Notebook: Road warrior Lopez aims to ruin Conlan's Belfast party
Wood looks to regain title despite Lara missing weight; Matchroom, Pacheco make new deal; new Shields foe; Quick hits; Show and tell
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Luis Alberto Lopez is boxing’s latest road warrior. The IBF featherweight titlist from Mexico has gloves, will travel.
It’s a role Lopez has embraced and backed up by winning on hostile turf. He plans to do to it again on when he defends his 126-pound belt for the first time against Michael Conlan on Saturday at The SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Conlan’s hometown.
The card will stream on ESPN+ in the United States and BT Sport in the United Kingdom beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET with the main event ring walks scheduled for approximately 4 p.m. ET.
In September 2019, Lopez faced unbeaten and favored prospect Gabriel Flores in Tucson, Arizona, and not only outpointed him but delivered a career-altering beat down.
In his next fight, less than three months later, Lopez traveled to London to meet England’s unbeaten Isaac Lowe in a title eliminator. Lopez dominated and knocked out Lowe in the seventh round to earn the title shot.
After two wins in the U.S. in stay-busy fights, Lopez returned to England to challenge the favored titleholder Josh Warrington in his hometown of Leeds. Once again, Lopez rose to the occasion. He outfought Warrington and won a well-deserved majority decision that appeared a bit generous toward Warrington.
Lopez (27-2, 15 KOs), 29, is getting no soft touch or celebratory homecoming for his first defense. Instead, he will face two-time Olympian and bronze medalist Conlan (18-1, 9 KOs), 31, in Belfast, where he is a hero.
“I have already beaten up all the prospects and fighters Top Rank has given to me, so on Saturday night, I want to prove to everyone that I am a true champion,” Lopez said this week through an interpreter. “I’ve always been the B side throughout my entire career, beating prospects. Now, as a world champion, I’m going to do more of the same. I want to finish Michael Conlan and then face the other world champions.”
He said he did not hesitate to take the fight in Belfast, where he can make more money than for any other bout that was available to him.
“I am used to this type of environment. I am used to travelling,” Lopez said. “I’ve fought in the United States and this is my third time here in the United Kingdom. Everybody wants to see me lose but, don’t forget, I am the world champion. I am used to them not wanting me to win.
“They always say the same thing. They say they’re going to beat me, that they’re going to knock me out, that I’m going to look foolish, that they’re going to send me to go play soccer. They have told me everything. But at the end of the day, when we’re both in the ring, nothing of what they say ever happens.”
Conlan aims to change that.
“I’m expecting the best Luis Alberto Lopez. I think he’s going to bring everything,” Conlan said. “He is going to be in the best condition. He’s going to try to knock me out, so I’m prepared for everything he’s going to try to do.
“I’ve experienced a lot of atmospheres throughout my career now. I’ve experienced it, so I know how to handle it now. I’m looking forward to the fight because I know I’m going to go in there and perform and beat him.”
Conlan is getting his second title shot after notching two victories following his very memorable first chance at a belt. That was in March 2022 when he traveled to Nottingham, England to challenge then-WBA titlist Leigh Wood. Conlan dropped Wood in the first round and was ahead on all three scorecards going into the 12th round of what had been a tremendous battle when Wood knocked Conlan literally out of the ring for the knockout to retain the title.
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who is 91, made the trip to Belfast from his home in Las Vegas and put the showdown in context.
“(Conlan) is a really good fighter, and he’s stepping to the plate against a really tough world champion in Luis Alberto Lopez, who doesn’t hesitate to go into his opponent’s hometown and perform spectacularly,” Arum said. “Mick knows it’s not going to be an easy fight. It’s going to be a very tough fight. All the people here in Belfast will have the opportunity to watch a classic, competitive championship fight. It may end up being the fight of the year.”
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Wood looks to regain title
Mauricio Lara badly missed weight on Friday and was stripped of the WBA featherweight title ahead of his rematch with former titlist Leigh Wood on Saturday (DAZN, 2 p.m. ET) at AO Arena in Manchester, England.
The fight will go on but only Wood can win the vacant title. Lara was so heavy at 129.8 pounds for the 126-pound title bout that he was not allowed by the British Boxing Board of Control to attempt to lose nearly four pounds. Lara was 125.9 pounds and agreed to go through with the bout even though Lara did not agree to a Saturday weight check.
Mexico’s Lara (26-2-1, 19 KOs), 25, traveled to Wood’s hometown of Nottingham, England and stopped him in the seventh round on Feb. 18 to win the 126-pound title in an action-packed battle.
Wood (26-3, 16 KOs), 34, who was making his second title defense, was ahead on all three scorecards when Lara dropped him hard — flat on his back in the center of the ring — with a left hook late in the seventh round. He beat the count and referee Michael Alexander was poised to allow the fight to continue when Wood trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel with six seconds left in the round.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said at the fight-week news conference that he spoke to Wood about alternatives rather than going immediately into a rematch.
“We sat in the office and we talked about what was next,” Hearn said. “We talked about maybe waiting. There was no waiting from Leigh Wood. He believed he can win this fight. He wanted the immediate rematch and he’s got it.”
Wood said he never thought about declining to invoke his right to an immediate rematch.
“There was never even a thought in my mind that anything different was going to happen. I know you tried to persuade me otherwise,” Wood said to Hearn during the fight-week news conference. “It was just so frustrating how the fight finished. Like you say, it is a fast turnaround, but it is one that benefits me.”
Wood said he went on a pre-planned vacation for a week in Dubai after the loss and even did some running while he was there to stay in shape before going back into training.
“I’m ready to get this belt back and look good doing it,” Wood said. “No doubts at all. That’s not me saying it’s going to be an easy fight, because it could be far from an easy fight, but I’m prepared for anything that he brings.
“The first time round was hard because we didn’t have his style against my style to look at, now we’ve got that information and we know what he does when I do certain things. I know him inside out. I’m just going to go out there and prove that I’m the better fighter. It’s a must-win fight. There’s a lot of pressure. I love it, I thrive on it. Whatever is takes on Saturday night I’m coming away with a win. This is what gets me up for it.”
Pacheco extends with Matchroom
Big-time super middleweight prospect Diego Pacheco has signed a contract extension with Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who also announced the signing of junior lightweight knockout machine Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez on Friday.
Both will have the first fights of their deals on July 7 (DAZN) in Monterrey, Mexico, Hearn added.
Pacheco (18-0, 15 KOs), 22, of Los Angeles, will headline in a regional title defense against Manuel Gallegos (19-1-1, 16 KOs), 25, of Mexico, and Hernandez (33-1, 30 KOs), 25, of Mexico, will face Joniker Tovar (21-0-1, 16 KOs), 23, of Venezuela, in the 10-round co-feature.
Pacheco turned pro with Matchroom in December 2018 and is on the verge of bigger fights. With two fights left on his existing agreement, he and Hearn finalized an extension.
“I am very happy and excited to be extending me deal with Matchroom,” Pacheco said. “We have been on the path to the top for nearly five years and I couldn’t be in a better place to achieve my goals — to become world champion, to be unified and undisputed, and to be a role model for young kids in L.A. and Mexico to chase their dreams.
“I’m so happy to be headlining in Mexico on July 7. It will be a good fight and when I win, I’ll be one step closer to getting to that world title shot.”
Hernandez is the WBC’s No. 1 contender at 130 pounds and close to a title opportunity. His last two bouts were on Matchroom cards but now he has a contract.
Hernandez has won five fights in a row since a stunning first-round knockout loss to Roger Gutierrez in July 2019, when Hernandez was with Golden Boy.
“They brought me in as a B-side and seen that I’m capable of great things,” Hernandez said. “It’s an honor for me and my team to be part of Matchroom. I’m one step away from fulfilling my dream of becoming a world champion. It’s all I have in my head, the world title, and I know Matchroom will make it happen.”
Hearn was excited by the notable signings.
“What a great day for Matchroom and DAZN in America and Mexico, securing two of the best young fighters out there and putting them together on a card in Monterrey,” Hearn said. “Diego is the best young talent in the game and we are delighted to have extended his deal with us. From the day he first put pen to paper with us in October 2018, there’s been no doubt in my mind that he would get to the very top.
“We’ve watched Diego blossom in and out of the ring; a powerful puncher with venom and a humble young man with his community and family in his heart. Diego can become a massive star in America and Mexico, and we are with him every step of the way.”
As for Hernandez, Hearn added, “Rocky is such a dangerman for the 130-pound division and he’s right on the edge of landing a world title fight. That’s what we are looking to deliver for him.”
New opponent for Shields
Undisputed women’s middleweight champion Claressa Shields will now defend against Maricela Cornejo on June 3 (DAZN) at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Salita Promotions announced on Thursday.
Shields (13-0, 2 KOs), 28, of Flint, Michigan, was initially scheduled to fight three-division titleholder Hanna Gabriels (21-2-1, 12 KOs), 40, of Costa Rica, in a rematch of a 2018 bout that Shields won for the vacant IBF and WBA middleweight titles but suffered the only knockdown of her career (pro or amateur) in the first round.
However, Gabriels was dropped from the fight when results from a May 2 drug test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association under the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program came back positive for a banned substance.
“I told my team to get me the best,” Shields said. “Cornejo is a tall, tough Mexican full of pride who’s in great shape and wants to beat me. She’s ranked No. 1. That’s exactly what I want for my Detroit homecoming and for my fans around the world.”
According to the letter VADA sent to those involved, and obtained by Fight Freaks Unite, Gabriels’ A sample from a urine test conducted in San Jose, Costa Rica, came back positive for the anabolic steroid Clostebol, a form of testosterone known as a performance enhancer and also to fatten cattle.
Gabriels has the right to have her B sample tested at her expense.
Lou DiBella, Gabriels’ promoter, said the positive test is the result of Gabriels rubbing medication cream on her dog for several days after it had undergone surgery.
Cornejo (16-5, 6 KOs), 36, of Los Angeles, is ranked as Shields’ No. 1 contender by WBC, WBO and IBF. She is 0-3 in world title fights, having lost a split decision to Kali Reiss for the vacant WBC belt in 2016, a majority decision to Franchon Crews-Dezurn for the vacant WBC super middleweight title in 2018 and a unanimous decision to Crews-Dezurn for the WBC and vacant WBO belts in a 2019 rematch.
“When Shields faced a Mexican in the cage (in an MMA bout), she lost. Now she will lose to a Mexican in the boxing ring,” said Cornejo, who is trained by Ismael Salas in Las Vegas. “I just finished an amazing fight camp and am in the best, strongest physical and mental shape of my life. My team in Vegas has sharpened me like a knife for this moment. On June 3, I will become undisputed champion.”
BetUS Boxing Show
If you missed the BetUS Boxing Show live at 1 p.m. ET on Friday on YouTube, please check out the replay (and also subscribe to the YouTube channel). We previewed and picked three world title bouts that take place Saturday: the rematch between Mauricio Lara and Leigh Wood, who can win the now-vacant WBA featherweight title after the overweight Lara was stripped; Luis Alberto Lopez’s IBF featherweight title defense against Michael Conlan; and WBO cruiserweight titlist Lawrence Okolie’s defense against Chris Billam-Smith. We also took viewer questions and comments! Please check out the show here:
Boxing Social appearance
I joined by friends at Boxing Social on Friday to discuss the disputed result of last week’s extremely close Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko undisputed lightweight title fight and the undisputed welterweight fight between Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford that was finalized on Thursday. Check out the video here:
Quick hits
Weights from Manchester, England for Saturday’s Matchroom Boxing/DAZN card: Mauricio Lara 129.8 pounds, Leigh Wood 125.9 (Lara stripped of WBA featherweight title for being overweight, Lara can win vacant belt); Jack Catterall 139.9, Darragh Foley 139.5; Terri Harper 150.3, Ivana Habazin 152.4 (for Harper’s WBA women’s junior middleweight title); Aqib Fiaz 132.1, Costin Ion 132.2; Danny Ball 146.1, Jamie Robinson 146.8; William Crolla 156.6, Joe Hardy 158.3; Campbell Hatton 141.9, Michal Bulik 138.6; Aaron Bowen 163.6, Aljaz Venko 161.1
Weights from Belfast, Northern Ireland for Saturday’s Top Rank/ESPN+ card: Luis Alberto Lopez 125.5 pounds, Michael Conlan 125.9 (for Lopez's IBF featherweight title); Nick Ball 125.9, Ludumo Lamati 125.5; Anthony Cacace 129.9, Damian Wrzesinski 129.4; Pierce O’Leary 139.3, Alin Florin Ciorceri 140.
Weights from Bournemouth, England for Saturday’s Boxxer card (FITE+ in U.S., Sky Sports in U.K.): Lawrence Okolie 199 pounds, Chris Billam-Smith 199 (for Okolie’s WBO cruiserweight title); Sam Eggington 153, Joe Pigford 153; Karriss Artingstall 125, Jade Taylor 128; Lee Cutler 153, Stanley Stannard 153; Michael McKinson 148, Lebin Morales 146; Isaac Chamberlain 199, Daniel Bocianksi 196; Mace Ruegg 136, Dean Dodge 136; Lewis Edmondson 181, Petar Nosic 181; Tommy Welch 222, Amine Boucetta 224; Alireza Ghadiri 127, Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira 130.
Weights from Indio, California, for Saturday’s Golden Boy/DAZN card: Alexis Rocha 146.6 pounds, Anthony Young 146.4; Oscar Duarte 135, D’Angelo Keyes 134.2; Melvin Jerusalem 104.6, Oscar Collazo 105 (for Jerusalem’s WBO strawweight title); John “Scrappy” Ramirez 114.6, Fernando Diaz 114.8; Eric Priest 159.8, Ricardo Villalba 160; Johnny Canas 136.4, Jose Alvarado 138; Leonardo Sanchez 130, Uhlices Reyes 129;
Former junior featherweight and bantamweight titleholder Guillermo Rigondeaux (21-3, 14 KOs), 42, the Miami-based two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist, will face fellow southpaw Julian Evaristo Aristule (35-17-1, 18 KOs), 39, of Argentina, in a 10-round bantamweight fight on the undercard of the Adrien Broner-William Hutchinson 10-round welterweight fight June 9 (FITE, 7 p.m. ET, $24,99) at Casino Miami in Miami, Florida, promoter Don King announced. Rigondeaux is seeking a second win in a row following back-to-back defeats, including by decision in a bantamweight title fight versus John Riel Casimero in August 2021. Aristule is 1-8-1 in his last 10 bouts.
Middleweight Shane Mosley Jr. (19-4, 10 KOs), 32, of Pomona, California, will face D’Mitrius Ballard (21-1-1, 13 KOs), 30, Temple Hills, Massachusetts, in a 10-rounder that will be the co-feature on the Jaime Munguia-Sergiy Derevyanchenko card June 10 (DAZN, 8 p.m. ET) at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, Golden Boy announced. Mosley, the son of Hall of Fame former three-division champion Shane Mosley, is seeking his third win in a row since a majority decision loss to former world title challenger Jason Quigley in May 2021. Ballard is coming off a third-round knockout loss to Munguia in February 2022.
Lightweight prospect Ashton Sylve (9-0, 8 KOs), 19, of Long Beach, California, went the distance for the first time but shut out southpaw Adam Kipenga (11-4-1, 7 KOs), a late replacement from Tanzania, who fights out of Boston, on Friday night at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Sylve swelled Kipenga’s eye, battered him to the body, outlanded him 190-41, according to CompuBox, and won 80-72 on all three scorecards. Kipenga replaced Angel Rebollar (6-2, 3 KOs), who withdrew this week due to an eye injury. The bout headlined the first of four scheduled events this year of the new “Most Valuable Prospects” series on DAZN that Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and Boxlab Promotions are putting on.
Show and tell
The mega unification fight for the undisputed welterweight title has is finally on! Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford, both undefeated and among the top few best fighters in the world, at long last will meet July 29 (Showtime PPV) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, finalizing the deal Thursday for one of the best and most historically significant fights in years. To celebrate a fight we are all looking forward to here are Spence and Crawford rookie cards in my collection from the ongoing Seidman Productions program set that is up to 68 cards. The Spence card was inserted into the program for his 2019 title defense against Mikey Garcia. The Crawford card was inserted into the program for his 2016 junior welterweight title defense against Hank Lundy. I have written for the company programs for more than 20 years, including the backs for every card in the set.
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Photos: Lopez-Conlan/Conlan Boxing; Lara-Wood: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing; Okolie-Billam Smith: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer; Rocha-Young: Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy
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good to see Don KIng back to putting on his world class, stacked mega-cards reminiscent of the 90s!!! Broner-Hutchinson AND Rigo-Aristule on the same PPV card? Such a deal!
Hello Dan. Is that the full story of what happened with Bronco Lara in the the UK? Apparently the BBBoC weighed Lara days before the official weigh in. And determined 3 lbs was too much weight to lose. Effectively stripping Lara days before the weigh in. Is that true? And should other World Champions take note? Saunas and B Samples. The BBBoC is a crew of corrupt vacillating crooks.