.IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez defends his waistband versus Angelo Leo in the main activity of a Leading Rank on ESPN card at Tingley Col iseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Sunday (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET). Lopez's last reduction resided in May 2019 and also he has actually won 14 consecutive matches considering that, featuring exceptional success over Josh Warrington in England and Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. But is he the best featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko recently refused a rewarding battle against fellow light in weight champ Gervonta "Tank" Davis and while he hasn't declared his retired life, are going to our team view "Hi-Tech" in the band again?Canelo Alvarez will definitely create his 2nd band appearance this year, however not against the fighter enthusiasts have actually clamored for. As Opposed To David Benavidez, Canelo will face Edgar Berlanga, that's never ever dealt with at this level in his quick profession. While Berlanga possesses extraordinary power-- he started his profession with 16 successive first-round KOs-- can easily he find a method to succeed, or even at least go the proximity versus Alvarez?Former heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua will fight for a title for the first time in 2 years. Joshua is going to deal with IBF champion Daniel Dubois in Greater London, as "AJ" is actually preferred to become a three-time world champion (-550 every ESPN WAGER). And also two-division champ Danny Garcia returns to the ring for merely the 2nd attend practically four years to handle WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Garcia, who gained waistbands at 140 as well as 147 extra pounds, is actually going up in weight for the odds to end up being a three-division champ, yet can he distress a much older however still powerful Lara?Mike Coppinger as well as Nick Parkinson address these inquiries and also additional, making an effort to differentiate what's genuine as well as what is actually not.Real or not: Vasiliy Lomachenko will retire without an additional fightNot true ... in the meantime. Lomachenko is considering retired life, sources informed ESPN, part of the factor he decreased a beneficial fight along with Gervonta Davis in Nov. There is actually additionally a probability that Lomachenko will come back in the very first one-half of 2025 to protect his IBF lightweight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) appeared in a combating state of mind Sunday in Los Angeles: he and Shakur Stevenson must be actually separated at ringside throughout the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov memory card. Lomachenko was actually observed informing Stevenson, "Let's go right now.If that is actually any type of sign, Lomachenko will definitely combat again. Perhaps even versus Davis or even Stevenson, the two most significant battles on the desk for him. Yet if he never shoelaces up the gloves again, Lomachenko's legacy is actually safeguarded. He is actually a three-division champion, a first-ballot Hall of Famer and also a pillar of the pound-for-pound list over the last 10 years.He also does not need to have to fight for the money. He's made numerous dollars in his career as well as still stays in Ukraine, where he's one of the country's very most popular professional athletes. Whether or not he battles again, he surely will not do so much longer. He switches 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or not: Danny Garcia beats Erislandy Lara and also comes to be a champion in a third divisionNot actual. Garcia has actually upset the odds just before, including an astonishing KO draw Amir Khan and a dominant selection victory over Lucas Matthysse. The first win lifted him to the upper tier of the sport and the second sealed that status.But the Matthysse battle was actually 11 years back, though, and also those 2 signature Garcia triumphes went to 140 pounds (he additionally won a headline at 147 extra pounds as well as went up to 154 for a July 2022 win over Jose Benavidez Jr.) Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) is actually still hunting for a win that matches that, and an upset triumph over Lara would suit the bill.Garcia failed to appear like the sharp counterpuncher in the majority-decision success over Benavidez, and he hasn't contended since. Right now, he'll go up an additional weight training class (though the Lara battle is occurring at a catchweight in between 155 and 160 pounds) and also must contend with ring lack of exercise. The Sept. 14 middleweight headline battle against Lara will be Garcia's 2nd because December 2020, when he was actually routed through Errol Spence Jr.The decide on listed here is Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), that, even at 41, shows tremendous energy, albeit against competitors under Garcia's amount. Lara is actually using a three-fight KO touch.-- CoppingerReal or not: Canelo Alvarez's battle against Edgar Berlanga does not go the distanceCanelo Alvarez, left, protects his undisputed tremendously middleweight champion versus Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu through Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, punching's leading celebrity, hasn't racked up a KO triumph due to the fact that he squashed Caleb Plant in a Nov 2021 fight to succeed the undisputed very middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has actually racked up a presentation in his last three fights. Against a fighter in Berlanga, that will be battling on the best level for the first time, Alvarez must include the 40th KO of his renowned career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has actually been injured in the band previously, such as in a step-up match versus Marcelo Coceres, that dropped him in Round 9. And also his self defense isn't precisely seem. Berlanga has power (he started his job along with 16 consecutive KO succeeds in the preliminary), as well as if he selects to exchange along with Canelo, Alvarez must take him out.Alvarez vowed as a lot at a set of press conference this week to advertise the match.-- Coppinger Real or not: No other light champ can easily beat Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza appears a real threat to Lopez after agonizing Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round gain in June and beating Robeisy Ramirez through a large number selection to win the WBO title in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) knocked down Chirinho in three of the four rounds, while his escapement win with Ramirez was one of the greatest battles in 2023. Publisher's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the highest world lightweight champion in background-- will be a challenge for Lopez. Chirinho prospered to stand up from an uppercut from Espinoza in Sphere 1, prior to he was actually quickly overthrown. As a specialist, Chirinho had actually never ever been actually torn down before Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza created a surprise in beating two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, and also he outlanded him in the last three rounds. Although he is not as experienced as Lopez, the volume of hits he has included his final two battles, in addition to his height and hit perks, can verify impossible for Lopez.Rey Vargas has actually looked unconvincing in recent matches, while our team still need to see even more coming from Nick Round before our company declare him the division's No. 1. Round (20-0-1, 11 KOs) grabbed the WBA featherweight title with a split decision win over Raymond Ford in June. That victory adhered to a controversial draw versus Vargas for the WBC title in March. Yet Espinoza will tower above 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was actually frustrating versus Round and has actually certainly not gained in almost 2 years, so it is actually difficult to offer a disagreement for him in his current form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is actually the current ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after stopping Reiya Abe in eight spheres in a 3rd protection of the IBF waistband in March. Lopez has conquered large challenges in headline matches, like punching in a champ's home town as well as getting slice very early (vs. Josh Warrington), and if he wins on Saturday against Angelo Leo, he might maybe encounter his biggest obstacle but in a title marriage match against Espinoza to crown the most effective boxer in the division.-- ParkinsonReal or otherwise: Anthony Joshua will certainly KO Daniel DuboisReal. As good as Dubois' rebirth has been actually simply a year after being actually come by Oleksandr Usyk, latest type recommends his initial IBF heavyweight label defense will certainly finish in a KO loss to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) resides in leading kind, even more so than every other abundant. Like Dubois (21-2, twenty KOs), Joshua has needed to fix his career, after suffering next decision reductions to Usyk in 2021 and also 2022. Joshua fought cautiously, with an unanimous choice gain Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, yet in his last three fights, he rounded off Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin as well as Francis Ngannou.Dubois came back from Saudi Arabia to Greater london as IBF acting heavyweight champ after he quit Filip Hrgovic in Around 8. Usyk then gave up the IBF waistband, which implied Dubois was improved to full champion, therefore shows Joshua with the chance to come to be a three-time globe champ at Wembley Coliseum in London.Joshua are going to try to exploit what Hrgovic had duplicated effectiveness with against Dubois. Hrgovic continually landed right-hand men on Dubois in the early spheres, and Joshua has actually received current matches exactly how detrimental his right hands want he damaged Ngannou in Around 2. Joshua landed a right-hand man on the previous UFC heavyweight champion's jaw to knock him out chilly. Joshua is going to take the option if Dubois makes themself likewise accessible, as he did versus Hrgovic. Joshua is actually a much bigger puncher than Hrgovic and also, although Dubois presented sturdiness to absorb type June, he has actually been stopped twice (through Joe Joyce in 2020 as well as Usyk in 2013) and also was defeated three times in the first round by Kevin Lerena before recovering to succeed in Round 3. However it is no walk in the playground for Joshua, that also requires to appreciate Dubois' energy. Dubois pauperized Hrgovic's face and may potentially manage a shock stoppage versus Joshua, just like Andy Ruiz Jr. did in 2019. However Joshua, that ruled as champ coming from 2016 to 2019 and afterwards coming from 2019 to 2021, is most likely to win this battle by KO.-- Parkinson.