.IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez defends his belt against Angelo Leo in the main event of a Leading Ranking on ESPN memory 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 he has gained 14 successive battles since, including exceptional victories over Josh Warrington in England and also Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. Yet is he the best featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko lately declined a highly profitable fight against fellow light in weight champion Gervonta "Storage tank" Davis and while he have not declared his retired life, will we observe "Hi-Tech" in the ring again?Canelo Alvarez will definitely make his second ring appearance this year, but certainly not versus the boxer supporters have actually demanded. Instead of David Benavidez, Canelo will definitely experience Edgar Berlanga, who is actually certainly never fought at this degree in his brief career. While Berlanga possesses fabulous electrical power-- he started his job with 16 successive first-round KOs-- can easily he find a technique to win, or even at least go the proximity against Alvarez?Former heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua will fight for a label for the very first time in two years. Joshua is going to deal with IBF champion Daniel Dubois in London, as "AJ" is favored to become a three-time world champ (-550 every ESPN WAGER). And two-division champ Danny Garcia comes back to the ring for just the second time in nearly four years to take on WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Garcia, who won belts at 140 and 147 extra pounds, is actually going up in body weight for the chance to end up being a three-division champion, yet may he upset a much older but still highly effective Lara?Mike Coppinger as well as Nick Parkinson address these questions and additional, making an effort to differentiate what's true as well as what's not.Real or otherwise: Vasiliy Lomachenko will definitely retire without one more fightNot true ... for now. Lomachenko is actually reflecting upon retirement life, sources said to ESPN, component of the reason he dropped a financially rewarding match along with Gervonta Davis in Nov. There is actually likewise a possibility that Lomachenko are going to come back in the initial one-half of 2025 to shield his IBF lightweight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) appeared in a fighting mood Saturday in Los Angeles: he and also Shakur Stevenson needed to be split at ringside throughout the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov memory card. Lomachenko was actually observed telling Stevenson, "Allow's go appropriate now.If that is actually any indicator, Lomachenko will certainly battle again. Maybe even versus Davis or even Stevenson, the 2 largest matches on the desk for him. However if he certainly never laces up the gloves once more, Lomachenko's heritage is protected. He's a three-division champ, a first-ballot Venue of Famer as well as an essential of the pound-for-pound checklist over the last 10 years.He additionally does not need to have to combat for the cash. He's gained millions of dollars in his career and also still dwells in Ukraine, where he is just one of the nation's most popular professional athletes. Whether he deals with once more, he certainly will not accomplish this a lot longer. He turns 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or not: Danny Garcia beats Erislandy Lara and ends up being a champion in a third divisionNot actual. Garcia has outplayed the probabilities prior to, featuring a stunning KO gain Amir Khan and also a prevalent decision triumph over Lucas Matthysse. The 1st gain elevated him to the upper tier of the sporting activity and the second glued that status.But the Matthysse battle was actually 11 years back, however, as well as those pair of trademark Garcia success went to 140 pounds (he likewise gained a headline at 147 pounds as well as went up to 154 for a July 2022 draw Jose Benavidez Jr.) Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) is still searching for a win that matches that, and also a dismayed triumph over Lara will suit the bill.Garcia failed to be similar to the sharp counterpuncher in the majority-decision triumph over Benavidez, as well as he hasn't completed due to the fact that. Currently, he'll go up another weight course (though the Lara match is actually taking place at a catchweight in between 155 and also 160 pounds) as well as must contend with ring inactivity. The Sept. 14 middleweight title battle against Lara are going to be actually Garcia's 2nd because December 2020, when he was actually directed by Errol Spence Jr.The select listed below is Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), that, also at 41, presents remarkable energy, albeit versus fighters below Garcia's level. Lara is riding a three-fight KO streak.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Canelo Alvarez's match versus Edgar Berlanga doesn't go the distanceCanelo Alvarez, left behind, protects his indisputable very middleweight champion against Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu through Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, punching's top celebrity, hasn't scored a KO success due to the fact that he smoothed Caleb Vegetation in a November 2021 match to gain the indisputable super middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has scored a presentation in his final 3 fights. Versus a competitor in Berlanga, that will definitely be fighting on the leading degree for the very first time, Alvarez should add the 40th KO of his illustrious career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has been hurt in the ring in the past, particularly in a step-up battle versus Marcelo Coceres, that dropped him in Round 9. And also his self defense isn't specifically seem. Berlanga possesses electrical power (he began his profession along with 16 consecutive KO succeeds in the first round), and if he chooses to swap with Canelo, Alvarez needs to take him out.Alvarez assured as much at a set of news conferences recently to advertise the fight.-- Coppinger Real or otherwise: Not one other light champion may beat Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza appears a real danger to Lopez after agonizing Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round gain in June as well as defeating Robeisy Ramirez by a bulk choice to succeed the WBO headline in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) floored Chirinho in 3 of the 4 shots, while his outbreak gain along with Ramirez was just one of the very best matches in 2023. Editor's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the highest planet light champion in record-- would be an obstacle for Lopez. Chirinho did well to get up from an uppercut from Espinoza in Sphere 1, prior to he was quickly overpowered. As a professional, Chirinho had certainly never been brought down prior to Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza created a surprise in pounding two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, and he outlanded him in the last 3 spheres. Although he is actually certainly not as professional as Lopez, the volume of strikes he has actually thrown in his last 2 fights, along with his height as well as reach benefits, could possibly prove impossible for Lopez.Rey Vargas has actually appeared unconvincing in current matches, while our experts still need to have to find more from Scar Ball just before our company declare him the department's No. 1. Ball (20-0-1, 11 KOs) recorded the WBA featherweight headline along with a split selection sway Raymond Ford in June. That conquest observed a controversial draw versus Vargas for the WBC label in March. However Espinoza will stand over 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was actually unsatisfactory versus Ball as well as has certainly not succeeded in nearly pair of years, so it is actually challenging to provide an argument for him in his current form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is actually the present ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after ceasing Reiya Abe in eight arounds in a 3rd self defense of the IBF waistband in March. Lopez has actually gotten rid of major difficulties in headline matches, like boxing in a champion's home town and also acquiring slice very early (vs. Josh Warrington), as well as if he succeeds on Sunday against Angelo Leo, he might possibly face his biggest problem yet in a headline marriage battle versus Espinoza to crown the greatest competitor in the department.-- ParkinsonReal or not: Anthony Joshua are going to KO Daniel DuboisReal. As good as Dubois' rebirth has actually been simply a year after being dropped in Oleksandr Usyk, current type proposes his initial IBF heavyweight title defense will end in a KO defeat to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) remains in best kind, a lot more so than every other abundant. Like Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), Joshua has actually needed to reconstruct his occupation, after going through next decision losses to Usyk in 2021 as well as 2022. Joshua battled very carefully, along with an unanimous choice sway Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, but in his last 3 matches, he finished off Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin as well as Francis Ngannou.Dubois returned from Saudi Arabia to Greater london as IBF acting big-time champ after he stopped Filip Hrgovic in Around 8. Usyk then gave up the IBF waistband, which indicated Dubois was actually updated to full champion, consequently provides Joshua along with the opportunity to come to be a three-time world champ at Wembley Stadium in London.Joshua will certainly try to manipulate what Hrgovic had actually repeated excellence with against Dubois. Hrgovic constantly landed right hands on Dubois in the early rounds, and also Joshua has actually received recent battles just how damaging his right hands seek he destroyed Ngannou in Around 2. Joshua landed a right hand on the past UFC big-time champ's chin to take him out cold. Joshua will definitely confiscate the option if Dubois produces themself similarly readily available, as he carried out versus Hrgovic. Joshua is a greater puncher than Hrgovic and, although Dubois revealed longevity to soak up punches in June, he has been quit twice (through Joe Joyce in 2020 and Usyk in 2015) as well as was defeated 3 attend the preliminary by Kevin Lerena before recouping to win in Cycle 3. However it is actually no stroll in the playground for Joshua, who likewise requires to appreciate Dubois' energy. Dubois ruined Hrgovic's face as well as can likely carry out a shock blockage against Joshua, just like Andy Ruiz Jr. performed in 2019. But Joshua, who concluded as champion from 2016 to 2019 and afterwards coming from 2019 to 2021, is actually more likely to win this match through KO.-- Parkinson.