alvarez, left behind, safeguards his indisputable very middleweight champion against Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu by means of Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, boxing's leading star, hasn't racked up a KO victory since he squashed Caleb Vegetation in a Nov 2021 fight to gain the recognized tremendously middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has scored a presentation in his last 3 fights. Against a competitor in Berlanga, that will certainly be fighting on the top amount for the very first time, Alvarez must incorporate the 40th KO of his remarkable career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has actually been actually injured in the band previously, particularly in a step-up match versus Marcelo Coceres, who lost him in Cycle 9. And also his protection isn't specifically appear. Berlanga has electrical power (he started his profession along with 16 consecutive KO succeeds in the first round), as well as if he picks to swap with Canelo, Alvarez ought to take him out.Alvarez vowed as a lot at a set of news conferences today to promote the battle.-- Coppinger Real or not: Not one other featherweight champion may beat Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza looks a genuine risk to Lopez after torturing Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round succeed in June as well as beating Robeisy Ramirez through a majority selection to gain the WBO label in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) knocked down Chirinho in three of the 4 rounds, while his breakout win along with Ramirez was one of the very best matches in 2023. Editor's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the highest globe light champ in background-- would certainly be actually a difficulty for Lopez. Chirinho succeeded to stand up from an uppercut coming from Espinoza in Round 1, prior to he was actually soon overwhelmed. As a qualified, Chirinho had never ever been brought down before Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza generated a surprise in beating two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, as well as he outlanded him in the last three spheres. Although he is certainly not as knowledgeable as Lopez, the volume of strikes he has actually included his last 2 fights, together with his height as well as reach conveniences, could show impossible for Lopez.Rey Vargas has looked unconvincing in latest fights, while our company still need to have to view more coming from Chip Sphere prior to our company announce him the branch's No. 1. Sphere (20-0-1, 11 KOs) recorded the WBA featherweight label along with a split selection gain Raymond Ford in June. That victory followed a questionable draw versus Vargas for the WBC headline in March. Yet Espinoza would certainly tower above 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was frustrating versus Sphere and also has actually not won in virtually two years, so it is hard to show a disagreement for him in his present form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is actually the present ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after quiting Reiya Abe in eight rounds in a 3rd protection of the IBF belt in March. Lopez has overcome huge difficulties in title matches, like punching in a champion's hometown and also getting cut early (vs. Josh Warrington), and if he succeeds on Saturday versus Angelo Leo, he may possibly experience his biggest problem but in a headline unification battle against Espinoza to crown the most effective boxer in the department.-- ParkinsonReal or not: Anthony Joshua will certainly KO Daniel DuboisReal. Like Dubois' revival has been just a year after being actually stopped by Oleksandr Usyk, current kind advises his first IBF abundant title self defense will end in a KO loss to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) remains in leading form, a lot more so than some other heavyweight. Like Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), Joshua has actually had to reconstruct his profession, after experiencing back-to-back decision losses to Usyk in 2021 as well as 2022. Joshua fought carefully, with a consensual choice gain Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, but in his last 3 matches, he finished off Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin as well as Francis Ngannou.Dubois came back from Saudi Arabia to Greater london as IBF acting heavyweight champ after he quit Filip Hrgovic in Around 8. Usyk after that relinquished the IBF waistband, which indicated Dubois was actually improved to full champ, consequently presents Joshua with the possibility to become a three-time globe champ at Wembley Arena in London.Joshua will make an effort to manipulate what Hrgovic had actually duplicated results with versus Dubois. Hrgovic regularly landed right-hand men on Dubois in the very early rounds, and also Joshua has shown in latest matches exactly how harmful his right-hand men want he ruined Ngannou in Sphere 2. Joshua landed a right-hand man on the former UFC heavyweight champion's jaw to take him out chilly. Joshua will certainly take the option if Dubois creates himself in a similar way offered, as he carried out versus Hrgovic. Joshua is actually a larger puncher than Hrgovic as well as, although Dubois presented resilience to soak up type June, he has been stopped twice (by Joe Joyce in 2020 and also Usyk in 2015) as well as was actually knocked down 3 attend the first round by Kevin Lerena prior to bouncing back to win in Round 3. However it is actually no stroll in the playground for Joshua, who also needs to recognize Dubois' power. Dubois bungled Hrgovic's face and also can likely manage a shock discontinuance versus Joshua, much like Andy Ruiz Jr. did in 2019. But Joshua, who concluded as champion from 2016 to 2019 and afterwards coming from 2019 to 2021, is most likely to gain this match by KO.-- Parkinson.