Last year, Luis Alberto Lopez experienced a significant setback, suffering a knockout defeat against Angelo Leo for the IBF featherweight title. This loss, which occurred in August and resulted in a brain bleed, raised questions about his boxing future.
However, Lopez made a surprising return to the ring on Saturday night, just seven months after his serious injury. Now, “El Venado” is determined to get back in the ring with Angelo Leo, the man who ended his reign as world champion.
Lopez, with a record of 31-3 (17 KOs), fought in his hometown of Mexicali for the first time since 2021. He has earned a reputation as a tough fighter who is willing to travel, having previously defeated Josh Warrington in Leeds to win the IBF title and defended it against Michael Conlan in Belfast, before facing Leo in Albuquerque.
In his recent fight, Lopez faced Eduardo Montoya, 21-8-1 (14 KOs). Showing no signs of lingering issues from the Leo fight, Lopez knocked down Montoya in the first round with a left hook to the head. Montoya initially got back up, but not for long.
The fight concluded quickly as Lopez landed another precise left hook, this time to the body, which left Montoya unable to continue before the referee`s count.
There are ongoing debates about whether Lopez should immediately compete at the top level of the featherweight division, given concerns about his health and recovery. Despite the potential risks, Lopez has made a quick return and demonstrated a strong performance.
Before his Saturday victory, Lopez expressed his clear intentions to the Mexican press, stating his desire for a rematch with Leo to avenge his only knockout loss.
“I wanted the opportunity to fight in Mexicali again. While it wasn`t exactly how I envisioned it, being here is a positive step. My goal is to get back on the path to becoming a world champion. We are aiming for a rematch with Angelo Leo,” Lopez stated.
Angelo Leo, 25-1 (12 KOs), is scheduled to defend his IBF featherweight title against Tomoki Kameda, 42-4 (23 KOs), in Osaka, Japan on Saturday, May 24, in a world title double-header event.
