Luis Alberto Lopez
Born
Luis Alberto Lopez Vargas

(1993-08-21) 21 August 1993 (age 30)
Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Other namesEl Venado ("The Deer")
Statistics
Weight(s)Featherweight
Height5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Reach66+1⁄2 in (169 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record[1]
Total fights32
Wins30
Wins by KO17
Losses2

Luis Alberto Lopez Vargas (born 21 August 1993) is a Mexican professional boxer. He has held the IBF featherweight title since 2022.

Professional career

Early career

Lopez made his professional debut against Francisco Javier Pacheco on 6 November 2015. He won the fight by split decision. Vargas amassed a 16–1 record during the next three years, winning half of those fights by way of stoppage. At the end of this run, Lopez-Vargas was booked to face Ray Ximenez for the vacant WBO International featherweight title on 28 February 2019. He his United States debut by technical decision, with scores of 80–72, 78–74 and 77–75. The fight was stopped after eight rounds, due to a cut above Ximenez's left eye, which was caused by an accidental clash of heads.[2] Lopez-Vargas faced Ruben Villa on 10 May 2019, in the main event of the ShoBox: The New Generation, once again fighting for the vacant WBO International featherweight title.[3] Villa handed Lopez-Vargas his second professional loss, winning the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 97–93, 98–92 and 96–94.[4]

After successfully bouncing back against two journeymen opponents, Israel Rojas on 30 August 2019 and Marco Antonio Monteros on 21 September 2019, Lopez was booked to face the undefeated Cristian Baez. Lopez-Vargas won the fight by a fifth-round technical knockout. Lopez next faced Andy Vences on 7 July 2020, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Despite coming into the fight as an underdog,[5] he won the fight by an upset split decision. The judges scored the fight 96–94 in his favor, while the third judge awarded the same scorecard to Vences.[6] In his second fight of 2021, Lopez-Vargas faced the undefeated Gabriel Flores Jr. on 10 September 2021, and once again entered the fight in the role of an underdog.[7] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring the fight 100–90 for Lopez-Vargas, while the third judge scored it 98–92 for him.[8]

Following these two upset victories, Lopez was booked to face the undefeated Isaac Lowe in an IBF featherweight title eliminator bout. The fight took place at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on 3 December 2021, and was broadcast by ESPN+ and IFL TV.[9] Lopez-Vargas won the fight by a seventh-round technical knockout. Lowe was floored with a body strike in the final minute of the seventh round, leaving him unable to beat the ten count. Lopez-Vargas knocked his opponent down twice prior to the stoppage, once in the first and once in the second round.[10] Twenty days later, on 23 December 2021, Lopez-Vargas re-signed with Top Rank.[11]

IBF featherweight champion

Lopez vs. Warrington

Lopez challenged the reigning IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington on 10 December 2022, at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England.[12] He won the fight by majority decision. Judges Mike Fitzgerald and Adam Height scored the fight 115–113 in favor of Lopez, while judge Howard Foster scored it an even 114–114 draw. Lopez complained of what he perceived to be dirty tactics from Warrington in the post-fight interview, stating: "He even hit me on my legs. I don’t think the referee did his job in protecting the fighters tonight".[13] Aside from suffering a cut above his left eye due to a headbutt, it was furthermore revealed after the fight that Lopez had fractured his left thumb during the bout.[14]

Lopez vs. Conlan, Gonzalez

Lopez was booked to make his maiden title defense against the one-time WBA (Regular) featherweight title challenger Michael Conlan on 27 May 2023, at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.[15] He won the fight by a fifth-round knockout. Lopez floored his opponent with a right uppercut, which prompted Conlan's corner to immediately throw in the towel, as they judged their fighter to have take too much damage.[16]

Lopez was booked to make a voluntary title defense of his IBF championship against the two-time WBO featherweight title challenger Joet Gonzalez on September 15, 2023, at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.[17] He retained the title by unanimous decision, with scores of 118–110, 117–111 and 116–112.[18]

Lopez vs. Abe

Lopez was scheduled to make the third defense of his IBF featherweight title against Reiya Abe on March 2, 2024 in Verona, New York.[19] He won the fight by TKO in the eighth round.[20]

Professional boxing record

32 fights 30 wins 2 losses
By knockout 17 0
By decision 13 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
32 Win 30–2 Reiya Abe TKO 8 (12), 0:39 2 Mar 2024 Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, U.S. Retained IBF featherweight title
31 Win 29–2 Joet Gonzalez UD 12 15 Sep 2023 American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. Retained IBF featherweight title
30 Win 28–2 Michael Conlan TKO 5 (12), 1:14 27 May 2023 SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland Retained IBF featherweight title
29 Win 27–2 Josh Warrington MD 12 10 Dec 2022 First Direct Arena, Leeds, England Won IBF featherweight title
28 Win 26–2 Yeison Vargas KO 2 (8), 1:00 20 Aug 2022 Pechanga Arena, San Diego, California, U.S.
27 Win 25–2 Raul Chirino KO 4 (8), 1:08 9 Apr 2022 The Hangar, Costa Mesa, California, U.S.
26 Win 24–2 Isaac Lowe KO 7 (12), 2:38 3 Dec 2021 York Hall, Bethnal Green, England
25 Win 23–2 Gabriel Flores Jr. UD 10 10 Sep 2021 Casino Del Sol, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
24 Win 22–2 Mauro Loreto KO 1 (8), 0:58 18 Mar 2021 Preparatoria Maestros Federales, Mexicali, Mexico
23 Win 21–2 Andy Vences SD 10 7 Jul 2020 MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
22 Win 20–2 Cristian Baez TKO 5 (10), 1:28 14 Dec 2019 Auditorio del Estado, Mexicali, Mexico
21 Win 19–2 Marco Antonio Monteros TKO 1 (6), 1:19 21 Sep 2019 Auditorio del Estado, Mexicali, Mexico
20 Win 18–2 Israel Rojas TKO 1 (8), 2:30 30 Aug 2019 Parque Vicente Guerrero, Mexicali, Mexico
19 Loss 17–2 Ruben Villa UD 10 10 May 2019 Omega Products International, Corona, California, U.S. For vacant WBO International featherweight title
18 Win 17–1 Ray Ximenez TD 8 (10) 28 Feb 2019 Yakama Legends Casino, Toppenish, Washington, U.S. Won vacant WBO International featherweight title
17 Win 16–1 Yahir Patino TKO 5 (6), 2:23 15 Dec 2018 Gimnasio Municipal, San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico
16 Win 15–1 Gregorio Torres UD 6 9 Nov 2018 Parque Vicente Guerrero, Mexicali, Mexico
15 Win 14–1 Luis Cueto Hernandez TKO 2 (6), 2:37 29 Sep 2018 San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico
14 Win 13–1 Marco Antonio Garcia Toledo TKO 3 (6), 1:02 31 Aug 2018 Parque Vicente Guerrero, Mexicali, Mexico
13 Loss 12–1 Abraham Montoya SD 10 24 Mar 2018 Terraza del Sol del Parque Vicente Guerrero, Mexicali, Mexico Lost Mexican Pacific Coast super featherweight title
12 Win 12–0 Andres Tapia PTS 8 13 Jan 2018 Gimnasio de Mexicali, Mexicali, Mexico
11 Win 11–0 Cristian Bielma UD 10 28 Oct 2017 Gimnasio de Mexicali, Mexicali, Mexico Won vacant Mexican Pacific Coast super featherweight title
10 Win 10–0 Marcelino Hernandez KO 3 (8), 1:24 5 Aug 2017 Auditorio Municipal, Morelia, Mexico
9 Win 9–0 Alfredo Mejia Vargas TKO 6 (10) 3 Mar 2017 Gimnasio de Mexicali, Mexicali, Mexico
8 Win 8–0 Zeus Valenzuela UD 8 1 Jan 2017 Gimnasio de Mexicali, Mexicali, Mexico
7 Win 7–0 Jose Pech TKO 1 (4), 2:02 19 Nov 2016 Salon de Eventos del Hotel Posada del Sol, San Felipe, Mexico
6 Win 6–0 Juan Antonio Rivera KO 5 (6), 1:59 22 Oct 2016 Gimnasio de Mexicali, Mexicali, Mexico
5 Win 5–0 Hector Cansdales TKO 4 (6), 0:48 10 Sep 2016 Gimnasio de Mexicali, Mexicali, Mexico
4 Win 4–0 Jovanni Saldana UD 4 29 Apr 2016 Gimnasio de Mexicali, Mexicali, Mexico
3 Win 3–0 Erik Adrian Leyva Ramos UD 4 18 Mar 2016 Gimnasio de Mexicali, Mexicali, Mexico
2 Win 2–0 Erick Torres Escobedo UD 4 29 Jan 2016 Gimnasio de Mexicali, Mexicali, Mexico
1 Win 1–0 Francisco Pacheco SD 4 6 Nov 2015 Gimnasio de Mexicali, Mexicali, Mexico

See also

References

  1. ^ "Boxing record for Luis Alberto Lopez". BoxRec.
  2. ^ Press Release (7 March 2019). "Luis Lopez Outboxes Ray Ximenez Over 8 Rounds". 3kingsboxing.com. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  3. ^ boxingsocialist. "RUBEN VILLA TO FACE ONCE-BEATEN LUIS ALBERTO LOPEZ IN MAIN EVENT OF SHOBOX MAY 10". boxingandbasketball.com. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  4. ^ Showtime Boxing (10 May 2019). "RESULTS: Ruben Villa Decisions Luis Alberto Lopez on ShoBox". boxing247.com. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  5. ^ Fulcrum (4 July 2020). "Andy Vences versus Luis Alberto Lopez Vargas breakdown". boxingfulcrum.com. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  6. ^ Simpson, Bakari (7 July 2020). "Luis Lopez Decisions, Upsets Andy Vences". 3kingsboxing.com. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  7. ^ Dell'Amore, Flavio (9 September 2021). "A Tucson domani molta attenzione per Flores Jr vs Luis Lopez". boxeringweb.net. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  8. ^ Simpson, Bakari (10 September 2021). "UPSET ALERT: Luis Lopez Vargas Shocks Gabriel Flores Jr". 3kingsboxing.com. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  9. ^ Salazar, Francisco (2 December 2021). "Luis Alberto Lopez to face Isaac Lowe in IBF eliminator tonight". ringtv.com. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  10. ^ Mason, Paul (4 December 2021). "Isaac Lowe vs Luis Alberto Lopez - Results & Post-Fight Report". proboxing-fans.com. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  11. ^ Salazar, Francisco (23 December 2021). "Luis Alberto Lopez re-signs with Top Rank, eyes world title shot in 2022". ringtv.com. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  12. ^ Christ, Scott (24 September 2022). "Josh Warrington vs Luis Alberto Lopez official for Dec. 10 in Leeds". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  13. ^ Fischer, Doug (10 December 2022). "Luis Alberto Lopez Edges Josh Warrington In Hard-Fought Maj. Decision, Wins IBF Featherweight Title". ringtv.com. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  14. ^ Boxingscene Staff (22 December 2022). "Lopez Thought He Would Get Robbed When First Card Was Revealed in Warrington Fight". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  15. ^ Boxingscene Staff (20 March 2023). "Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Michael Conlan Set Down For May 27 In Belfast". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  16. ^ Idec, Keith (27 May 2023). "Luis Alberto Lopez Blasts Out Michael Conlan With Brutal One-Punch KO in Fifth". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  17. ^ Stumberg, Patrick L. (19 July 2023). "Luis Alberto Lopez vs Joet Gonzalez set for September 15th in Corpus Christi". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  18. ^ "Luis Alberto Lopez resists Joet Gonzalez onslaught to defend IBF featherweight world title". Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  19. ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (23 February 2024). "Luis Alberto Lopez expects KO win against Reiya Abe, looks to unify at 126 & move up". FIGHTMAG.
  20. ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (3 March 2024). "Luis Alberto Lopez stops Reiya Abe in eighth round to retain title". FIGHTMAG.

External links

Sporting positions World boxing titles Preceded byJosh Warrington IBF featherweight champion 10 December 2022 – present Incumbent
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