ANGELO Leo is the new IBF featherweight champion after dethroning Luis Alberto Lopez with a crunching 10th-round knockout.
Mexican Lopez once again travelled into an opponent’s backyard, but on this occasion, he was snared into an unexpected trap and blasted away by a left hook.
At the time of the stoppage, the judges all recorded scores of 86-85, with one in Lopez’s favour and two in Leo. The new champion improves to 25-1 (12), while Lopez drops to 30-3 (17).
Lopez dropped heavily to the canvas as the finishing blow landed. Leo’s accuracy and work rate were impressive throughout the fight. When Lopez pawed out a lazy left hand, Leo returned an epic left hook that caught the champ flush and sent him on his back, head bouncing off the ring.
It was a devastating finish for the loser, who had griped with Shakur Stevenson beforehand. That payday has now gone up in smoke.
