Luis Alberto Lopez is expected to defend his 126-pound belt against Michael Conlan in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Conlan’s hometown.
LUIS ALBERTO LOPEZ (27-2, 15 KOS)
WITH. MICHAEL CONLAN (18-1, 9 KOS)
- When: Saturday, May 27
- Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event follows)
- Where: SSE Arena, Belfast, Ireland
- television/stream: ESPN+ (BT Sport 1 in the UK)
- Assignment: Featherweight (limited to 126 pounds)
- threatened: No main title
- Pound-for-pound ratings: Do not have
- the odds: Even (average of multiple stores)
- Also on the card: Anthony Cacace versus Damian Wrzesinski, junior lightweight; Nick Ball vs. Ludumo Lamati, featherweight; Pierce O’Leary vs Alin Florin Ciorceri, junior weight class
- Guess: López SD
- Background: Lopez is on the verge of a breakout win, despite a late Josh Warrington rally to win majority decision and his first major title last December in the UK. The 29-year-old Mexican boxer has won 10 straight fights (seven by knockout) since he was knocked down by Ruben Villa in May 2019. Conlan, an Irish boxer, 31, has come back. after a knockout loss to Leigh Wood last March by overtaking Miguel Marriaga in August and blocking Karim Guerfi in the first round in December. 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and Olympic runner up Assembly 2016 is a polished boxer but has yet to establish himself as a top-tier champion.
