In a colossal upset, Angelo Leo became a two-weight world champion by dethroning IBF featherweight titleholder Venado Lopez via spectacular 10th-round knockout at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Saturday. The official time was 1:06.
WATCH: Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Angelo Leo, exclusively on ESPN+
Leo (24-1, 12 KOs) closed the show with a massive left hook to the jaw that knocked the champ out cold and caused his head to crash violently off the canvas. It was a stunning victory on home turf, and Leo has kicked open the door to some huge fights down the road.
“This means the world to me, fighting back in my hometown, and what better way to do it than with a world title shot and a knockout,” the new champion said during his post-fight interview with ESPN.
“The left hook, we’ve been practicing it, not in the gym, but in my room in front of the mirror. I just kept practicing that left hook and it paid off in the 10th round. We knew he was a big puncher, but I was able to punch between his shots and catch him.”
It looked like a hard night’s work for Venado from the opening bell. A big right-hand counter stunned him and then Leo proved that he could score with a combination attack when he let his hands go in a prolonged burst in the second.
Lopez came to life in the third with a pair of right uppercuts, but his power had little effect on the challenger who bided his time before letting go with the counters. It was still early, but the challenger was having a field day.
Leo was outboxing Lopez at range, and, perhaps more surprisingly, he could match him for strength up close. The champ wore an awkward smile during some of these physical skirmishes, but he was masking concern.
The odd single shot landed clean from Venado, but Leo ate them up and got back to the game plan.
In round seven, Leo landed a combination punctuated by a body shot that prompted the champion to complain that he’d been hit low. The referee ignored his protests and so did Leo, who continued to pound him backwards.
What was noticeable in this fight was that Leo was the smoother and more effective boxer. Lopez was crude by comparison, and he couldn’t match the challenger for skill. Time after time, his winging punches were countered by shorter and more accurate blows that were easy to score.
The champ enjoyed a good eighth, but it was nothing resembling a breakthrough and Lopez always had an answer. It was the same in the ninth when the Mexican fighter went to the body, only to be rattled by a combination upstairs.
The finish - a catch-and-shoot left hook - was a Knockout of the Year contender.
The 30-year-old Leo has always been an excellent talent. In 2020, he won the WBO super bantamweight title by defeating Tramaine Williams and his only setback came against slick technician Stephen Fulton the following year.
Many insiders felt that an upset was possible tonight and so it proved.
“I want all the champions, whether it be Rafael Espinoza (WBO champ) in a unification fight or Naoya Inoue,” Leo responded when asked who he wanted next.
Lopez falls to 30-3 (17 KOs).
- Angelo Leo def. Venado Lopez (c) via KO 10 (1:16) for the IBF featherweight title
- Lindolfo Delgado def. Bryan Flores via SD 10 (95-93, 96-92, 92-96)); Super Flyweights
- Arnold Khegai def. Belmar Preciado via TKO 8; Featherweights
- Vito Mielnicki Jr. def. Laslo Toth via TKO 2; Super Welterweights
- Matthew Griego def. Gilberto Mendoza via UD 8 (80-72, 80-72, 80-72); Flyweight
- Alan Garcia def. Maickol Lopez Villagrana via TKO 3; Lightweights
- Albert Gonzalez def. Damian Alcala via TKO 3; Featherweights
- Steven Navarro def. Israel Camacho via KO 1; Super Flyweights