.IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez defends his waistband against Angelo Leo in the main event of a Best Rank on ESPN memory 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 as well as he has actually succeeded 14 successive fights considering that, consisting of outstanding triumphes over Josh Warrington in England and also Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. Yet is he the best featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko just recently turned down a highly profitable battle versus fellow light in weight champion Gervonta "Container" Davis and also while he have not declared his retirement, will our experts find "Hi-Tech" in the band again?Canelo Alvarez will create his second band appeal this year, however certainly not versus the fighter followers have actually demanded. As Opposed To David Benavidez, Canelo will face Edgar Berlanga, that is actually certainly never combated at this level in his brief career. While Berlanga has unbelievable electrical power-- he began his occupation along with 16 successive first-round KOs-- can easily he find a method to gain, or at the very least go the span versus Alvarez?Former abundant champion Anthony Joshua are going to defend a label for the first time in two years. Joshua is going to face IBF champ Daniel Dubois in Greater London, as "AJ" is chosen to end up being a three-time world champ (-550 per ESPN BET). And also two-division champ Danny Garcia returns to the band for merely the 2nd attend virtually four years to tackle WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Garcia, who won belts at 140 and also 147 extra pounds, is actually moving up in weight for the possibility to end up being a three-division champ, however can he upset a much older yet still powerful Lara?Mike Coppinger and also Chip Parkinson respond to these questions and also additional, making an effort to identify what's real and also what's not.Real or not: Vasiliy Lomachenko will definitely resign without an additional fightNot true ... in the meantime. Lomachenko is actually considering retirement, sources informed ESPN, aspect of the explanation he decreased a financially rewarding fight along with Gervonta Davis in November. There is actually also a probability that Lomachenko will definitely come back in the initial half of 2025 to defend his IBF light in weight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) seemed in a fighting state of mind Sunday in Los Angeles: he as well as Shakur Stevenson needed to be split at ringside in the course of the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov memory card. Lomachenko was actually viewed telling Stevenson, "Allow's go best now.If that's any kind of indication, Lomachenko is going to deal with again. Maybe even against Davis or even Stevenson, both largest battles on the table for him. But if he certainly never shoelaces up the gloves once again, Lomachenko's tradition is gotten. He is actually a three-division champ, a first-ballot Venue of Famer and also a mainstay of the pound-for-pound listing over the final 10 years.He likewise does not require to combat for the money. He's earned countless dollars in his career and also still lives in Ukraine, where he is among the nation's very most popular professional athletes. Regardless if he battles again, he definitely will not do this a lot longer. He transforms 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Danny Garcia beats Erislandy Lara and ends up being a champion in a 3rd divisionNot actual. Garcia has upset the possibilities just before, featuring a stunning KO draw Amir Khan and also a prevalent selection victory over Lucas Matthysse. The initial win lifted him to the higher echelon of the sporting activity as well as the latter bound that status.But the Matthysse fight was 11 years ago, however, and also those two trademark Garcia success went to 140 extra pounds (he additionally succeeded 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 seeking a gain that matches that, and also a distressed triumph over Lara would accommodate the bill.Garcia really did not look like the sharp counterpuncher in the majority-decision triumph over Benavidez, as well as he have not contended due to the fact that. Currently, he'll go up yet another body weight training class (though the Lara battle is occurring at a catchweight in between 155 and also 160 pounds) and also have to contend with band inactivity. The Sept. 14 middleweight label battle versus Lara will definitely be Garcia's 2nd given that December 2020, when he was directed by Errol Spence Jr.The pick listed here is Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), who, also at 41, reveals enormous energy, albeit versus boxers beneath Garcia's degree. Lara is using a three-fight KO streak.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Canelo Alvarez's match against Edgar Berlanga does not go the distanceCanelo Alvarez, left, safeguards his undisputed super middleweight champion versus Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Sin City. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu by means of Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, punching's leading star, hasn't racked up a KO triumph considering that he flattened Caleb Plant in a November 2021 fight to gain the undisputed tremendously middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has scored a presentation in his last three fights. Against a fighter in Berlanga, who are going to be fighting on the top degree for the very first time, Alvarez ought to add the 40th KO of his remarkable career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has actually been actually injured in the band in the past, specifically in a step-up match against Marcelo Coceres, who dropped him in Cycle 9. As well as his protection isn't precisely sound. Berlanga possesses electrical power (he started his career with 16 successive KO gains in the first round), as well as if he chooses to exchange along with Canelo, Alvarez should take him out.Alvarez assured as a lot at a pair of press conference recently to advertise the battle.-- Coppinger Real or not: Not one other lightweight champion may beat Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza appears a genuine danger to Lopez after tormenting Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round gain in June and defeating Robeisy Ramirez through a large number choice to win the WBO label in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) knocked down Chirinho in three of the four rounds, while his escapement gain with Ramirez was among the very best fights in 2023. Editor's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the highest globe lightweight champ in record-- will be actually a challenge for Lopez. Chirinho did well to get out of bed from an uppercut coming from Espinoza in Around 1, prior to he was quickly overthrown. As a qualified, Chirinho had certainly never been actually brought down prior to Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza produced a surprise in beating two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, and also he outlanded him in the final 3 spheres. Although he is not as seasoned as Lopez, the amount of blows he has included his last pair of matches, in addition to his height and also arrive at advantages, might confirm overwhelming for Lopez.Rey Vargas has actually appeared implausible in recent matches, while we still need to observe extra coming from Chip Round just before we proclaim him the department's No. 1. Sphere (20-0-1, 11 KOs) caught the WBA featherweight label along with a split selection gain Raymond Ford in June. That victory followed a controversial draw versus Vargas for the WBC title in March. Yet Espinoza would certainly stand over 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was actually unsatisfying versus Ball and has certainly not succeeded in almost pair of years, so it is hard to provide a disagreement for him in his present form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is actually the current ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after quiting Reiya Abe in 8 rounds in a 3rd defense of the IBF waistband in March. Lopez has overcome major difficulties in label fights, like boxing in a champ's home town and obtaining cut very early (vs. Josh Warrington), and also if he wins on Sunday against Angelo Leo, he might perhaps encounter his most significant problem but in a title marriage match against Espinoza to dental crown the very best fighter in the department.-- ParkinsonReal or otherwise: Anthony Joshua will definitely KO Daniel DuboisReal. Comparable to Dubois' revival has actually been actually simply a year after being actually visited Oleksandr Usyk, recent type recommends his 1st IBF abundant label protection will certainly finish in a KO loss to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) is in top form, more so than any other heavyweight. Like Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), Joshua has must reconstruct his career, after experiencing next choice losses to Usyk in 2021 as well as 2022. Joshua battled carefully, with a consentaneous choice get Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, however in his last 3 fights, he rounded off Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou.Dubois came back coming from Saudi Arabia to Greater london as IBF acting heavyweight champ after he stopped Filip Hrgovic in Round 8. Usyk then relinquished the IBF waistband, which meant Dubois was improved to complete champ, consequently shows Joshua with the opportunity to become a three-time world champ at Wembley Coliseum in London.Joshua will definitely make an effort to manipulate what Hrgovic had redoed effectiveness along with against Dubois. Hrgovic consistently landed right-hand men on Dubois in the very early spheres, and also Joshua has received latest matches just how destructive his right hands are after he ruined Ngannou in Around 2. Joshua landed a right hand on the previous UFC heavyweight champion's jaw to take him out cool. Joshua is going to confiscate the opportunity if Dubois produces themself in a similar way available, as he performed against Hrgovic. Joshua is a bigger puncher than Hrgovic and also, although Dubois showed resilience to soak up punches in June, he has actually been ceased two times (by Joe Joyce in 2020 and also Usyk last year) and also was defeated 3 attend the preliminary by Kevin Lerena before recuperating to win in Cycle 3. But it is actually no walk in the playground for Joshua, who additionally requires to recognize Dubois' energy. Dubois made a mess of Hrgovic's skin and also can potentially carry out a surprise interruption versus Joshua, similar to Andy Ruiz Jr. carried out in 2019. But Joshua, that ruled as champion from 2016 to 2019 and afterwards coming from 2019 to 2021, is more probable to gain this match by KO.-- Parkinson.