Luis Alberto Lopez Gears Up for IBF Featherweight World Title Defense in High-Stakes Clash with Reiya Abe

 

Luis Alberto Lopez

Mexicali's boxing pride, Luis Alberto "Venado" Lopez, is ready to wage a war of attrition in his third world title defense. Set to defend his IBF featherweight world title against Japanese contender Reiya Abe on Saturday, March 2, at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York, Lopez is determined to showcase his fighting spirit once again.


The highly anticipated Lopez-Abe bout will feature as the co-main event alongside the vacant WBA featherweight world championship showdown between Uzbek sensation Otabek Kholmatov and American standout Raymond Ford. Presented by Top Rank, tickets for this thrilling night of boxing are currently on sale, available at the Turning Stone Resort Casino Box Office, via phone at 800.771.7711, or online at Ticketmaster.com.


The action-packed card, headlined by Kholmatov-Ford & Lopez-Abe, will be exclusively streamed live in the U.S. on ESPN+.


Lopez (29-2, 16 KOs) seized the IBF title by triumphing over Josh Warrington in Leeds, England, in December 2022. Defending his crown, he secured a fifth-round TKO against Michael Conlan in Belfast and clinched a hard-earned unanimous decision over Joet Gonzalez last September. Now, the 30-year-old aims to conquer his mandatory challenger, Abe (25-3-1, 10 KOs), who earned his title shot with a points win over former two-division world champion Kiko Martinez.


Sharing insights after a recent training session in Santa Fe Springs, California, Lopez expressed his determination and strategic preparations:


“I decided to do my camp here in Los Angeles to be closer to my family. I also appreciate the altitude experience in the mountains here, providing excellent spots for training. I feel great out here."


“To counter Reiya Abe's style, we’ve sparred with tall southpaws who move a lot. Cutting off the ring effectively is crucial, and we're gearing up for his elusive fighting style."


“He's a slippery fighter who prefers not to brawl, making it challenging to catch him early on. However, we've enlisted top-notch sparring partners, evident from the black eye one left me. I'm confident in our preparation, and I expect to win this fight by knockout.”


“My long-term goal is to unify the titles and become a champion in multiple divisions. I welcome any challenges that come my way. I want to establish myself as a great champion quickly and eventually move up to 130 pounds.”


“The fans know I bring everything into the ring. I always aim for a knockout victory and a real fight. It might be complicated in the early rounds, but everyone knows that when I step into the ring, it's always a war.”

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