Luis Alberto Lopez claims a shot at WBO champion Rafael Espinoza is on the table
Former IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez claimed this past Saturday that he’d signed an offer from Top Rank to face reigning WBO titlist Rafael Espinoza, challenging “Divino” to do the same.
Bob Arum and co. made a concerted effort to take over the division not too long ago, but saw their stranglehold steadily slip through their fingers. Otabek Kholmatov missed out on the WBA belt by seven seconds in a showdown with Raymond Ford and spent the next year on the sidelines thanks to the knee injury he suffered in the process, Lopez (31-3, 18 KO) lost his belt via crushing knockout at the hands of Angelo Leo, and Espinoza (27-0, 23 KO) bashed his way past Robeisy Ramirez to establish himself as arguably the top dog at 126.
If both men are firing on all cylinders, this has Fight of the Year potential, but that’s a massive “if.” Beyond the physical concerns for Lopez, who suffered a brain bleed in defeat, his style demands a belief in his own invincibility that may be permanently shattered. Espinoza’s size, power, and volume let him eat through his opponents’ wills with alarming speed; any chinks in Lopez’s armor that can be pried open will be.
Category: General Sports
