Luis Alberto Lopez’s win streak and title reign ended within the worst possible approach.
ESPN’s Mark Kriegel reported that the dethroned IBF featherweight titlist suffered a small mind bleed after his Aug. 10 knockout defeat to Angelo Leo. Their aggressive title battle noticed Leo counter a jab with a superbly timed left hook. Lopez was put flat on his again the place he remained till referee Ernie Sharif waved off the competition.
Leo (25-1, 12 knockouts) entered Tingley Coliseum in his Albuquerque hometown because the overwhelming crowd favourite. He left because the newly topped IBF titlist and The Ring’s No. 2-rated featherweight.
Lopez (30-3, 17 KOs) snapped a thirteen-fight win streak, although it pales compared to the much more grim aftermath. The analysis prompted the New Mexico Athletic Fee to put the Mexicali native on a 90-day suspension. It is going to doubtless be prolonged together with a pink flag subsequent to his Federal ID, given the severity of the harm.
Three professional boxers have handed away inside this calendar yr.
Japan’s Kazuki Anaguchi (6-1, 2 KOs) suffered a subdural hematoma on the suitable facet of his mind in a Dec. 26 defeat to Seiya Tsutsumi in Tokyo. Their Combat of the 12 months contender got here on the final value. Anaguchi’s legs started to twitch as medical consideration was paid to a grotesque reduce over his left eye. He was taken to a close-by hospital, the place medical doctors carried out a right away craniotomy. The 23-year-old remained in a coma till his premature demise on Feb. 2.
Congo’s Ardi Ndembo died on April 26, three weeks after accidents sustained throughout an April 5 Workforce Fight League bout versus Cuba’s Nestor Santana. Simply two weeks later, England’s Sharif Lawal was pronounced useless simply at some point after a knockout loss in his Might 11 professional debut. The bout was the primary battle of the night time, its tragic ending which prompted the cancellation of the remainder of the present.
The horrific destiny of South Africa’s Simiso Buthelezi was sadly witnessed in actual time. The 24-year-old was in management throughout his June 2022 ten-round light-weight bout versus Siphesihle Mntungwa. He drove his countryman into the ropes, which prompted a break within the motion. Buthelezi then oddly adopted the referee as soon as motion resumed and commenced punching on the air. The competition was delivered to a right away halt.
Buthelezi was delivered to an area hospital, and was identified with a mind bleed. He handed away simply two days in a while June 7, 2022.
Lopez received the IBF featherweight title in a Dec. 2022 factors win over Josh Warrington on the street in Leeds, England. Three of his 5 title fights got here in his opponent’s hometown. Along with Warrington and Leo, Lopez met Michael Conlan in his yard of Belfast, Northern Eire. It mattered little ultimately, as Lopez delivered a spotlight reel fifth-round knockout in his first title protection.
Wins over Joet Gonzalez and Reiya Abe adopted earlier than his scary defeat to Leo—much more scary, on reflection.
The Ring joins the remainder of the boxing group in wishing Lopez a well timed restoration all the best way again to good well being.
