Angelo Leo KOs Luis Alberto Lopez to win featherweight title

Angelo Leo knocked out Luis Alberto Lopez with a single punch in spectacular fashion in round 10 to cause a surprise and win the IBF featherweight title on Saturday in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Leo (25-1, 12 KOs) of Albuquerque landed a left hook that dropped Lopez flat on his back for the count of 10 at 1:16 of the round to become a two-division champion. The clean left hand sent Lopez to the mat as the back of his head bounced off the canvas in a knockout of the year contender.

Lopez (30-3, 17 KOs) was taken to UNM Hospital for observation following the knockout loss, a Top Rank spokesperson told ESPN. Leo was a +350 underdog, according to ESPN BET.

“When I was fighting in my hometown, I always longed for this moment,” said Leo, 30. “What could be better than a world title fight and a knockout? That left hook that we practiced all camp.”

Lopez led 86-85 on one card entering Round 10, while Leo led by the same score on the other two cards in an action-packed fight. Leo entered the bout unranked by ESPN, while Lopez was ranked No. 1 at 126 pounds.

Mexican Lopez began his fourth title defense on a 13-fight winning streak. The 30-year-old was coming off an eighth-round TKO victory over Reiya Abe in March.

Leo landed the cleaner, harder punches throughout the match as he surrounded the champion. Lopez landed plenty of clean right uppercuts and loaded up on punches as he boxed in his signature relaxed style with his hands at his sides.

Leo’s only previous defeat came in January 2021, a decision loss to Stephen Fulton in a 122-pound title fight. Leo rebounded with five straight victories, most recently an April decision win over Eduardo Baez. Leo topped Tramaine Williams in 2020 to win a vacant 122-pound title.