In a stunning turn of events, Angelo Leo pulled off a major upset by knocking out IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto ‘Venado’ Lopez in the tenth round of their fight. The bout took place in Leo’s hometown at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Despite Lopez leading narrowly on two of the scorecards, Leo landed a massive left hook in the tenth round that sent Lopez crashing to the canvas, unable to continue the fight.
After being knocked down by Leo, Lopez was in bad shape and struggled to get back to his feet. Referee Earnie Shariff allowed him to continue, but many felt that the fight should have been stopped immediately given Lopez’s condition. Lopez’s unorthodox style of throwing leaping punches posed a challenge for Leo throughout the fight, as he was able to land significant shots despite being outboxed for most of the match.
Some speculate that fighting in his hometown may have given Leo the extra push he needed to secure the victory. The support of the fans, who cheered him on throughout the fight, likely boosted Leo’s confidence and energy, enabling him to withstand the punishment dished out by Lopez. It remains to be seen if there is a rematch clause in the contract, as this was a voluntary defense for Lopez against the #10 ranked Leo.
In the undercard fights, Lindolfo Delgado defeated Bryan Flores in a junior welterweight bout by unanimous decision, with Delgado scoring a knockdown in the third round. Matthew Griego emerged victorious against Gilberto Mendoza in their flyweight rematch, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 80-72 across all cards. Vito Mielnicki Jr. secured a win in his Top Rank debut against Laszlo Toth, who was disqualified in the second round after being knocked down.
Angelo Leo’s surprising victory over Luis Alberto Lopez has shaken up the featherweight division and solidified Leo’s position as a rising star in boxing. Despite facing adversity and taking some big shots, Leo showed resilience and delivered a knockout performance that will be remembered in the boxing world for years to come.