Joe McConnell
Angelo Leo became a two-division world champion in emphatic fashion, securing the IBF featherweight world title with a stunning one-punch knockout over Luis Alberto ‘Venado’ Lopez.
In a major upset at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Leo (25-2, 12 KOs) sealed an impressive hometown victory in style, establishing himself as a strong contender for KO of the Year.
Leo boxed smartly as Venado confidently pushed forward with his hands down. Undaunted, Leo moved his feet to set up short combinations.
Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
While Venado (30-3, 17 KOs) managed to land the occasional strike, Leo often fired back with quick combinations and hard counters in the middle rounds, when Venado was off-balance.
The powerful Mexican seemed unfazed by Leo’s punches, but a perfect left hook dropped Venado on his back in the tenth, ending the fight with 76 seconds left.
Angel Leo scored a stunning KO to secure the IBF featherweight world title
Leo, a former WBO junior featherweight world champion, joins fellow Duke City natives Johnny Tapia and Danny Romero in capturing world titles in two weight classes.
“It means the world to me, fighting in my hometown,” Leo said. “I’ve been longing for this moment. Like I said, what better way to do it than with a world title and a knockout?
“That left hook, we trained it in camp for four, five months. Not in the gym, but in my room in front of the mirror. I kept throwing that left hook. And it paid off in the tenth round.
Lopez had held the IBF featherweight title since beating Josh Warrington in December 2022
“I want to fight all the champions, whether it’s Rafael Espinoza for a unification fight, or Naoya Inoue, whoever it is.”
On the same card, the Mexican Olympian Lindolfo Delgado (21-0, 15 KOs) defeated Bryan Flores (26-1-1, 15 KOs) via 10-round split decision in tonight’s co-featured bout.
Delgado fought at a measured pace, dropping Flores with a counter right in the third. But Flores began landing his rights and pushed Delgado into the ropes in the middle rounds.
In the seventh round, Flores was docked a point for hitting below the belt, and Delgado increased his attack in the eighth to try to stop Flores’ momentum. The two met with left hooks and short rights at close range for the remaining two rounds.
One judge gave Flores a 96-92 score, while Delgado prevailed with scores of 96-92 and 95-93.
“The win was not easy, but I enjoyed it a lot,” Delgado said. “We had to stay focused at all times to win the fight. He came with a strong will to win and, apart from that, he punches hard. But we managed to get the win. I would like a world title opportunity after that.”
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