.IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez defends his belt versus Angelo Leo in the main occasion of a Best Ranking on ESPN card at Tingley Col iseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Sunday (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET). Lopez's last loss was in May 2019 and also he has actually won 14 consecutive matches considering that, consisting of exceptional success over Josh Warrington in England as well as Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. But is he the most effective featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko recently denied a lucrative match against fellow light in weight champ Gervonta "Tank" Davis and while he have not announced his retired life, will certainly our company observe "Hi-Tech" in the band again?Canelo Alvarez will definitely make his 2nd ring appearance this year, yet not versus the fighter supporters have demanded. Instead of David Benavidez, Canelo will definitely deal with Edgar Berlanga, who is actually certainly never fought at this degree in his brief occupation. While Berlanga has awesome power-- he began his occupation along with 16 consecutive first-round KOs-- can he discover a means to gain, or at least go the span against Alvarez?Former abundant champion Anthony Joshua are going to fight for a title for the first time in two years. Joshua will certainly encounter IBF champ Daniel Dubois in London, as "AJ" is preferred to end up being a three-time world champion (-550 every ESPN BET). And also two-division champion Danny Garcia comes back to the band for only the 2nd time in just about 4 years to tackle WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Garcia, that gained belts at 140 as well as 147 extra pounds, is actually moving up in body weight for the chance to become a three-division champ, but can he upset a much older but still effective Lara?Mike Coppinger as well as Scar Parkinson answer these inquiries and additional, trying to distinguish what's genuine and what is actually not.Real or otherwise: Vasiliy Lomachenko will certainly resign without an additional fightNot real ... meanwhile. Lomachenko is actually reflecting upon retirement life, sources informed ESPN, aspect of the explanation he declined a financially rewarding battle along with Gervonta Davis in Nov. There is actually also an option that Lomachenko will definitely come back in the first one-half of 2025 to guard his IBF light in weight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) appeared in a combating state of mind Saturday in Los Angeles: he and Shakur Stevenson had to be separated at ringside throughout the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov card. Lomachenko was actually found saying to Stevenson, "Allow's go appropriate now.If that is actually any kind of evidence, Lomachenko will definitely combat once again. Maybe even against Davis or Stevenson, the 2 most significant matches on the desk for him. However if he never ever shoelaces up the handwear covers again, Lomachenko's heritage is secured. He is actually a three-division champion, a first-ballot Hall of Famer and a mainstay of the pound-for-pound checklist over the last 10 years.He likewise doesn't need to have to combat for the money. He is actually gained countless bucks in his job and still resides in Ukraine, where he is among the nation's most well-liked professional athletes. Whether or not he fights again, he definitely won't do so much longer. He switches 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Danny Garcia beats Erislandy Lara and also ends up being a champion in a third divisionNot true. Garcia has upset the chances prior to, featuring a surprising KO win over Amir Khan as well as a prevalent selection victory over Lucas Matthysse. The initial gain lifted him to the upper tier of the sport and also the latter bound that status.But the Matthysse battle was 11 years back, however, and those two signature Garcia wins were at 140 extra pounds (he additionally won a headline at 147 extra pounds as well as moved up to 154 for a July 2022 sway Jose Benavidez Jr.) Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) is still hunting for a gain that matches that, and also an upset victory over Lara would certainly match the bill.Garcia didn't look like the sharp counterpuncher in the majority-decision success over Benavidez, and he hasn't competed due to the fact that. Now, he'll move up an additional weight course (though the Lara fight is actually happening at a catchweight in between 155 and also 160 pounds) as well as must emulate band sluggishness. The Sept. 14 middleweight label fight versus Lara are going to be Garcia's 2nd since December 2020, when he was transmitted through Errol Spence Jr.The choose right here is actually Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), who, even at 41, shows incredible power, albeit against competitors beneath Garcia's degree. Lara is actually using a three-fight KO touch.-- CoppingerReal or not: Canelo Alvarez's match against Edgar Berlanga does not go the distanceCanelo Alvarez, left, safeguards his undeniable incredibly middleweight championship against Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Sin City. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu through Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, punching's top star, have not scored a KO success since he squashed Caleb Vegetation in a Nov 2021 fight to gain the uncontested tremendously middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has actually scored a presentation in his final three fights. Against a boxer in Berlanga, that will definitely be actually fighting on the best level for the very first time, Alvarez must include the 40th KO of his renowned career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has been actually hurt in the band previously, particularly in a step-up match versus Marcelo Coceres, that dropped him in Cycle 9. As well as his protection isn't precisely appear. Berlanga possesses energy (he started his occupation with 16 successive KO wins in the preliminary), and also if he chooses to exchange along with Canelo, Alvarez needs to take him out.Alvarez promised as a lot at a pair of news conferences this week to ensure the match.-- Coppinger Real or otherwise: No other light champ may beat Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza appears a genuine threat to Lopez after agonizing Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round succeed in June and also beating Robeisy Ramirez by a bulk choice to win the WBO label in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) knocked down Chirinho in 3 of the 4 shots, while his breakout win with Ramirez was just one of the most ideal battles in 2023. Publisher's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the tallest globe featherweight champion in background-- would certainly be actually an obstacle for Lopez. Chirinho flourished to rise coming from an uppercut coming from Espinoza in Sphere 1, before he was actually soon overwhelmed. As a specialist, Chirinho had actually never ever been actually brought down before Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza produced a surprise in pounding two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, and he outlanded him in the final three rounds. Although he is actually not as experienced as Lopez, the volume of strikes he has thrown in his last two fights, along with his height and hit perks, can confirm insurmountable for Lopez.Rey Vargas has actually appeared implausible in latest matches, while our company still require to view more coming from Nick Ball before our experts announce him the division's No. 1. Round (20-0-1, 11 KOs) grabbed the WBA featherweight headline with a split choice gain Raymond Ford in June. That victory complied with a controversial draw versus Vargas for the WBC title in March. Yet Espinoza would tower above 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was actually frustrating versus Ball and also has actually certainly not won in virtually 2 years, so it is challenging to offer a debate for him in his present form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is the existing ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after quiting Reiya Abe in 8 spheres in a third self defense of the IBF waistband in March. Lopez has eliminated large challenges in title fights, like boxing in a champion's hometown as well as getting slice very early (vs. Josh Warrington), and if he succeeds on Saturday against Angelo Leo, he might possibly face his largest difficulty yet in a title marriage battle versus Espinoza to crown the very best fighter in the department.-- ParkinsonReal or otherwise: Anthony Joshua will KO Daniel DuboisReal. Comparable to Dubois' resurgence has actually been actually simply a year after being dropped in Oleksandr Usyk, recent kind advises his first IBF heavyweight label protection are going to finish in a KO defeat to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) is in leading type, much more thus than some other heavyweight. Like Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), Joshua has needed to rebuild his job, after going through next selection losses to Usyk in 2021 and 2022. Joshua dealt with very carefully, along with an unanimous choice sway Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, however in his final 3 fights, he accomplished Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and also Francis Ngannou.Dubois returned coming from Saudi Arabia to Greater london as IBF interim big-time champ after he ceased Filip Hrgovic in Around 8. Usyk after that gave up the IBF waistband, which implied Dubois was actually improved to complete champion, and so offers Joshua along with the option to come to be a three-time globe champ at Wembley Stadium in London.Joshua will make an effort to manipulate what Hrgovic had redoed results with versus Dubois. Hrgovic continuously landed right hands on Dubois in the very early spheres, and Joshua has displayed in current battles just how detrimental his right hands desire he ruined Ngannou in Around 2. Joshua landed a right hand on the previous UFC big-time champ's chin to take him out cool. Joshua will definitely take possession of the option if Dubois creates himself in a similar way available, as he performed versus Hrgovic. Joshua is actually a much bigger puncher than Hrgovic and also, although Dubois presented durability to absorb type June, he has actually been actually quit two times (by Joe Joyce in 2020 as well as Usyk in 2015) and also was actually floored 3 attend the first round through Kevin Lerena just before recovering to gain in Round 3. But it is actually no stroll in the playground for Joshua, that likewise needs to recognize Dubois' power. Dubois pauperized Hrgovic's face and also can possibly carry out a shock standstill versus Joshua, much like Andy Ruiz Jr. carried out in 2019. However Joshua, that ruled as champ from 2016 to 2019 and afterwards coming from 2019 to 2021, is more probable to gain this match by KO.-- Parkinson.