.IBF featherweight champ Luis Alberto Lopez defends his waistband versus Angelo Leo in the main celebration of a Top Ranking on ESPN card at Tingley Col iseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Saturday (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET). Lopez's last reduction resided in May 2019 and also he has won 14 successive fights because, featuring exceptional triumphes over Josh Warrington in England and also Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. Yet is he the greatest featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko lately declined a financially rewarding match against fellow light-weight champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis and also while he have not declared his retired life, will definitely our team view "Hi-Tech" in the band again?Canelo Alvarez will certainly create his second ring appearance this year, yet not against the fighter followers have actually demanded. As Opposed To David Benavidez, Canelo will face Edgar Berlanga, that is actually never ever fought at this level in his brief profession. While Berlanga possesses unbelievable energy-- he started his job along with 16 consecutive first-round KOs-- can he find a method to gain, or a minimum of go the span against Alvarez?Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua are going to defend a label for the first time in 2 years. Joshua will certainly deal with IBF champ Daniel Dubois in Greater London, as "AJ" is chosen to end up being a three-time planet champ (-550 every ESPN WAGER). As well as two-division champion Danny Garcia goes back to the ring for merely the 2nd time in virtually 4 years to take on WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Garcia, that gained belts at 140 and 147 pounds, is going up in weight for the possibility to end up being a three-division champ, however may he upset an older but still highly effective Lara?Mike Coppinger as well as Scar Parkinson address these questions as well as additional, attempting to differentiate what's actual and also what's not.Real or not: Vasiliy Lomachenko will resign without one more fightNot real ... for now. Lomachenko is contemplating retirement life, resources informed ESPN, portion of the explanation he decreased a lucrative fight along with Gervonta Davis in November. There's additionally an opportunity that Lomachenko will certainly return in the first one-half of 2025 to shield his IBF light-weight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) appeared in a fighting state of mind Saturday in Los Angeles: he and Shakur Stevenson must be split at ringside during the course of the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov card. Lomachenko was actually seen informing Stevenson, "Permit's go ideal now.If that is actually any type of sign, Lomachenko will certainly fight once again. Maybe even against Davis or Stevenson, the 2 most significant matches on the desk for him. However if he never ever laces 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 mainstay of the pound-for-pound listing over the final 10 years.He likewise does not need to have to combat for the cash. He's earned numerous dollars in his profession as well as still stays in Ukraine, where he is among the nation's most popular professional athletes. Regardless if he combats again, he surely will not do so a lot longer. He turns 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Danny Garcia hammers Erislandy Lara and also comes to be a champion in a third divisionNot true. Garcia has actually outplayed the probabilities prior to, featuring a surprising KO draw Amir Khan and also a prevalent choice triumph over Lucas Matthysse. The initial win lifted him to the top tier of the sporting activity and also the latter sealed that status.But the Matthysse battle was 11 years back, however, and also those pair of trademark Garcia triumphes went to 140 pounds (he likewise gained a label at 147 pounds and also moved up to 154 for a July 2022 draw Jose Benavidez Jr.) Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) is still searching for a gain that matches that, and an upset triumph over Lara would certainly suit the bill.Garcia really did not resemble the sharp counterpuncher in the majority-decision success over Benavidez, and he have not completed given that. Currently, he'll move up another weight lesson (though the Lara battle is actually occurring at a catchweight between 155 and 160 extra pounds) and also have to contend with band inactivity. The Sept. 14 middleweight title fight against Lara will certainly be Garcia's second because December 2020, when he was transmitted through Errol Spence Jr.The pick right here is Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), who, even at 41, presents remarkable energy, albeit against boxers beneath Garcia's level. Lara is actually riding a three-fight KO streak.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Canelo Alvarez's battle versus Edgar Berlanga does not go the distanceCanelo Alvarez, left, defends his uncontested very middleweight championship against Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Sin City. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu through Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, boxing's top star, have not racked up a KO triumph because he smoothed Caleb Plant in a Nov 2021 fight to succeed the indisputable super middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has scored a knockdown in his last 3 fights. Against a boxer in Berlanga, who will definitely be fighting on the top degree for the first time, Alvarez must incorporate the 40th KO of his remarkable career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has actually been harmed in the ring in the past, namely in a step-up battle versus Marcelo Coceres, who dropped him in Cycle 9. And also his self defense isn't specifically sound. Berlanga has electrical power (he started his occupation with 16 consecutive KO gains in the preliminary), and if he picks to exchange with Canelo, Alvarez should take him out.Alvarez guaranteed as a lot at a pair of news conferences recently to advertise the battle.-- Coppinger Real or otherwise: No other lightweight champion can hammer Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza appears a true hazard to Lopez after tormenting Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round win in June as well as defeating Robeisy Ramirez through a large number choice to succeed the WBO label in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) knocked down Chirinho in three of the four rounds, while his breakout gain with Ramirez was just one of the very best fights in 2023. Editor's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the highest planet light champion in past-- would be a problem for Lopez. Chirinho prospered to stand up coming from an uppercut coming from Espinoza in Sphere 1, prior to he was actually very soon overthrown. As a specialist, Chirinho had never been actually torn down before Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza produced a surprise in beating two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, as well as he outlanded him in the final 3 arounds. Although he is actually not as seasoned as Lopez, the volume of punches he has thrown in his final two fights, together with his height as well as get to perks, could prove overwhelming for Lopez.Rey Vargas has looked unconvincing in latest battles, while our experts still require to find much more from Nick Sphere prior to we announce him the branch's No. 1. Ball (20-0-1, 11 KOs) captured the WBA featherweight title with a split decision sway Raymond Ford in June. That accomplishment adhered to a questionable draw versus Vargas for the WBC title in March. Yet Espinoza will overlook 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was actually disappointing versus Sphere and also has actually not won in nearly pair of years, so it is tough to offer a debate for him in his present form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is the current ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after quiting Reiya Abe in eight arounds in a third protection of the IBF waistband in March. Lopez has gotten over major obstacles in headline battles, like boxing in a champion's hometown as well as getting cut early (vs. Josh Warrington), and if he gains on Saturday against Angelo Leo, he might possibly encounter his largest obstacle yet in a title unification match versus Espinoza to crown the most ideal competitor in the department.-- ParkinsonReal or not: Anthony Joshua are going to KO Daniel DuboisReal. Just as good as Dubois' rebirth has actually been actually only a year after being actually visited Oleksandr Usyk, current type advises his 1st IBF heavyweight headline self defense will end in a KO loss to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) resides in best type, extra thus than any other heavyweight. Like Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), Joshua has needed to reconstruct his career, after suffering back-to-back choice reductions to Usyk in 2021 and 2022. Joshua battled meticulously, along with a consentaneous decision draw Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, yet in his final three battles, he accomplished Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and also Francis Ngannou.Dubois came back coming from Saudi Arabia to London as IBF interim big-time champion after he quit Filip Hrgovic in Sphere 8. Usyk at that point relinquished the IBF belt, which meant Dubois was actually updated to complete champ, and so shows Joshua with the option to become a three-time world champ at Wembley Coliseum in London.Joshua are going to attempt to exploit what Hrgovic had redoed effectiveness with against Dubois. Hrgovic constantly landed right hands on Dubois in the early spheres, and also Joshua has actually displayed in recent matches just how detrimental his right-hand men are after he destroyed Ngannou in Sphere 2. Joshua landed a right hand on the previous UFC big-time champ's face to take him out cold. Joshua will definitely confiscate the opportunity if Dubois creates himself in a similar way offered, as he carried out against Hrgovic. Joshua is a bigger puncher than Hrgovic as well as, although Dubois presented toughness to absorb type June, he has actually been actually quit twice (by Joe Joyce in 2020 and also Usyk in 2013) and was actually knocked down 3 attend the preliminary through Kevin Lerena just before recouping to win in Cycle 3. But it is no walk in the park for Joshua, that likewise needs to have to value Dubois' energy. Dubois made a mess of Hrgovic's face and can possibly carry out a surprise stoppage versus Joshua, similar to Andy Ruiz Jr. did in 2019. Yet Joshua, that ruled as champ from 2016 to 2019 and then coming from 2019 to 2021, is more likely to win this battle by KO.-- Parkinson.