.IBF featherweight champ Luis Alberto Lopez defends his belt versus Angelo Leo in the main occasion of a Best Ranking on ESPN memory card at Tingley Col iseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Sunday (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET). Lopez's final loss remained in May 2019 and also he has won 14 consecutive fights considering that, consisting of outstanding success over Josh Warrington in England and also Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. However is he the best featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko lately denied a profitable battle versus fellow light-weight champ Gervonta "Storage tank" Davis and while he have not introduced his retirement, will our team see "Hi-Tech" in the band again?Canelo Alvarez will certainly make his second band appearance this year, but certainly not against the competitor fans have clamored for. Rather Than David Benavidez, Canelo will definitely encounter Edgar Berlanga, that's never dealt with at this degree in his brief occupation. While Berlanga has incredible electrical power-- he started his career along with 16 consecutive first-round KOs-- may he locate a means to win, or a minimum of go the distance against Alvarez?Former abundant champ Anthony Joshua will certainly defend a headline for the very first time in two years. Joshua will certainly face IBF champ Daniel Dubois in London, as "AJ" is actually chosen to come to be a three-time globe champion (-550 per ESPN BET). As well as two-division champion Danny Garcia comes back to the band for simply the 2nd time in virtually four years to take on WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Garcia, who won waistbands at 140 and 147 pounds, is moving up in weight for the possibility to end up being a three-division champ, but can easily he upset a more mature however still strong Lara?Mike Coppinger and Chip Parkinson address these questions as well as additional, making an effort to differentiate what's real and also what is actually not.Real or not: Vasiliy Lomachenko will resign without another fightNot actual ... meanwhile. Lomachenko is actually contemplating retired life, sources told ESPN, component of the cause he decreased a financially rewarding battle along with Gervonta Davis in Nov. There's also a probability that Lomachenko will return in the first half of 2025 to shield his IBF light in weight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) appeared in a fighting mood Sunday in Los Angeles: he and also Shakur Stevenson had to be separated at ringside during the course of the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov memory card. Lomachenko was viewed informing Stevenson, "Let's go right now.If that is actually any type of evidence, Lomachenko will deal with again. Perhaps even against Davis or Stevenson, both greatest battles on the desk for him. Yet if he certainly never laces up the handwear covers again, Lomachenko's tradition is gotten. He is actually a three-division champion, a first-ballot Hall of Famer and a pillar of the pound-for-pound list over the last 10 years.He likewise doesn't need to combat for the cash. He's gotten countless dollars in his job and also still lives in Ukraine, where he is just one of the country's most well-liked sportsmens. Whether or not he fights again, he absolutely won't do so a lot longer. He transforms 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or not: Danny Garcia hammers Erislandy Lara and also comes to be a champ in a 3rd divisionNot genuine. Garcia has actually upset the chances just before, including an astonishing KO gain Amir Khan as well as a leading decision triumph over Lucas Matthysse. The very first win elevated him to the upper tier of the sport and the second sealed that status.But the Matthysse match was actually 11 years ago, though, as well as those pair of trademark Garcia triumphes were at 140 extra pounds (he also won a label at 147 pounds and moved up to 154 for a July 2022 win over Jose Benavidez Jr.) Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) is still hunting for a gain that matches that, as well as a distressed victory over Lara would certainly fit the bill.Garcia really did not look like the sharp counterpuncher in the majority-decision triumph over Benavidez, and also he hasn't contended because. Now, he'll move up an additional body weight class (though the Lara match is actually happening at a catchweight between 155 and also 160 extra pounds) as well as need to contend with band lack of exercise. The Sept. 14 middleweight headline battle against Lara will certainly be actually Garcia's 2nd because December 2020, when he was actually directed through Errol Spence Jr.The select right here is actually Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), that, even at 41, reveals significant energy, albeit against boxers below Garcia's degree. Lara is actually 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 unquestioned very middleweight champion against Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Sin City. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu by means of Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, punching's top star, have not racked up a KO victory since he flattened Caleb Plant in a Nov 2021 fight to gain the unquestioned extremely middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has racked up a presentation in his final 3 battles. Against a boxer in Berlanga, who will certainly be actually fighting on the leading amount for the first time, Alvarez must incorporate the 40th KO of his illustrious career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has actually been harmed in the ring in the past, such as in a step-up fight versus Marcelo Coceres, who lost him in Cycle 9. As well as his protection isn't exactly appear. Berlanga has electrical power (he began his profession along with 16 consecutive KO wins in the first round), and also if he opts for to trade along with Canelo, Alvarez must take him out.Alvarez promised as a lot at a pair of news conferences today to market the battle.-- Coppinger Real or not: Not one other featherweight champ can easily hammer Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza appears an actual risk to Lopez after agonizing Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round win in June as well as defeating Robeisy Ramirez through a bulk selection to gain the WBO title in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) defeated Chirinho in three of the four shots, while his outbreak succeed with Ramirez was one of the best battles in 2023. Editor's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the highest planet light champ in record-- would certainly be actually a difficulty for Lopez. Chirinho prospered to rise coming from an uppercut from Espinoza in Round 1, prior to he was actually quickly overthrown. As a professional, Chirinho had actually never been actually brought down before Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza created a shock in pounding two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, and he outlanded him in the final 3 rounds. Although he is not as expert as Lopez, the volume of strikes he has actually thrown in his final two fights, alongside his height and reach perks, can confirm insurmountable for Lopez.Rey Vargas has actually looked unconvincing in current fights, while our company still require to find extra from Nick Sphere before our team proclaim him the department's No. 1. Ball (20-0-1, 11 KOs) recorded the WBA featherweight label along with a split selection draw Raymond Ford in June. That triumph adhered to a debatable draw versus Vargas for the WBC title in March. But Espinoza will tower above 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was actually frustrating versus Sphere and also has actually certainly not gained in virtually 2 years, so it is actually challenging to provide an argument for him in his existing form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is actually the present ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after quiting Reiya Abe in 8 rounds in a 3rd protection of the IBF waistband in March. Lopez has actually gotten rid of significant problems in label battles, like boxing in a champ's neighborhood as well as getting cut very early (vs. Josh Warrington), as well as if he gains on Sunday against Angelo Leo, he may possibly encounter his greatest obstacle however in a title unification match against Espinoza to dental crown the most ideal boxer in the branch.-- ParkinsonReal or otherwise: Anthony Joshua will certainly KO Daniel DuboisReal. Comparable to Dubois' revival has actually been actually merely a year after being actually come by Oleksandr Usyk, latest type recommends his first IBF abundant headline self defense are going to finish in a KO loss to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) remains in best type, even more thus than some other heavyweight. Like Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), Joshua has must rebuild his profession, after enduring next choice losses to Usyk in 2021 and also 2022. Joshua battled meticulously, with a consentaneous decision win over Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, however in his last 3 fights, he rounded off Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou.Dubois came back coming from Saudi Arabia to London as IBF acting big-time champion after he ceased Filip Hrgovic in Round 8. Usyk then gave up the IBF belt, which meant Dubois was upgraded to total champion, therefore provides Joshua with the chance to end up being a three-time globe champ at Wembley Coliseum in London.Joshua will definitely try to manipulate what Hrgovic had duplicated effectiveness along with versus Dubois. Hrgovic continuously landed right hands on Dubois in the very early rounds, as well as Joshua has actually shown in latest battles exactly how detrimental his right hands desire he ruined Ngannou in Around 2. Joshua landed a right-hand man on the past UFC big-time champ's face to knock him out cool. Joshua is going to take the opportunity if Dubois produces himself likewise readily available, as he carried out versus Hrgovic. Joshua is a bigger puncher than Hrgovic as well as, although Dubois showed sturdiness to take in type June, he has actually been ceased twice (by Joe Joyce in 2020 and also Usyk in 2015) and also was actually defeated 3 attend the preliminary by Kevin Lerena prior to bouncing back to win in Round 3. However it is no stroll in the playground for Joshua, who likewise needs to have to appreciate Dubois' power. Dubois bungled Hrgovic's skin and can potentially pull off a shock stop against Joshua, much like Andy Ruiz Jr. performed in 2019. Yet Joshua, that concluded as champion coming from 2016 to 2019 and then from 2019 to 2021, is more probable to gain this battle by KO.-- Parkinson.