Tag: Luis Alberto Lopez

Luis Alberto Lopez stops Michael Conlan in five to retain featherweight belt

Luis Alberto Lopez stopped Michael Conlan with a huge right in Round 5 to retain his featherweight belt on Saturday.

Luis Alberto Lopez is now officially a Brit killer.

The Mexican won the IBF 126-pound title by outpointing Josh Warrington last December in Leeds. On Saturday, in his first defense, he stopped Michael Conlan with a single shot in Conlan’s hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The fight at SSE Arena was competitive for most of four-plus rounds, as both men got in their licks in what quickly evolved into firefight.

Lopez (28-2, 16 KOs) seemed to hurt Conlan (18-2, 9 KOs) with a series of hard blows midway through Round 3. The two-time Olympian managed to survive the onslaught.

However, he couldn’t withstand what happened in Round 5.

The two were engaged in an exchange when Lopez caught Conlan with a devastating short right hand, which put Conlan flat on his back and prompted his trainer Adam Booth to throw in the towel immediately.

The official time was 1:14 of Round 5.

Conlan lay on the canvas for several minutes before getting to his feet as anxious family members and hometown fans looked on.

“I knew he underestimated by power,” Lopez said through a translator. “I’m more powerful than him, I’m stronger. And I have speed and great footwork.”

Lopez is now in position to challenge one of the other titleholders: Leigh Wood (WBA), who regained his title by outpointing Mauricio Lara on Saturday; Rey Vargas (WBC), and Robeisy Ramirez (WBO).

Conlan has now been stopped in two of his last four fights. Wood sent him threw the ropes in the 12th and final round in March of last year.

Luis Alberto Lopez stops Michael Conlan in five to retain featherweight belt

Luis Alberto Lopez stopped Michael Conlan with a huge right in Round 5 to retain his featherweight belt on Saturday.

Luis Alberto Lopez is now officially a Brit killer.

The Mexican won the IBF 126-pound title by outpointing Josh Warrington last December in Leeds. On Saturday, in his first defense, he stopped Michael Conlan with a single shot in Conlan’s hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The fight at SSE Arena was competitive for most of four-plus rounds, as both men got in their licks in what quickly evolved into firefight.

Lopez (28-2, 16 KOs) seemed to hurt Conlan (18-2, 9 KOs) with a series of hard blows midway through Round 3. The two-time Olympian managed to survive the onslaught.

However, he couldn’t withstand what happened in Round 5.

The two were engaged in an exchange when Lopez caught Conlan with a devastating short right hand, which put Conlan flat on his back and prompted his trainer Adam Booth to throw in the towel immediately.

The official time was 1:14 of Round 5.

Conlan lay on the canvas for several minutes before getting to his feet as anxious family members and hometown fans looked on.

“I knew he underestimated by power,” Lopez said through a translator. “I’m more powerful than him, I’m stronger. And I have speed and great footwork.”

Lopez is now in position to challenge one of the other titleholders: Leigh Wood (WBA), who regained his title by outpointing Mauricio Lara on Saturday; Rey Vargas (WBC), and Robeisy Ramirez (WBO).

Conlan has now been stopped in two of his last four fights. Wood sent him threw the ropes in the 12th and final round in March of last year.

Alexis Rocha vs. Anthony Young: date, time, how to watch, background

Alexis Rocha is scheduled to face fellow welterweight contender Anthony Young on Saturday in Indio, California. ALEXIS ROCHA ( 22-1, 14 KOS) VS. ANTHONY YOUNG ( 24-2, 8 KOS) When : Saturday, May 27 Time : 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in …

Alexis Rocha is scheduled to face fellow welterweight contender Anthony Young on Saturday in Indio, California.

ALEXIS ROCHA (22-1, 14 KOS)
VS. ANTHONY YOUNG (24-2, 8 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, May 27
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Fantasy Springs, Indio, California
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Welterweight (147-pound limit)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Melvin Jerusalem vs. Oscar Collazo, strawweights (for Jerusalem’s WBO title); Oscar Duarte vs. D’Angelo Keyes, lightweights; John Ramirez vs. Fernando Diaz, junior bantamweights
  • Prediction: Rocha UD
  • Background: Rocha has established himself as a legitimate 147-pound contender by winning seven consecutive fights since he was outpointed by slick Rashidi Ellis in October 2020. The 25-year-old from the Los Angeles area is ranked No. 1 by the WBO, below only champion and pound-for-pounder Terence Crawford. Young is a skillful technician from Atlantic City, New Jersey. The 35-year-old hasn’t lost a fight since 2016. His biggest victory was a third-round knockout of former 154-pound titleholder Sadam Ali in May 2019, Ali’s last fight. Rocha will be his toughest opponent since that fight. Young is ranked No. 8 by the WBO.

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Alexis Rocha vs. Anthony Young: date, time, how to watch, background

Alexis Rocha is scheduled to face fellow welterweight contender Anthony Young on Saturday in Indio, California. ALEXIS ROCHA ( 22-1, 14 KOS) VS. ANTHONY YOUNG ( 24-2, 8 KOS) When : Saturday, May 27 Time : 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in …

Alexis Rocha is scheduled to face fellow welterweight contender Anthony Young on Saturday in Indio, California.

ALEXIS ROCHA (22-1, 14 KOS)
VS. ANTHONY YOUNG (24-2, 8 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, May 27
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Fantasy Springs, Indio, California
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Welterweight (147-pound limit)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Melvin Jerusalem vs. Oscar Collazo, strawweights (for Jerusalem’s WBO title); Oscar Duarte vs. D’Angelo Keyes, lightweights; John Ramirez vs. Fernando Diaz, junior bantamweights
  • Prediction: Rocha UD
  • Background: Rocha has established himself as a legitimate 147-pound contender by winning seven consecutive fights since he was outpointed by slick Rashidi Ellis in October 2020. The 25-year-old from the Los Angeles area is ranked No. 1 by the WBO, below only champion and pound-for-pounder Terence Crawford. Young is a skillful technician from Atlantic City, New Jersey. The 35-year-old hasn’t lost a fight since 2016. His biggest victory was a third-round knockout of former 154-pound titleholder Sadam Ali in May 2019, Ali’s last fight. Rocha will be his toughest opponent since that fight. Young is ranked No. 8 by the WBO.

[lawrence-related id=35361,6175]

Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Michael Conlan: date, time, how to watch, background

Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Michael Conlan: date, time, how to watch, background.

Luis Alberto Lopez is scheduled to defend his 126-pound title against Michael Conlan in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Conlan’s hometown.

LUIS ALBERTO LOPEZ (27-2, 15 KOS)
VS. MICHAEL CONLAN (18-1, 9 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, May 27
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: SSE Arena, Belfast, Ireland
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+ (BT Sport 1 in U.K.)
  • Division: Featherweight (126-pound limit)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Even (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Anthony Cacace vs. Damian Wrzesinski, junior lightweights; Nick Ball vs. Ludumo Lamati, featherweights; Pierce O’Leary vs. Alin Florin Ciorceri, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Lopez SD
  • Background: Lopez is coming off a break-through victory, withstanding a late rally by Josh Warrington to win a majority decision and his first major title last December in England. The 29-year-old Mexican, a skillful boxer-puncher, has won 10 consecutive fights (seven by knockout) since he was outpointed by Ruben Villa in May 2019. Conlan, a 31-year-old Irishman, bounced back from his knockout loss to Leigh Wood in March of last year by outpointing Miguel Marriaga in August and stopping Karim Guerfi in the first round in December. The 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and a participant in the 2016 Games is a polished boxer but has yet to establish himself as a top-tier champion.

[lawrence-related id=34885,28809,28781,28777,34680]

Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Michael Conlan: date, time, how to watch, background

Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Michael Conlan: date, time, how to watch, background.

Luis Alberto Lopez is scheduled to defend his 126-pound title against Michael Conlan in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Conlan’s hometown.

LUIS ALBERTO LOPEZ (27-2, 15 KOS)
VS. MICHAEL CONLAN (18-1, 9 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, May 27
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: SSE Arena, Belfast, Ireland
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+ (BT Sport 1 in U.K.)
  • Division: Featherweight (126-pound limit)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Even (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Anthony Cacace vs. Damian Wrzesinski, junior lightweights; Nick Ball vs. Ludumo Lamati, featherweights; Pierce O’Leary vs. Alin Florin Ciorceri, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Lopez SD
  • Background: Lopez is coming off a break-through victory, withstanding a late rally by Josh Warrington to win a majority decision and his first major title last December in England. The 29-year-old Mexican, a skillful boxer-puncher, has won 10 consecutive fights (seven by knockout) since he was outpointed by Ruben Villa in May 2019. Conlan, a 31-year-old Irishman, bounced back from his knockout loss to Leigh Wood in March of last year by outpointing Miguel Marriaga in August and stopping Karim Guerfi in the first round in December. The 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and a participant in the 2016 Games is a polished boxer but has yet to establish himself as a top-tier champion.

[lawrence-related id=34885,28809,28781,28777,34680]

Fight Week: Mauricio Lara vs. Leigh Wood II highlights busy weekend

Fight Week: Mauricio Lara vs. Leigh Wood II highlights busy weekend.

FIGHT WEEK

Mauricio Lara will defend his 126-pound title against Leigh Wood on Saturday in a rematch of their February bout, which Lara won by KO. Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Michael Conlan and Alexis Rocha vs. Anthony Young also are on tap.

MAURICIO LARA (26-2-1, 19 KOS)
VS. LEIGH WOOD (26-3, 16 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, May 27
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: AO Arena, Manchester, England
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Featherweight (126 pounds)
  • At stake: Lara’s WBA title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Lara 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Jack Catterall vs. Darragh Foley, junior welterweights; Terri Harper vs. Ivana Habazin, junior middleweights (for Harper’s WBA title); Danny Ball vs. Jamie Robinson, welterweights
  • Prediction: Lara KO 5
  • Background: Lara has become a Brit killer. The 25-year-old Mexican knocked out Josh Warrington in 2021 in London to burst upon the boxing scene, after which the two fought to technical draw when Lara suffered a bad cut. That led to a shot at Wood’s title in February, when Lara stopped Wood with a monstrous left hook in the seventh round of a fight the loser was winning on the cards. Wood gets a second chance on Saturday. The 34-year-old from Nottingham delivered the performance of his career in March of last year, putting Michael Conlan through the ropes for a spectacular 12th-round knockout in defense of his belt. And he did well against Lara even though he was cut in the opening round. However, a left hook to Wood’s chin put him down and hurt him badly. He was able to get up on unsteady legs but his trainer threw in the towel.

 

LUIS ALBERTO LOPEZ (27-2, 15 KOS)
VS. MICHAEL CONLAN (18-1, 9 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, May 27
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Featherweight (126 pounds)
  • At stake: Lopez’s IBF title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Even (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Anthony Cacace vs. Damian Wrzesinski, junior lightweights; Nick Ball vs. Ludumo Lamati, featherweights; Pierce O’Leary vs. Alin Florin Ciorceri, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Lopez SD
  • Background: Lopez is coming off a break-through victory, withstanding a late rally by Josh Warrington to win a majority decision and his first major title last December in England. The 29-year-old Mexican, a skillful boxer-puncher, has won 10 consecutive fights (seven by knockout) since he was outpointed by Ruben Villa in May 2019. Conlan, a 31-year-old Irishman, bounced back from his knockout loss to Leigh Wood in March of last year by outpointing Miguel Marriaga in August and stopping Karim Guerfi in the first round in December. The 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and a participant in the 2016 Games is a polished boxer but has yet to establish himself as a top-tier champion.

 

ALEXIS ROCHA (22-1, 14 KOS)
VS. ANTHONY YOUNG (24-2, 8 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, May 27
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Fantasy Springs, Indio, California
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Melvin Jerusalem vs. Oscar Collazo, strawweights (for Jerusalem’s WBO title); Oscar Duarte vs. D’Angelo Keyes, lightweights; John Ramirez vs. Fernando Diaz, junior bantamweights
  • Prediction: Rocha UD
  • Background: Rocha has established himself as a legitimate 147-pound contender by winning seven consecutive fights since he was outpointed by slick Rashidi Ellis in October 2020. The 25-year-old from the Los Angeles area is ranked No. 1 by the WBO, below only champion and pound-for-pounder Terence Crawford. Young is a skillful technician from Atlantic City, New Jersey. The 35-year-old hasn’t lost a fight since 2016. His biggest victory was a third-round knockout of former 154-pound titleholder Sadam Ali in May 2019, Ali’s last fight. Rocha will be his toughest opponent since that fight. Young is ranked No. 8 by the WBO.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

FRIDAY

  • Kevin Hayler Brown vs. Julian Smith, junior welterweights, Orlando, Florida (DAZN)

SATURDAY

  • Lawrence Okolie vs. Chris Billam-Smith, cruiserweights (for Okolie’s WBO title), Bournemouth, England (no TV in U.S.)
  • Sukhdeep Singh Bhatti vs. Sagar Narwat, junior middleweights, Brampton, Canada (DAZN)
  • Lani Daniels vs. Alrie Meleisea, heavyweights (for vacant IBF title), North Shore, New Zealand (FITE)

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Fight Week: Mauricio Lara vs. Leigh Wood II highlights busy weekend

Fight Week: Mauricio Lara vs. Leigh Wood II highlights busy weekend.

FIGHT WEEK

Mauricio Lara will defend his 126-pound title against Leigh Wood on Saturday in a rematch of their February bout, which Lara won by KO. Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Michael Conlan and Alexis Rocha vs. Anthony Young also are on tap.

MAURICIO LARA (26-2-1, 19 KOS)
VS. LEIGH WOOD (26-3, 16 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, May 27
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: AO Arena, Manchester, England
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Featherweight (126 pounds)
  • At stake: Lara’s WBA title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Lara 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Jack Catterall vs. Darragh Foley, junior welterweights; Terri Harper vs. Ivana Habazin, junior middleweights (for Harper’s WBA title); Danny Ball vs. Jamie Robinson, welterweights
  • Prediction: Lara KO 5
  • Background: Lara has become a Brit killer. The 25-year-old Mexican knocked out Josh Warrington in 2021 in London to burst upon the boxing scene, after which the two fought to technical draw when Lara suffered a bad cut. That led to a shot at Wood’s title in February, when Lara stopped Wood with a monstrous left hook in the seventh round of a fight the loser was winning on the cards. Wood gets a second chance on Saturday. The 34-year-old from Nottingham delivered the performance of his career in March of last year, putting Michael Conlan through the ropes for a spectacular 12th-round knockout in defense of his belt. And he did well against Lara even though he was cut in the opening round. However, a left hook to Wood’s chin put him down and hurt him badly. He was able to get up on unsteady legs but his trainer threw in the towel.

 

LUIS ALBERTO LOPEZ (27-2, 15 KOS)
VS. MICHAEL CONLAN (18-1, 9 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, May 27
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Featherweight (126 pounds)
  • At stake: Lopez’s IBF title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Even (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Anthony Cacace vs. Damian Wrzesinski, junior lightweights; Nick Ball vs. Ludumo Lamati, featherweights; Pierce O’Leary vs. Alin Florin Ciorceri, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Lopez SD
  • Background: Lopez is coming off a break-through victory, withstanding a late rally by Josh Warrington to win a majority decision and his first major title last December in England. The 29-year-old Mexican, a skillful boxer-puncher, has won 10 consecutive fights (seven by knockout) since he was outpointed by Ruben Villa in May 2019. Conlan, a 31-year-old Irishman, bounced back from his knockout loss to Leigh Wood in March of last year by outpointing Miguel Marriaga in August and stopping Karim Guerfi in the first round in December. The 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and a participant in the 2016 Games is a polished boxer but has yet to establish himself as a top-tier champion.

 

ALEXIS ROCHA (22-1, 14 KOS)
VS. ANTHONY YOUNG (24-2, 8 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, May 27
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Fantasy Springs, Indio, California
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Melvin Jerusalem vs. Oscar Collazo, strawweights (for Jerusalem’s WBO title); Oscar Duarte vs. D’Angelo Keyes, lightweights; John Ramirez vs. Fernando Diaz, junior bantamweights
  • Prediction: Rocha UD
  • Background: Rocha has established himself as a legitimate 147-pound contender by winning seven consecutive fights since he was outpointed by slick Rashidi Ellis in October 2020. The 25-year-old from the Los Angeles area is ranked No. 1 by the WBO, below only champion and pound-for-pounder Terence Crawford. Young is a skillful technician from Atlantic City, New Jersey. The 35-year-old hasn’t lost a fight since 2016. His biggest victory was a third-round knockout of former 154-pound titleholder Sadam Ali in May 2019, Ali’s last fight. Rocha will be his toughest opponent since that fight. Young is ranked No. 8 by the WBO.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

FRIDAY

  • Kevin Hayler Brown vs. Julian Smith, junior welterweights, Orlando, Florida (DAZN)

SATURDAY

  • Lawrence Okolie vs. Chris Billam-Smith, cruiserweights (for Okolie’s WBO title), Bournemouth, England (no TV in U.S.)
  • Sukhdeep Singh Bhatti vs. Sagar Narwat, junior middleweights, Brampton, Canada (DAZN)
  • Lani Daniels vs. Alrie Meleisea, heavyweights (for vacant IBF title), North Shore, New Zealand (FITE)

[lawrence-related id=35752,34680]

Luis Alberto Lopez narrowly outpoints Josh Warrington to win 126-pound title

Luis Alberto Lopez narrowly outpointed Josh Warrington to win a 126-pound title Saturday in Leeds, England.

Josh Warrington has had his fill of Mexican guests.

Luis Alberto Lopez withstood a bad cut and a late rally to defeat Warrington by a majority decision and take the Englishman’s featherweight title in a rough fight Saturday night in Leeds, Warrington’s hometown.

Warrington lost the same title in the first of two reigns to Mexican Mauricio Lara in February of last year in London. He regained it by stopping Spanish veteran Kiko Martinez in seven rounds this past March.

Lopez was fighting for a major title for the first time.

“As I said in the buildup, this is my moment,” he said. “It comes from hard work over a long boxing career. So I’m delighted to be world champion.”

Lopez suffered a cut above his left eye from what was ruled an accidental head butt, which the Mexicali resident implied afterward was intentional. He called Warrington a “dirty fighter.”

However, the cut didn’t slow Lopez down, as he pressured Warrington for the first nine, 10 rounds, outworked him and landed many of the hardest shots.

However, Warrington, relying on fitness and sheer will, took it to the challenger in the final few rounds to turn what seemed to be a clear loss into a close fight.

That was reflected in the scoring. One judge had 114-114, a draw. The other two had Lopez winning 115-113, seven rounds to five, making him the new IBF 126-pound champ.

Warrington (31-2-1, 8 KOs) defended himself after the fight, insisting he’s a clean fighter and suggesting that Lopez did a lot of fouling himself. And he didn’t hide his disappointment.

“I’m absolutely devastated to lose my title just like that,” he said as those in arena cheered him. “I will say a big thank you for those [fans] making noise, those still making noise. Thank you guys.”

Lopez (27-2, 15 KOs) now becomes a major player in the sport. Warrington, 32, said we haven’t seen the last of him.

Luis Alberto Lopez narrowly outpoints Josh Warrington to win 126-pound title

Luis Alberto Lopez narrowly outpointed Josh Warrington to win a 126-pound title Saturday in Leeds, England.

Josh Warrington has had his fill of Mexican guests.

Luis Alberto Lopez withstood a bad cut and a late rally to defeat Warrington by a majority decision and take the Englishman’s featherweight title in a rough fight Saturday night in Leeds, Warrington’s hometown.

Warrington lost the same title in the first of two reigns to Mexican Mauricio Lara in February of last year in London. He regained it by stopping Spanish veteran Kiko Martinez in seven rounds this past March.

Lopez was fighting for a major title for the first time.

“As I said in the buildup, this is my moment,” he said. “It comes from hard work over a long boxing career. So I’m delighted to be world champion.”

Lopez suffered a cut above his left eye from what was ruled an accidental head butt, which the Mexicali resident implied afterward was intentional. He called Warrington a “dirty fighter.”

However, the cut didn’t slow Lopez down, as he pressured Warrington for the first nine, 10 rounds, outworked him and landed many of the hardest shots.

However, Warrington, relying on fitness and sheer will, took it to the challenger in the final few rounds to turn what seemed to be a clear loss into a close fight.

That was reflected in the scoring. One judge had 114-114, a draw. The other two had Lopez winning 115-113, seven rounds to five, making him the new IBF 126-pound champ.

Warrington (31-2-1, 8 KOs) defended himself after the fight, insisting he’s a clean fighter and suggesting that Lopez did a lot of fouling himself. And he didn’t hide his disappointment.

“I’m absolutely devastated to lose my title just like that,” he said as those in arena cheered him. “I will say a big thank you for those [fans] making noise, those still making noise. Thank you guys.”

Lopez (27-2, 15 KOs) now becomes a major player in the sport. Warrington, 32, said we haven’t seen the last of him.