Sports

Real or otherwise: Will Canelo KO Berlanga? Lopez the very best featherweight? Last of Lomachenko?

.IBF featherweight champ Luis Alberto Lopez defends his belt against Angelo Leo in the main activity of a Top Position on ESPN memory card at Tingley Col iseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Sunday (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET). Lopez's last reduction was in May 2019 and also he has actually gained 14 successive matches because, consisting of impressive triumphes over Josh Warrington in England and also Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. However is he the greatest featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko recently refused a financially rewarding fight versus fellow light-weight champion Gervonta "Storage tank" Davis and also while he hasn't introduced his retired life, will definitely our company observe "Hi-Tech" in the band again?Canelo Alvarez will definitely create his second ring appearance this year, yet certainly not versus the fighter followers have clamored for. Rather Than David Benavidez, Canelo is going to face Edgar Berlanga, that is actually never fought at this degree in his brief occupation. While Berlanga has fabulous electrical power-- he started his job with 16 successive first-round KOs-- may he find a technique to gain, or even at least go the span against Alvarez?Former abundant champ Anthony Joshua will defend a label for the very first time in two years. Joshua is going to encounter IBF champ Daniel Dubois in Greater London, as "AJ" is chosen to end up being a three-time world champion (-550 every ESPN WAGER). As well as two-division champ Danny Garcia returns to the ring for merely the 2nd time in nearly four years to tackle WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Garcia, that gained belts at 140 and also 147 pounds, is moving up in body weight for the possibility to end up being a three-division champ, but may he disturb an older yet still strong Lara?Mike Coppinger and also Nick Parkinson respond to these questions as well as additional, attempting to distinguish what's real as well as what is actually not.Real or not: Vasiliy Lomachenko will certainly resign without another fightNot real ... for now. Lomachenko is actually contemplating retirement, resources informed ESPN, part of the main reason he declined a profitable match along with Gervonta Davis in November. There is actually additionally a possibility that Lomachenko will definitely return in the very first one-half of 2025 to defend his IBF light in weight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) seemed in a combating state of mind Sunday in Los Angeles: he and also Shakur Stevenson needed to be divided at ringside in the course of the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov card. Lomachenko was found telling Stevenson, "Permit's go correct now.If that's any kind of evidence, Lomachenko will definitely deal with once again. Perhaps even versus Davis or Stevenson, the 2 largest fights on the table for him. But if he never laces up the gloves once more, Lomachenko's heritage is actually protected. He's a three-division champ, a first-ballot Hall of Famer and a backbone of the pound-for-pound listing over the last 10 years.He also doesn't need to have to combat for the cash. He's made millions of dollars in his job and also still resides in Ukraine, where he is among the country's most well-known sportsmens. Regardless if he deals with again, he surely will not accomplish this a lot longer. He turns 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Danny Garcia beats Erislandy Lara and also ends up being a champion in a third divisionNot actual. Garcia has actually upset the possibilities just before, featuring a shocking KO win over Amir Khan and also a leading selection victory over Lucas Matthysse. The first gain raised him to the top echelon of the sporting activity and also the last cemented that status.But the Matthysse match was 11 years ago, though, and those 2 trademark Garcia triumphes went to 140 pounds (he also gained a title at 147 pounds and also moved up to 154 for a July 2022 sway Jose Benavidez Jr.) Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) is actually still hunting for a win that matches that, as well as a distressed victory over Lara would suit the bill.Garcia really did not resemble the sharp counterpuncher in the majority-decision triumph over Benavidez, as well as he have not competed considering that. Right now, he'll move up one more body weight course (though the Lara battle is actually happening at a catchweight in between 155 and 160 pounds) and have to emulate ring lack of exercise. The Sept. 14 middleweight headline match versus Lara will be actually Garcia's second since December 2020, when he was actually directed through Errol Spence Jr.The select right here is Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), that, also at 41, reveals significant electrical power, albeit against competitors below Garcia's amount. Lara is actually riding a three-fight KO touch.-- CoppingerReal or not: Canelo Alvarez's battle against Edgar Berlanga does not go the distanceCanelo Alvarez, left behind, shields his indisputable extremely middleweight champion against Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu through Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, punching's leading celebrity, have not racked up a KO victory because he smoothed Caleb Plant in a November 2021 battle to win the undeniable super middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has scored a knockdown in his final three matches. Against a fighter in Berlanga, who will certainly be actually combating on the leading degree for the very first time, Alvarez ought to include the 40th KO of his renowned career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has been actually harmed in the ring previously, specifically in a step-up battle versus Marcelo Coceres, who dropped him in Round 9. And also his protection isn't specifically seem. Berlanga possesses energy (he began his career with 16 successive KO wins in the preliminary), as well as if he decides on to swap along with Canelo, Alvarez needs to take him out.Alvarez promised as a lot at a set of news conferences today to market the battle.-- Coppinger Real or not: No other lightweight champ can easily beat Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza looks a genuine threat to Lopez after torturing Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round gain in June as well as beating Robeisy Ramirez through a large number choice to gain the WBO title in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) defeated Chirinho in 3 of the 4 shots, while his outbreak win with Ramirez was one of the best fights in 2023. Editor's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the tallest globe featherweight champ in past-- will be actually an obstacle for Lopez. Chirinho did well to stand up coming from an uppercut from Espinoza in Sphere 1, before he was actually very soon overwhelmed. As a professional, Chirinho had certainly never been actually brought down before Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza produced a surprise in pounding two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, as well as he outlanded him in the last three arounds. Although he is certainly not as expert as Lopez, the volume of hits he has actually thrown in his final 2 battles, alongside his elevation and get to conveniences, might confirm insurmountable for Lopez.Rey Vargas has looked unconvincing in latest matches, while our company still need to find much more coming from Chip Ball before we proclaim him the branch's No. 1. Round (20-0-1, 11 KOs) recorded the WBA featherweight label with a split decision win over Raymond Ford in June. That accomplishment observed a questionable draw versus Vargas for the WBC title in March. Yet Espinoza will overlook 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was disappointing versus Round as well as has actually certainly not succeeded in almost two years, so it is actually tough to offer a disagreement for him in his existing form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is the present ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after stopping Reiya Abe in eight spheres in a third self defense of the IBF belt in March. Lopez has actually conquered large obstacles in title fights, like boxing in a champion's home town and also receiving cut very early (vs. Josh Warrington), and if he gains on Saturday against Angelo Leo, he may possibly face his greatest difficulty however in a title unification match against Espinoza to dental crown the greatest boxer in the division.-- ParkinsonReal or otherwise: Anthony Joshua will certainly KO Daniel DuboisReal. Comparable to Dubois' rebirth has been actually just a year after being visited Oleksandr Usyk, recent type suggests his initial IBF abundant title self defense will definitely finish in a KO defeat to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) resides in top type, a lot more therefore than any other abundant. Like Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), Joshua has actually had to fix his job, after suffering back-to-back choice losses to Usyk in 2021 as well as 2022. Joshua battled cautiously, with a consentaneous choice draw Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, yet in his final 3 fights, he finished off Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou.Dubois returned from Saudi Arabia to London as IBF acting heavyweight champ after he ceased Filip Hrgovic in Around 8. Usyk after that gave up the IBF belt, which meant Dubois was upgraded to total champion, and so presents Joshua along with the option to become a three-time world champ at Wembley Coliseum in London.Joshua will certainly attempt to manipulate what Hrgovic had actually redoed effectiveness with versus Dubois. Hrgovic frequently landed right-hand men on Dubois in the early spheres, as well as Joshua has displayed in current fights exactly how damaging his right-hand men seek he ruined Ngannou in Around 2. Joshua landed a right-hand man on the former UFC big-time champion's face to knock him out cold. Joshua is going to take possession of the possibility if Dubois makes themself similarly available, as he performed versus Hrgovic. Joshua is actually a much bigger puncher than Hrgovic and, although Dubois showed resilience to take in punches in June, he has been stopped twice (by Joe Joyce in 2020 and Usyk in 2013) and was knocked down three attend the first round by Kevin Lerena just before recouping to succeed in Cycle 3. But it is no walk in the playground for Joshua, that additionally needs to respect Dubois' energy. Dubois pauperized Hrgovic's skin and can potentially pull off a surprise blockage versus Joshua, similar to Andy Ruiz Jr. carried out in 2019. However Joshua, that concluded as champion coming from 2016 to 2019 and afterwards coming from 2019 to 2021, is more likely to win this match through KO.-- Parkinson.