.IBF featherweight champion 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 Sunday (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET). Lopez's final loss was in May 2019 and also he has actually succeeded 14 successive battles because, consisting of impressive success over Josh Warrington in England and also Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. But is he the most effective featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko lately turned down a profitable battle versus fellow lightweight champ Gervonta "Tank" Davis as well as while he hasn't introduced his retirement life, will we observe "Hi-Tech" in the band again?Canelo Alvarez will definitely make his 2nd band look this year, yet not against the fighter followers have actually clamored for. Rather Than David Benavidez, Canelo will experience Edgar Berlanga, who's certainly never dealt with at this level in his brief job. While Berlanga possesses extraordinary electrical power-- he began his profession with 16 successive first-round KOs-- can easily he discover a way to gain, or at least go the span versus Alvarez?Former abundant champ Anthony Joshua will definitely fight for a headline for the first time in two years. Joshua will face IBF champ Daniel Dubois in London, as "AJ" is favored to become a three-time planet champ (-550 per ESPN WAGER). As well as two-division champ Danny Garcia returns to the band for simply the second time in practically four years to handle WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Garcia, that succeeded waistbands at 140 as well as 147 pounds, is going up in weight for the opportunity to come to be a three-division champion, however may he distress a much older but still powerful Lara?Mike Coppinger as well as Nick Parkinson respond to these questions and also more, trying to identify what's real and also what's not.Real or not: Vasiliy Lomachenko will definitely retire without an additional fightNot real ... in the meantime. Lomachenko is considering retirement, sources informed ESPN, aspect of the main reason he decreased a rewarding match with Gervonta Davis in November. There is actually additionally a possibility that Lomachenko are going to come back in the initial one-half of 2025 to defend his IBF light in weight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) showed up in a fighting mood Sunday in Los Angeles: he and also Shakur Stevenson had to be actually divided at ringside in the course of the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov card. Lomachenko was seen telling Stevenson, "Permit's go right now.If that is actually any sort of sign, Lomachenko will combat again. Maybe even against Davis or even Stevenson, both largest matches on the desk for him. Yet if he never ever laces up the handwear covers once more, Lomachenko's tradition is actually gotten. He is actually a three-division champion, a first-ballot Hall of Famer and a backbone of the pound-for-pound listing over the final 10 years.He also does not require to eliminate for the cash. He is actually earned numerous bucks in his profession and still lives in Ukraine, where he's one of the country's very most popular professional athletes. Whether or not he battles once again, he undoubtedly won't do this a lot longer. He turns 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Danny Garcia hammers Erislandy Lara and also ends up being a champ in a 3rd divisionNot genuine. Garcia has upset the chances before, consisting of a shocking KO draw Amir Khan and also a leading choice triumph over Lucas Matthysse. The 1st win elevated him to the upper tier of the sport and also the last glued that status.But the Matthysse fight was actually 11 years back, though, and also those 2 signature Garcia success were at 140 pounds (he also succeeded a headline at 147 extra pounds and also went up to 154 for a July 2022 win over Jose Benavidez Jr.) Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) is actually still looking for a win that matches that, and a distressed success over Lara will accommodate the bill.Garcia didn't look like the sharp counterpuncher in the majority-decision success over Benavidez, and also he hasn't contended since. Right now, he'll go up another weight class (though the Lara match is actually occurring at a catchweight in between 155 and also 160 pounds) and must contend with ring stagnation. The Sept. 14 middleweight headline battle versus Lara will be Garcia's second since December 2020, when he was directed through Errol Spence Jr.The choose listed below is actually Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), that, even at 41, presents incredible energy, albeit versus competitors below Garcia's level. Lara is actually riding a three-fight KO streak.-- CoppingerReal or not: Canelo Alvarez's fight against Edgar Berlanga doesn't go the distanceCanelo Alvarez, left, safeguards his unquestioned extremely middleweight champion versus Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, punching's best star, have not racked up a KO success due to the fact that he flattened Caleb Vegetation in a Nov 2021 battle to win the undisputed incredibly middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has scored a presentation in his last three battles. Versus a boxer in Berlanga, who are going to be actually battling on the best level for the first time, Alvarez needs to include the 40th KO of his renowned career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has actually been harmed in the ring in the past, particularly in a step-up fight against Marcelo Coceres, that dropped him in Round 9. As well as his defense isn't specifically appear. Berlanga has electrical power (he started his job with 16 consecutive KO gains in the first round), and also if he chooses to exchange along with Canelo, Alvarez needs to take him out.Alvarez assured as a lot at a set of press conference today to advertise the fight.-- Coppinger Real or otherwise: Not one other light champion can easily hammer Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza appears an actual risk to Lopez after torturing Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round gain in June as well as defeating Robeisy Ramirez through a large number selection to succeed the WBO label in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) defeated Chirinho in three of the 4 shots, while his breakout win along with Ramirez was just one of the very best fights in 2023. Publisher's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the tallest globe light champ in background-- will be a problem for Lopez. Chirinho prospered to get up from an uppercut from Espinoza in Around 1, prior to he was soon subdued. As a professional, Chirinho had actually never ever been torn down prior to Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza created a surprise in pounding two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, as well as he outlanded him in the last three rounds. Although he is actually not as skilled as Lopez, the quantity of hits he has actually included his final pair of battles, along with his elevation as well as arrive at benefits, can confirm insurmountable for Lopez.Rey Vargas has actually looked implausible in current fights, while our team still need to view a lot more from Scar Ball before our company proclaim him the department's No. 1. Ball (20-0-1, 11 KOs) grabbed the WBA featherweight label along with a split decision win over Raymond Ford in June. That victory adhered to a disputable draw versus Vargas for the WBC label in March. But Espinoza would stand over 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was actually unsatisfying versus Round and also has actually not gained in nearly pair of years, so it is actually tough to present an argument for him in his existing form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is the present ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after quiting Reiya Abe in eight arounds in a third self defense of the IBF belt in March. Lopez has gotten over significant obstacles in headline matches, like punching in a champion's hometown and acquiring cut very early (vs. Josh Warrington), and if he gains on Saturday against Angelo Leo, he might possibly face his biggest problem yet in a headline marriage fight versus Espinoza to dental crown the very best competitor in the branch.-- ParkinsonReal or otherwise: Anthony Joshua are going to KO Daniel DuboisReal. Just as good as Dubois' resurgence has actually been actually only a year after being come by Oleksandr Usyk, latest form recommends his first IBF heavyweight headline self defense are going to finish in a KO defeat to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) resides in top type, more therefore than some other heavyweight. Like Dubois (21-2, twenty KOs), Joshua has actually had to restore his job, after going through back-to-back selection reductions to Usyk in 2021 and 2022. Joshua dealt with very carefully, along with a consensual selection get Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, however in his last 3 battles, he rounded off Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou.Dubois came back coming from Saudi Arabia to Greater london as IBF acting big-time champ after he quit Filip Hrgovic in Round 8. Usyk then gave up the IBF belt, which meant Dubois was actually upgraded to total champ, consequently presents Joshua along with the option to become a three-time planet champ at Wembley Coliseum in London.Joshua will certainly make an effort to exploit what Hrgovic had actually repeated effectiveness along with versus Dubois. Hrgovic constantly landed right hands on Dubois in the early spheres, and Joshua has actually received latest battles how harmful his right-hand men are after he damaged Ngannou in Round 2. Joshua landed a right-hand man on the previous UFC big-time champ's chin to knock him out chilly. Joshua will certainly confiscate the possibility if Dubois produces himself likewise readily available, as he carried out against Hrgovic. Joshua is a bigger puncher than Hrgovic and also, although Dubois presented sturdiness to absorb punches in June, he has actually been actually ceased twice (by Joe Joyce in 2020 as well as Usyk in 2013) and was actually floored 3 attend the preliminary by Kevin Lerena just before recouping to win in Cycle 3. Yet it is actually no walk in the park for Joshua, who additionally needs to have to appreciate Dubois' electrical power. Dubois pauperized Hrgovic's face and also may potentially manage a surprise halt against Joshua, just like Andy Ruiz Jr. carried out in 2019. Yet Joshua, that concluded as champion coming from 2016 to 2019 and afterwards coming from 2019 to 2021, is very likely to gain this fight by KO.-- Parkinson.