.IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez defends his belt versus Angelo Leo generally occasion of a Top Position on ESPN 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 won 14 consecutive fights since, including outstanding success over Josh Warrington in England as well as Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. However is he the best featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko just recently refused a profitable match versus fellow light in weight champion Gervonta "Container" Davis and also while he have not announced his retired life, will certainly our team find "Hi-Tech" in the ring again?Canelo Alvarez will definitely make his 2nd ring appeal this year, yet not against the fighter fans have actually clamored for. As Opposed To David Benavidez, Canelo will definitely encounter Edgar Berlanga, who's never ever fought at this degree in his brief occupation. While Berlanga has astonishing power-- he began his career along with 16 successive first-round KOs-- may he locate a means to win, or a minimum of go the distance versus Alvarez?Former abundant champion Anthony Joshua will certainly fight for a headline for the first time in 2 years. Joshua will deal with IBF champ Daniel Dubois in Greater London, as "AJ" is chosen to come to be a three-time globe champ (-550 per ESPN BET). As well as two-division champ Danny Garcia goes back to the ring for merely the second time in nearly four years to take on WBA middleweight champ Erislandy Lara. Garcia, who won waistbands at 140 and 147 pounds, is moving up in weight for the odds to come to be a three-division champion, but can he distress an older yet still effective Lara?Mike Coppinger as well as Scar Parkinson answer these questions and also additional, attempting to identify what's true as well as what's not.Real or otherwise: Vasiliy Lomachenko will certainly resign without an additional fightNot real ... for now. Lomachenko is actually contemplating retirement life, sources told ESPN, aspect of the cause he decreased a highly profitable battle with Gervonta Davis in November. There's also a possibility that Lomachenko will certainly come back in the initial fifty percent of 2025 to shield his IBF lightweight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) appeared in a fighting state of mind Saturday in Los Angeles: he and Shakur Stevenson had to be actually divided at ringside during the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov memory card. Lomachenko was found saying to Stevenson, "Allow's go appropriate now.If that is actually any kind of indication, Lomachenko will definitely deal with once again. Perhaps even against Davis or Stevenson, the two greatest fights on the desk for him. But if he never shoelaces up the handwear covers once more, Lomachenko's tradition is gotten. He is actually a three-division champ, a first-ballot Venue of Famer and an essential of the pound-for-pound listing over the last 10 years.He also doesn't need to overcome for the cash. He's made millions of dollars in his occupation and also still lives in Ukraine, where he is among the country's most well-liked athletes. Regardless if he deals with again, he undoubtedly will not do this a lot longer. He switches 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Danny Garcia hammers Erislandy Lara and also becomes a champion in a third divisionNot true. Garcia has actually outplayed the probabilities just before, consisting of a stunning KO win over Amir Khan and a leading selection victory over Lucas Matthysse. The 1st gain lifted him to the top tier of the sporting activity and also the latter cemented that status.But the Matthysse battle was 11 years back, though, as well as those two trademark Garcia success were at 140 pounds (he likewise succeeded a title at 147 extra pounds and moved up to 154 for a July 2022 win over Jose Benavidez Jr.) Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) is still seeking a gain that matches that, as well as a distressed success over Lara would certainly suit the bill.Garcia didn't appear like the stinging counterpuncher in the majority-decision success over Benavidez, as well as he have not competed considering that. Right now, he'll go up one more weight class (though the Lara match is taking place at a catchweight between 155 as well as 160 extra pounds) and also must contend with ring lack of exercise. The Sept. 14 middleweight title battle against Lara will definitely be Garcia's second due to the fact that December 2020, when he was directed through Errol Spence Jr.The pick right here is actually Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), that, also at 41, shows tremendous power, albeit versus fighters under Garcia's amount. Lara is actually riding a three-fight KO touch.-- CoppingerReal or not: Canelo Alvarez's fight versus Edgar Berlanga doesn't go the distanceCanelo Alvarez, left, defends his recognized super middleweight champion versus Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Sin City. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, boxing's best celebrity, have not racked up a KO success since he squashed Caleb Vegetation in a November 2021 match to gain the undeniable incredibly middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has actually scored a presentation in his last three battles. Versus a boxer in Berlanga, that are going to be actually battling on the best degree for the first time, Alvarez needs to incorporate the 40th KO of his remarkable career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has been actually harmed in the band before, specifically in a step-up match against Marcelo Coceres, who lost him in Cycle 9. And also his self defense isn't specifically appear. Berlanga has power (he started his profession with 16 consecutive KO wins in the first round), and if he decides on to exchange with Canelo, Alvarez needs to take him out.Alvarez guaranteed as much at a pair of press conference recently to promote the fight.-- Coppinger Real or not: Nothing else lightweight champ can beat Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza appears an actual hazard to Lopez after agonizing Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round succeed in June and also beating Robeisy Ramirez by a majority selection to gain the WBO title in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) knocked down Chirinho in 3 of the 4 rounds, while his breakout win along with Ramirez was among the most effective battles in 2023. Publisher's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the tallest planet lightweight champion in record-- would certainly be actually an obstacle for Lopez. Chirinho succeeded to get out of bed from an uppercut from Espinoza in Round 1, before he was quickly overpowered. As an expert, Chirinho had never been knocked down before Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza produced a surprise in beating two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, and also he outlanded him in the last three spheres. Although he is certainly not as skilled as Lopez, the amount of strikes he has actually thrown in his last two matches, along with his height and also hit conveniences, might prove impossible for Lopez.Rey Vargas has actually looked unconvincing in latest fights, while we still need to observe much more from Nick Ball before we proclaim him the department's No. 1. Sphere (20-0-1, 11 KOs) caught the WBA featherweight headline with a split choice draw Raymond Ford in June. That triumph observed a disputable draw versus Vargas for the WBC title in March. Yet Espinoza will tower above 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was actually disappointing versus Ball as well as has actually not gained in virtually two years, so it is challenging to provide a disagreement for him in his present form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is actually the present ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after quiting Reiya Abe in eight arounds in a 3rd defense of the IBF belt in March. Lopez has gotten over large obstacles in label matches, like boxing in a champ's neighborhood and getting cut early (vs. Josh Warrington), and also if he gains on Saturday against Angelo Leo, he may possibly encounter his largest challenge but in a label marriage fight against Espinoza to dental crown the best competitor in the department.-- ParkinsonReal or otherwise: Anthony Joshua are going to KO Daniel DuboisReal. As good as Dubois' rebirth has been actually only a year after being stopped by Oleksandr Usyk, current form suggests his initial IBF abundant title self defense are going to finish in a KO loss to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) resides in top kind, much more so than some other abundant. Like Dubois (21-2, twenty KOs), Joshua has actually had to restore his career, after suffering back-to-back decision losses to Usyk in 2021 and 2022. Joshua battled carefully, with an unanimous selection get Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, yet in his final three matches, he rounded off Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin as well as Francis Ngannou.Dubois returned coming from Saudi Arabia to Greater london as IBF acting big-time champion after he stopped Filip Hrgovic in Sphere 8. Usyk then gave up the IBF waistband, which meant Dubois was actually upgraded to total champion, consequently offers Joshua along with the opportunity to end up being a three-time planet champ at Wembley Stadium in London.Joshua are going to attempt to exploit what Hrgovic had actually redoed effectiveness with against Dubois. Hrgovic regularly landed right hands on Dubois in the very early arounds, and Joshua has received recent battles just how damaging his right hands seek he ruined Ngannou in Sphere 2. Joshua landed a right hand on the previous UFC big-time champion's face to take him out cool. Joshua will take possession of the opportunity if Dubois creates themself similarly offered, as he did against Hrgovic. Joshua is actually a much bigger puncher than Hrgovic and, although Dubois presented toughness to soak up type June, he has been actually ceased twice (through Joe Joyce in 2020 and Usyk last year) and was defeated 3 times in the preliminary through Kevin Lerena just before recuperating to gain in Cycle 3. Yet it is actually no walk in the park for Joshua, who likewise requires to recognize Dubois' power. Dubois made a mess of Hrgovic's face and also may likely carry out a shock interruption versus Joshua, much like Andy Ruiz Jr. carried out in 2019. Yet Joshua, that ruled as champ from 2016 to 2019 and after that from 2019 to 2021, is actually more likely to win this battle by KO.-- Parkinson.