Luis Alberto Lopez celebrates profitable the IBF featherweight title.
Final December, Luis Alberto Lopez upset Josh Warrington in his hometown of Leeds, England, to win the IBF featherweight title by hard-fought 12-round majority choice.
As soon as once more, the Mexican will go into enemy territory when he faces Michael Conlan on the SSE Area, Belfast on Saturday.
Lopez, The Ring’s No. 3-rated featherweight, embraces the position of the away fighter.
“I’m used to being the B-side, I perceive it and have executed all of it my profession,” Lopez (27-2, 15 knockouts) informed The Ring via his supervisor Luis “Kiki” Magana. “Actually I’m not frightened about it. I actually need the judges to [score the bout] honest and sq. just like the combat between [Katie] Taylor and [undisputed women’s junior welterweight champion and No. 2 in The Ring’s female pound-for-pound rankings Chantelle] Cameron for the choice.”
This would be the third time the 29-year-old Mexican has fought on British and Irish shores in his final 5 fights and acknowledges the challenger’s strengths.
“Being right here within the UK is like my second residence; I’m used to it,” he mentioned. “I do know Michael Conlan is a superb fighter. He’s a former Olympian; he strikes loads, has approach. What we now have to do is don’t be falling into his sport plan, make the rhythm of the combat my method. That is going to be what we now have to do to take the win.
“I’m prepared for no matter Michael Conlan brings to the ring. I’m very motivated to be in Belfast and placing on an excellent present.”
Lopez feels that combating and beating Warrington final day trip, because the visiting boxer, will serve him effectively in opposition to Conlan.
“It has been an honor for me to win the title in Leeds with all of the folks in opposition to us in enemy territory,” he mentioned. “That is going to be an element on this subsequent combat.”
“El Venado” has enormously loved changing into a titlist and isn’t able to let it go anytime quickly.
“After all, profitable a world title modifications the lifetime of any fighter. It’s a dream of any fighter to be a world champion,” Lopez mentioned proudly. “It’s nice as a result of it helps deal with my household. You simply should sustain the onerous work and proceed to step it up.”
Apparently Lopez determined so as to add well-regarded coach Kay Koroma to his nook and skilled in Las Vegas for this combat.
“He’s an excellent coach; he’s labored loads within the amateurs and has an excellent resume,” he defined. “Additionally he is aware of Michael Conlan very effectively. I believe we now have made the most effective coaching camp of my profession and hopefully this can present on Saturday night time.”
Since arriving within the capital of Northern Eire, Lopez has been warmly greeted wherever he has gone.
“Belfast has been nice for me,” he mentioned. “I do know for a truth, after all, on Saturday night time, it’s going to be very completely different. You guys within the UK know a whole lot of good boxing. It has been fairly a superb expertise. I’ve been taking a whole lot of footage with children, so that they acknowledge I’m a world champion. It’s going to be good and an excellent combat, Saturday night time.”
Conlan (18-1, 9 KOs) turned skilled in 2017 after a adorned novice profession. The 31-year-old Irishman scored wins over outdated novice rival Vladimir Nikitin (UD 10), seasoned veteran Ionut Baluta (MD 12) and former IBF junior featherweight titlist TJ Doheny (UD 12).
These wins earned him a shot at WBA 126-pound titlist Leigh Wooden in March 2022. Conlan scored an early knockdown and was having the higher of issues earlier than Wooden scored an exciting come-from-behind last-round stoppage. The fashionable-day basic was later voted “Knockout of the Yr” and “Battle of the Yr.” Since then, Conlan has returned with two wins.
This seems to be a really evenly matched combat. Each are getting into in good kind. Conlan, The Ring’s No. 9-rated featherweight might be backed by a loud partisan crowd however Lopez as he says is accustomed to that. I really feel this can go the gap with a number of shut rounds. It’s a coin-flip-type of combat.
Lopez-Conlan, plus supporting undercard motion, might be broadcast on ESPN+ within the US at 2 pm ET/ 11 am PT and on BT Sports activities at 7 pm within the UK.