Angelo Leo (proper) lands on Luis Alberto Lopez of their Aug. 10 IBF featherweight title combat. Leo scored a one-punch, tenth-round knockout to dethrone The RIng’s No. 1-rated featherweight. Picture credit score: Mikey Williams, Prime Rank
Angelo Leo was positive of two issues going into his combat towards Luis ‘Venado’ Lopez:
Preventing earlier than a hometown crowd would imply all the pieces to him and that he’s the perfect featherweight on the planet.
“(My) mentality is [always] to go in there and win,” Leo advised The Ring previous to Saturday’s combat. “Motivation is greater than ever. Depth of coaching is larger than ever so we’re ensuring no stone is unturned right here. We’re right here to get the victory.”
Leo made believers out of any doubters Saturday evening, scoring a vicious one-punch knockout win over Lopez in spherical 10 in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Leo (25-1, 12 knockouts) gained the IBF world featherweight title.
A counter left hook to the pinnacle dropped Lopez (30-3, 17 KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico out and for the rely. Coming into the tenth spherical, Leo was up 86-85 on two judges’ scorecards. Lopez was up 86-85 on the third.
“I’m the perfect featherweight proper now,” insisted Leo, who entered as The Ring’s No. 10-rated fighter within the division. To his level, Lopez was rated No. 1 at featherweight.
In his earlier bout on April 10, Leo defeated former world featherweight title challenger Eduardo Baez by unanimous determination. On January 31, Leo knocked out former junior featherweight contender Mike Plania within the third spherical.
Due to the extent of opposition and what was at stake, Leo’s motivation and starvation going into the Lopez combat have been at an all-time excessive.
“We see ‘Venado’ and he’s awkward,” noticed Leo. “He does a variety of issues that aren’t textbook to what trainers train and all that. Nevertheless it works for him and he will get away with it. However then once more, he hasn’t fought a fighter like me. (Somebody) with a mode like me. He does have some losses on his report so that may inform you that his model isn’t foolproof.”
The 29-year-old Leo had not fought in his hometown of Albuquerque since a choice win over journeyman Stephon McIntyre in August 2015. The combat occurred on the Civic Middle in Albuquerque.
Leo was not solely grateful for the chance to combat once more in his hometown, however to take action with household, buddies, and followers of his profession in attendance.
“It means the world as a result of that is the place I grew up,” stated Leo, who made his professional debut in November 2012. “It’s the place I used to be raised. I’ve all my followers, all my household and buddies are right here, majority of them. It’s a blessing to be combating in my hometown in entrance of people that have supported me all through the years of my boxing profession. Simply to present again to my hometown as a result of it’s been some time since I haven’t fought right here.
“Final time I fought in Albuquerque was in 2015. It’s an excellent little present for them to be combating in entrance of them and never solely simply combating, but in addition for a world title in entrance of them. I’m very glad for that. I’m very blessed to be giving that present for them. And likewise for them to point out up and help.”
After transferring on from his contract with Mayweather Promotions, Leo landed a take care of ProBox TV. He made his debut with that platform final November 1, when he stopped gatekeeper Nicolas Polanco.
A four-fight win streak preceded Leo’s title bid versus Lopez. His lone defeat got here to Stephen Fulton in a Jan. 2021 battle of unbeaten junior featherweights which ended his WBO 122-pound title reign.
In comparison with his frame of mind, Leo is in a greater place and has grown wiser lately. He believes studying from his errors have put him in a greater place to benefit from profitable a world title belt.
“Loads of that needed to do with maturity,” stated Leo, the proud father of a two-year-old son. “My expertise within the boxing sport. My expertise in life. All of that performed an element. I grew to become extra self-aware of what I wanted to work on in my coaching and in my model. I improved in all that, I improved on my punching energy.
“In fact, I moved up in weight to 126 (kilos). I acquired extra zip on my punches now, fairly than at 122. I simply really feel so much higher at 126. I really feel so much sharper. I employed a power and conditioning coach. Our coaching periods are much more intense than again then. All the things is much more intense so we’re able to go.”
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has lined boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He might be reached at [email protected]
