.IBF featherweight champ Luis Alberto Lopez defends his waistband against Angelo Leo in the main activity of a Leading Position on ESPN memory card at Tingley Col iseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Saturday (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET). Lopez's last loss remained in May 2019 and he has gained 14 consecutive matches considering that, consisting of excellent triumphes over Josh Warrington in England as well as Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. However is he the best featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko recently rejected a lucrative battle versus fellow light-weight champion Gervonta "Container" Davis as well as while he hasn't introduced his retired life, will our company observe "Hi-Tech" in the ring again?Canelo Alvarez are going to make his second band appearance this year, however certainly not versus the competitor followers have actually demanded. Instead of David Benavidez, Canelo will definitely experience Edgar Berlanga, that is actually certainly never battled at this level in his short career. While Berlanga possesses awesome power-- he started his occupation along with 16 consecutive first-round KOs-- can easily he discover a means to succeed, or even a minimum of go the range versus Alvarez?Former heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua will certainly fight for a label for the very first time in two years. Joshua will certainly deal with IBF champion Daniel Dubois in London, as "AJ" is preferred to become a three-time world champ (-550 per ESPN BET). As well as two-division champ Danny Garcia goes back to the ring for only the 2nd attend practically 4 years to handle WBA middleweight champ Erislandy Lara. Garcia, that won belts at 140 and 147 extra pounds, is actually going up in body weight for the opportunity to come to be a three-division champion, however can he disturb a more mature yet still powerful Lara?Mike Coppinger as well as Nick Parkinson answer these concerns as well as even more, making an effort to distinguish what's real as well as what's not.Real or otherwise: Vasiliy Lomachenko will certainly retire without yet another fightNot actual ... for now. Lomachenko is reflecting upon retirement, resources informed ESPN, aspect of the cause he dropped a profitable match along with Gervonta Davis in Nov. There's likewise an option that Lomachenko will certainly return in the initial half of 2025 to guard his IBF lightweight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) appeared in a combating mood Sunday in Los Angeles: he and Shakur Stevenson must be separated at ringside during the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov card. Lomachenko was found informing Stevenson, "Let's go ideal now.If that's any sign, Lomachenko will fight once again. Perhaps even against Davis or Stevenson, the two largest matches on the table for him. Yet if he never ever shoelaces up the gloves once again, Lomachenko's heritage is secured. He is actually a three-division champ, a first-ballot Hall of Famer as well as a mainstay of the pound-for-pound listing over the final 10 years.He likewise does not need to have to fight for the money. He's gained millions of bucks in his job and still stays in Ukraine, where he is just one of the country's most prominent athletes. Whether he deals with once more, he certainly won't do this much longer. He transforms 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Danny Garcia beats Erislandy Lara as well as becomes a champion in a third divisionNot actual. Garcia has actually outplayed the probabilities prior to, including a stunning KO draw Amir Khan and also a dominant decision success over Lucas Matthysse. The first gain elevated him to the upper tier of the sport and the second glued that status.But the Matthysse fight was 11 years back, however, and also those 2 signature Garcia triumphes went to 140 extra pounds (he additionally won a title at 147 pounds and also went up to 154 for a July 2022 win over Jose Benavidez Jr.) Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) is still seeking a win that matches that, and also a dismayed success over Lara will match the bill.Garcia didn't be similar to the stinging counterpuncher in the majority-decision success over Benavidez, and also he have not contended because. Currently, he'll move up another weight lesson (though the Lara battle is happening at a catchweight between 155 as well as 160 extra pounds) and have to emulate ring sluggishness. The Sept. 14 middleweight title battle against Lara will be Garcia's 2nd given that December 2020, when he was actually routed through Errol Spence Jr.The choose here is Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), who, also at 41, presents enormous energy, albeit against competitors beneath Garcia's level. Lara is using a three-fight KO streak.-- CoppingerReal or not: Canelo Alvarez's fight against Edgar Berlanga doesn't go the distanceCanelo Alvarez, left, defends his unquestioned super middleweight champion against Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Sin City. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, boxing's best celebrity, hasn't scored a KO success given that he smoothed Caleb Plant in a November 2021 match to succeed the uncontested tremendously middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has scored a presentation in his last three fights. Versus a competitor in Berlanga, that will certainly be dealing with on the leading degree for the first time, Alvarez must include the 40th KO of his renowned career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has been hurt in the ring in the past, such as in a step-up match against Marcelo Coceres, who dropped him in Cycle 9. And also his self defense isn't specifically sound. Berlanga possesses energy (he began his profession with 16 consecutive KO gains in the first round), as well as if he chooses to trade along with Canelo, Alvarez should take him out.Alvarez vowed as much at a set of news conferences this week to market the fight.-- Coppinger Real or not: Nothing else light champion can easily hammer Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza appears a true threat to Lopez after torturing Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round win in June and defeating Robeisy Ramirez by a majority selection to win the WBO title in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) defeated Chirinho in three of the 4 shots, while his outbreak succeed along with Ramirez was one of the most effective battles in 2023. Publisher's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the tallest globe lightweight champion in record-- will be actually a challenge for Lopez. Chirinho did well to rise from an uppercut from Espinoza in Round 1, just before he was actually quickly overpowered. As a professional, Chirinho had never ever been brought down prior to Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza produced a shock in beating two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, and he outlanded him in the final 3 arounds. Although he is not as experienced as Lopez, the amount of strikes he has actually included his final 2 fights, together with his height and also reach perks, can prove impossible for Lopez.Rey Vargas has actually looked unconvincing in latest matches, while our experts still require to view extra from Scar Round prior to our experts proclaim him the branch's No. 1. Sphere (20-0-1, 11 KOs) grabbed the WBA featherweight label with a split decision gain Raymond Ford in June. That accomplishment followed a questionable draw versus Vargas for the WBC label in March. Yet Espinoza would certainly stand over 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was disappointing versus Ball and has not gained in nearly two years, so it is hard to show a debate for him in his existing form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is the current ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after quiting Reiya Abe in eight rounds in a 3rd self defense of the IBF belt in March. Lopez has gotten rid of large challenges in label fights, like boxing in a champion's home town as well as receiving cut early (vs. Josh Warrington), as well as if he succeeds on Sunday against Angelo Leo, he may possibly face his biggest difficulty but in a title unification battle against Espinoza to dental crown the most ideal fighter in the department.-- ParkinsonReal or not: Anthony Joshua are going to KO Daniel DuboisReal. Just as good as Dubois' resurgence has actually been merely a year after being stopped by Oleksandr Usyk, latest kind recommends his very first IBF abundant title defense will certainly finish in a KO loss to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) is in best form, more so than some other abundant. Like Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), Joshua has actually had to restore his career, after suffering next selection losses to Usyk in 2021 and 2022. Joshua combated meticulously, with an unanimous decision gain Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, yet in his last three matches, he accomplished Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and also Francis Ngannou.Dubois came back coming from Saudi Arabia to London as IBF acting big-time champ after he stopped Filip Hrgovic in Around 8. Usyk after that relinquished the IBF belt, which implied Dubois was actually improved to total champion, therefore provides Joshua with the opportunity to end up being a three-time planet champ at Wembley Arena in London.Joshua will certainly attempt to exploit what Hrgovic had actually repeated success along with versus Dubois. Hrgovic consistently landed right-hand men on Dubois in the early spheres, and also Joshua has displayed in recent matches exactly how damaging his right hands are after he destroyed Ngannou in Sphere 2. Joshua landed a right hand on the past UFC heavyweight champion's face to take him out chilly. Joshua will definitely take the possibility if Dubois makes themself in a similar way offered, as he carried out versus Hrgovic. Joshua is a larger puncher than Hrgovic and, although Dubois revealed toughness to absorb type June, he has actually been actually ceased two times (through Joe Joyce in 2020 as well as Usyk in 2013) and was floored 3 attend the preliminary by Kevin Lerena prior to recovering to succeed in Cycle 3. Yet it is actually no stroll in the playground for Joshua, who also requires to recognize Dubois' energy. Dubois bungled Hrgovic's skin as well as can possibly carry out a surprise deduction against Joshua, just like Andy Ruiz Jr. performed in 2019. However Joshua, that ruled as champion coming from 2016 to 2019 and then coming from 2019 to 2021, is very likely to win this match through KO.-- Parkinson.