-
Mike Coppinger, ESPN Boxing Insider
Angelo Leo knocked out Luis Alberto Lopez with a spectacular one-punch knockout in the 10th round to pull off an upset and win the IBF featherweight title on Saturday in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Leo (25-1, 12 KOs), of Albuquerque, threw a left hook that dropped Lopez flat on his back at 1:16 of the round and brought him to the 10th count, becoming a two-division champion. The clean left punch sent Lopez to the mat as the back of his head bounced off the canvas in a contender for Knockout of the Year.
Lopez (30-3, 17 KOs) was taken to UNM Hospital for observation following the knockout loss, a Top Rank spokesperson told ESPN. Leo was a +350 underdog, according to ESPN BET.
“I’ve always longed for this moment, to fight back in my hometown,” said 30-year-old Leo. “And what better way to do that than with a world title fight and a knockout? We’ve been practicing that left hook all camp.”
Lopez was ahead on one scorecard 86-85 in round 10, while Leo was ahead by the same score on the other two cards in an action-packed fight. Leo entered the fight with no ESPN rankings, while Lopez was ranked No. 1 in the 126-pound division.
Mexican Lopez entered his fourth title defense with a winning streak of 13 fights. The 30-year-old won an eighth-round TKO victory against Reiya Abe in March.
Leo landed the cleaner, harder punches throughout the fight as he pressed the champion. Lopez landed plenty of clean right uppercuts and let loose punches while boxing with his hands at his sides in his typical relaxed style.
Leo’s only loss came in January 2021, when he lost on points to Stephen Fulton in a 122-pound title fight. Leo rebounded with five straight wins, most recently in April with a points win over Eduardo Baez. In 2020, Leo defeated Tramaine Williams on points to win a vacant 122-pound title.
