.IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez defends his belt against Angelo Leo in the main celebration of a Top Rank on ESPN card at Tingley Col iseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Saturday (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET). Lopez's final loss was in May 2019 as well as he has actually gained 14 successive matches since, featuring excellent victories over Josh Warrington in England and also Michael Conlan in Northern Ireland. But is he the greatest featherweight in boxing?Vasiliy Lomachenko lately refused a lucrative battle versus fellow light-weight champ Gervonta "Tank" Davis and also while he hasn't announced his retirement, will our team find "Hi-Tech" in the ring again?Canelo Alvarez are going to make his 2nd band look this year, however certainly not against the fighter fans have demanded. Rather Than David Benavidez, Canelo will certainly encounter Edgar Berlanga, who is actually never dealt with at this degree in his quick occupation. While Berlanga possesses extraordinary power-- he began his career with 16 successive first-round KOs-- can he find a method to win, or at least go the span versus Alvarez?Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will fight for a headline for the very first time in two years. Joshua will experience IBF champ Daniel Dubois in London, as "AJ" is preferred to become a three-time planet champion (-550 every ESPN BET). And two-division champion Danny Garcia returns to the ring for simply the second time in nearly 4 years to handle WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Garcia, who succeeded waistbands at 140 as well as 147 pounds, is going up in body weight for the chance to become a three-division champion, yet may he disturb an older yet still highly effective Lara?Mike Coppinger and also Scar Parkinson answer these questions and also additional, making an effort to differentiate what's genuine as well as what is actually not.Real or otherwise: Vasiliy Lomachenko will definitely resign without an additional fightNot actual ... in the meantime. Lomachenko is considering retirement, resources told ESPN, aspect of the cause he declined a rewarding match along with Gervonta Davis in November. There's also a possibility that Lomachenko will return in the very first half of 2025 to shield his IBF lightweight title.After all, Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) appeared in a dealing with state of mind Sunday in Los Angeles: he as well as Shakur Stevenson needed to be actually split at ringside during the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov card. Lomachenko was seen saying to Stevenson, "Let's go ideal now.If that's any sort of indicator, Lomachenko will definitely fight once again. Maybe even versus Davis or even Stevenson, the 2 biggest fights on the table for him. But if he never ever laces up the gloves once again, Lomachenko's legacy is secured. He's a three-division champ, a first-ballot Hall of Famer and a backbone of the pound-for-pound list over the final 10 years.He also does not need to have to overcome for the cash. He's gained numerous bucks in his career as well as still resides in Ukraine, where he is among the country's most preferred sportsmens. Regardless if he fights again, he undoubtedly will not accomplish this much longer. He transforms 37 in February.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Danny Garcia hammers Erislandy Lara and also comes to be a champ in a third divisionNot true. Garcia has upset the chances just before, featuring a shocking KO win over Amir Khan and also a leading decision triumph over Lucas Matthysse. The 1st gain elevated him to the upper echelon of the sport and also the latter bound that status.But the Matthysse battle was actually 11 years earlier, though, and also those two signature Garcia success were at 140 extra pounds (he additionally won a label at 147 pounds and also moved up to 154 for a July 2022 win over Jose Benavidez Jr.) Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) is still searching for a gain that matches that, as well as an upset success over Lara would match the bill.Garcia really did not appear like the sharp counterpuncher in the majority-decision victory over Benavidez, as well as he hasn't completed since. Now, he'll move up another body weight class (though the Lara battle is actually happening at a catchweight between 155 and 160 extra pounds) and need to emulate band sluggishness. The Sept. 14 middleweight label match versus Lara will certainly be Garcia's 2nd since December 2020, when he was actually directed by Errol Spence Jr.The pick here is Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs), who, also at 41, shows significant electrical power, albeit against boxers beneath Garcia's level. Lara is actually using a three-fight KO streak.-- CoppingerReal or otherwise: Canelo Alvarez's fight versus Edgar Berlanga does not go the distanceCanelo Alvarez, left behind, shields his undeniable very middleweight champion against Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty ImagesReal. Alvarez, boxing's leading superstar, have not racked up a KO victory given that he flattened Caleb Plant in a November 2021 match to gain the undisputed super middleweight championship.However, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has actually scored a presentation in his final three matches. Versus a boxer in Berlanga, who will certainly be dealing with on the top amount for the very first time, Alvarez must include the 40th KO of his remarkable career.Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) has been actually harmed in the ring before, such as in a step-up battle versus Marcelo Coceres, that dropped him in Cycle 9. And his defense isn't specifically seem. Berlanga has power (he began his profession with 16 consecutive KO succeeds in the first round), and also if he decides on to exchange with Canelo, Alvarez must take him out.Alvarez assured as a lot at a pair of news conferences this week to ensure the fight.-- Coppinger Real or otherwise: No other featherweight champion can easily beat Luis Alberto LopezNot real. Rafael Espinoza looks a true risk to Lopez after agonizing Sergio Chirinho Sanchez in a four-round succeed in June and beating Robeisy Ramirez by a majority choice to gain the WBO label in December. Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) defeated Chirinho in 3 of the 4 shots, while his outbreak win with Ramirez was one of the most effective matches in 2023. Publisher's Picks1 RelatedAt 6-foot-1, Espinoza-- the highest world light champ in record-- would be an obstacle for Lopez. Chirinho succeeded to rise from an uppercut coming from Espinoza in Around 1, prior to he was actually quickly overwhelmed. As a professional, Chirinho had certainly never been actually torn down before Espinoza swept him aside.Espinoza produced a surprise in beating two-time Olympic gold medallist Ramirez, and he outlanded him in the final 3 rounds. Although he is actually not as knowledgeable as Lopez, the amount of blows he has included his final two battles, alongside his elevation and reach benefits, could possibly verify unbeatable for Lopez.Rey Vargas has looked unconvincing in latest matches, while our experts still require to find extra from Nick Ball just before we declare him the branch's No. 1. Ball (20-0-1, 11 KOs) caught the WBA featherweight title along with a split choice get Raymond Ford in June. That triumph observed a debatable draw versus Vargas for the WBC headline in March. Yet Espinoza will tower above 5-foot-2 Ball.Vargas was actually frustrating versus Sphere and also has actually certainly not won in virtually pair of years, so it is difficult to show a disagreement for him in his present form.Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) is the present ESPN No. 1 at featherweight after ceasing Reiya Abe in 8 spheres in a 3rd defense of the IBF waistband in March. Lopez has actually gotten rid of major challenges in headline matches, like boxing in a champion's hometown as well as obtaining cut very early (vs. Josh Warrington), as well as if he wins on Sunday versus Angelo Leo, he may possibly encounter his biggest problem but in a headline marriage fight versus Espinoza to crown the most effective competitor in the division.-- ParkinsonReal or otherwise: Anthony Joshua are going to KO Daniel DuboisReal. Like Dubois' resurgence has actually been actually merely a year after being dropped in Oleksandr Usyk, current type advises his initial IBF heavyweight label protection will definitely end in a KO loss to Joshua.Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) remains in top form, more so than some other abundant. Like Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs), Joshua has must rebuild his occupation, after suffering back-to-back decision losses to Usyk in 2021 and 2022. Joshua combated meticulously, with a consensual selection draw Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, but in his final three battles, he rounded off Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and also Francis Ngannou.Dubois came back from Saudi Arabia to Greater london as IBF acting big-time champ after he ceased Filip Hrgovic in Round 8. Usyk after that gave up the IBF belt, which indicated Dubois was upgraded to total champion, therefore presents Joshua with the opportunity to come to be a three-time world champ at Wembley Coliseum in London.Joshua will definitely attempt to exploit what Hrgovic had actually repeated results along with against Dubois. Hrgovic regularly landed right hands on Dubois in the early rounds, as well as Joshua has displayed in recent fights how detrimental his right-hand men want he destroyed Ngannou in Round 2. Joshua landed a right hand on the previous UFC heavyweight champ's chin to take him out cool. Joshua will take possession of the opportunity if Dubois makes themself similarly available, as he carried out against Hrgovic. Joshua is a bigger puncher than Hrgovic and also, although Dubois revealed resilience to absorb type June, he has been actually ceased two times (through Joe Joyce in 2020 as well as Usyk in 2014) and was floored three times in the preliminary by Kevin Lerena just before recouping to win in Cycle 3. Yet it is actually no stroll in the park for Joshua, that also needs to have to recognize Dubois' electrical power. Dubois bungled Hrgovic's face and can likely carry out a surprise discontinuance against Joshua, just like Andy Ruiz Jr. carried out in 2019. Yet Joshua, who concluded as champ coming from 2016 to 2019 and after that coming from 2019 to 2021, is actually very likely to gain this match by KO.-- Parkinson.