Notebook: Leo defends 126 title vs. Aleem in bout they saw as inevitable
Olascuaga defense tops 'History in the Making' card; new date for Itauma; Haney in talks with Zuffa; Quick hits; Show & tell Corrales-Castillo special
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Angelo Leo had made a name for himself at junior featherweight by outpointing Tramaine Williams to win the vacant WBO title in August 2020 as Showtime brought its boxing franchise back in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, putting on fights in a bubble without spectators.
Five months later, however, Leo made his first defense, still in the bubble, and got wiped out via one-sided decision by Stephen Fulton, who had come down with Covid-19 months earlier and was replaced by Williams in the August fight with Leo.
It was a resounding loss for Leo, who steadily rebuilt his career. He eventually moved up to featherweight. Post Fulton, Leo won four fights in a row, earning a shot at IBF titleholder Luis Alberto Lopez in August 2024.
It was Leo’s crowning moment. Fighting in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Leo was locked in a fierce and competitive fight before winning the title with a savage one-punch left-hook knockout in the 10th round that left Lopez flat on his back and with what was later diagnosed as a “small brain bleed.”
It was a knockout of the year contender but any momentum Leo may have gained from such a memorable KO long ago evaporated because he has fought just once since, traveling to Japan and winning a majority decision over former titlist Tomoki Kameda last May.
Now, coming off a year layoff, Leo finally returns to the ring looking to regain momentum in a mandatory defense against Ra’eese Aleem in the headliner of a Salita Promotions card on Saturday (DAZN, 8 p.m. ET) at Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta.
