Venado Lopez Ready for Title Defense in Albuquerque Against Angelo Leo

 Venado Lopez: "If We Have To Brawl, We Can Brawl!"

Lopez defends his IBF featherweight world title against Angelo Leo on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, LIVE on ESPN

Las Vegas (July 31, 2024) — Venado Lopez feels right at home as he prepares to face off against former world champion Angelo Leo in enemy territory. Lopez will defend his IBF featherweight world title for the fourth time on Saturday, August 10, at Tingley Coliseum in Leo's hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The event will also feature an exciting 10-round junior welterweight co-main event, showcasing an all-Mexican battle between Lindolfo Delgado (20-0, 15 KOs) and Bryan Flores (26-0-1, 15 KOs).

Both the Lopez-Leo bout and the Delgado-Flores fight will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank in partnership with Legacy Boxing Promotions, tickets are currently available at Etix.com.

Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) won the IBF title by defeating Josh Warrington in his hometown of Leeds, England, in December 2022. He successfully defended his title by traveling to Belfast, where he stopped local favorite Michael Conlan in the fifth round just six months later. The pride of Mexicali, Mexico, also secured a unanimous decision victory over Joet Gonzalez last September and recently defeated mandatory challenger Reiya Abe in March.

On the other hand, Leo (24-1, 11 KOs) captured the WBO junior featherweight world title with a unanimous decision win against the previously unbeaten Tramaine Williams in August 2020. Though he lost the title to future unified champion Stephen Fulton in January, Leo has bounced back, winning his last four bouts, including two by knockout.

Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting night of boxing!

Following a recent training session at DLX Boxing in Las Vegas, this is what Lopez had to say:

“We’ve been training hard as we get ready to finish camp. This has been one of my best training camps, and we will finish strong.”

“Like all Mexicans, I do my job in the ring, and I like to throw punches. I don’t mind getting hit in order to hit. We work to be able to do all of that in the ring.  If we have to move around, we’ll do that. If we have to brawl, we can brawl. If the fight ends early, we can end it early. I do my job. I prepare for that. And I’m happy that people like my work.”

“We know that Angelo Leo is a good fighter who comes forward throwing lots of punches. He doesn't stop in there. So, I think we’re going to need a lot of stamina, and we’re going to need to throw a lot of punches. We’re going to be smart but also aggressive. It’s going to be a good fight. It will be a good test for both of us. I don’t plan on letting go of my title. It’s going to be a great clash.”

“Making the fourth defense of my title is a great achievement for me. I never imagined it, but here we are. And we’re looking forward to big challenges because big fights are coming. Perhaps unifications. Maybe Naoya Inoue? Definitely something big.”