Angelo Leo Stops Venado Lopez with KO Of The Year

Is there anything better in boxing than a wow-did-you-see-that! knockout victory?

Angelo Leo might argue becoming a two-division world champion in front of your hometown fans as an underdog would be the sprinkles and cherry on top.

Leo of Albuquerque, New Mexico (25-2, 12 KOs) drilled Luis Alberto “Venado” Lopez of Mexico (30-3, 17 KOs) with a single powerhouse left hook at 1:16 of the tenth round to drop him hard on the canvas, to the shock and delight of his fans at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Leo is the new IBF World Featherweight champion.

Even a Pulitzer Prize-winning sportswriter (which I am not) couldn’t fully convey the shock value of this punch. See it for yourself, and let’s discuss it after.

Angelo Leo Enjoys A Happy Homecoming

It was nine years since Leo had last fought at home on August 15, 2015. “I always yearned for this moment. What better way to do it with a world title shot and with a knockout?” said Leo. He thanked ProBox for getting him ready, and Top Rank and ESPN “for the platform to show my skills.”

Angelo Leo said his Pro Box appearances helped him get ready for his title fight. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

Leo said he’d practiced the left hook relentlessly in the gym, in front of a mirror. “We’ve been practicing in camp for four, five months. Not in the gym, but in my room in front of the mirror. I just kept throwing that left hook. And it paid off.”

Leo couldn’t have landed a cleaner, more effective punch. Broadcast team Joe Tessitore and world champion Chris Algieri could only let out a yell of surprise and approval. Lopez had no idea where he was, or how he got there.

Up to this point, Lopez had been the underdog, vanquishing champions one after another. This time, Leo took up the role against the favorite.

Close Fight On The Cards Until The KO

Venado Lopez was in the fight and the scorecards were close until the knockout landed. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

The fight was full of back-and-forth action, with razor-close scores after nine rounds. Leo was ahead 86-85 on two scorecards. Lopez was up 86-85 on one.

Moving and throwing the right hand was effective for Leo, and he boxed well against the aggressive, unconventional Lopez who came forward after Leo with confidence. Often, his hands were down. Leo took advantage wherever he could of his counterpunching opportunities, especially when he could catch Lopez off balance.

None of the power shots seemed to seriously hurt the Mexican champion, but it only takes one, and that one left Lopez flat on his back, with no idea where he was.

The former WBO junior featherweight world champion rejoins Albuquerque natives Johnny Tapia and Danny Romero in earning world titles in two weight classes.

Leo said he didn’t possess the strength and conditioning he did on Saturday when he first fought for a title. He credited his father, Miguel, with getting him ready.

“Big thanks to my dad. He’s the one who helped me through this camp. He’s the one who pushed me. He was hard on me, but he got me to this point. He made sure my defense was on point,” said Leo.

Leo called out all the champions and said he was eager for a unification fight.

Lindolfo Delgado Goes to War and Wins

Mexican Olympian Lindolfo Delgado got a stiff test from Bryan Flores. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

Lindolfo Delgado of Mexico (21-0, 15 KOs) also faced a tough battle, coming out the winner in a ten-round split decision against Bryan Flores / (26-1-1, 15 KOs) in their junior welterweight co-main event. Scores were 96-92 and 95-93 for Delgado and 96-92 for Flores.

Delgado dropped Flores with a counter right hand in the third round. Flores survived it, and began to land right hands of his own, pushing Delgado to the ropes in the middle rounds.

Flores suffered a point deduction for a low blow in the seventh round. The pair traded left hooks and short right hands at close range from there until the final bell.

“The victory was not easy, but I enjoyed it a lot,” said Delgado, but said he had to stay focused to win. “He came with a strong will to win, and aside from that, he throws his punches with force. But we managed to get the victory.”

Albuquerque’s Griego Stays Undefeated

Matthew Griego kept his record perfect with a win over Gilberto Mendoza. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

Albuquerque native Matthew Griego (15-0, 10 KOs) remained undefeated with a victory over late replacement opponent Gilberto Mendoza of Modesto, California (23-19-4, 11 KOs), winning every round on every scorecard in the eight-round fight.

Mielnicki Top Rank Debut Is A DQ

Vito Mielnicki Jr. scored an early knockdown but eventually won his fight by disqualification of his opponent. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki Jr. Of New Jersey (19-1, 12 KOs) won in his debut with Top Rank over veteran Laszlo Toth of Hungary (32-9-2, 20 KOs) by unusual means. Milenicki won by disqualification in the second round after Toth’s corner entered the ring after he knocked down Toth with a left hook.

“I thought it was a knockout, not a DQ,” said Mielnicki, who then called out his stablemate Xander Zayas for a regional rivalry fight, saying he’d love it.