Angelo Leo’s dramatic KO win puts featherweight elite on notice
Credit to Author: ESPN| Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 09:50:10 EST
Angelo Leo needs one punch to flatten Venado Lopez and claim the IBF belt for the knockout of the year candidate. (1:46)
Angelo Leo is ready for the spotlight.
Leo, previously unranked in our ESPN featherweight rankings, delivered a knockout-of-the-year highlight versus Luis Alberto Lopez to become the new IBF featherweight champion this past Saturday. Lopez was ranked No. 1 in ESPN’s 126-pound rankings.
“Fighting back in my hometown, I always yearned for this moment,” said Leo, 30, after the fight. “What better way to do it than with a world title shot and a knockout. That left hook we’ve been practicing all camp.”
As a result, Leo has now catapulted himself to No. 5, while Lopez falls to No. 6.
ESPN’s divisional boxing rankings highlight the best in the sport in every weight class. They will change often, based on recent results and performances. Rankings are based on what a fighter has accomplished in the weight division in which he is ranked. Fighters who have announced they are moving to a different weight class will be ranked in that new division, if warranted, only once they fight in that weight class. Fighters who currently own titles in two divisions can be ranked in both.
Fighters who haven’t competed in the past 12 months — and don’t have a fight scheduled — will be dropped from the rankings until they fight again. Any fighter who tests positive for a performance-enhancing substance will also be removed. That boxer will be eligible to re-enter the rankings after his next bout.
Rankings are determined by Mike Coppinger, Nick Parkinson, Damian Delgado Averhoff and Andres Ferrari. They are updated weekly on Tuesdays.
For a list of the current champions in all weight classes, click here. For ESPN women’s divisional rankings, click here.
Heavyweight – Cruiserweight – Light heavyweight – Super middleweight – Middleweight – Junior middleweight – Welterweight – Junior welterweight – Lightweight – Junior lightweight – Featherweight – Junior featherweight – Bantamweight – Junior bantamweight – Flyweight – Junior flyweight – Strawweight
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Last: W (SD12) Tyson Fury, May 18 (Watch this fight on ESPN+ PPV)
Next: Dec. 21 vs. Tyson Fury
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Next: Dec. 21 vs. Oleksandr Usyk
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Last: W (TKO3) Ilunga Makabu, Nov. 4
Next: TBD
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Record: 22-2, 31 KOs
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Record: 20-1, 19 KOs
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Next: TBA
Editor’s note: Badou Jack and Yuniel Dorticos have been removed for inactivity.
Artur Beterbiev demolishes Callum Smith in Round 7 of their bout to retain his titles in the main event of Top Rank Boxing.
Record: 23-0, 12 KOs
Last: W (TKO6) Malik Zinad, June 1
Next: Oct. 12 vs. Artur Beterbiev
Record: 20-0, 20 KOs
Last: W (TKO7) Callum Smith, Jan. 13
Next: Oct. 12 vs. Dmitry Bivol
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Last: W (UD12) Oleksandr Gvozdyk, June 15
Next: TBA
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Next: Sept. 21 vs. Willy Hutchinson
Record: 25-3, 24 KOs
Last: W (TKO3) Marko Nikolic, Feb. 10
Next: TBA
Record: 29-2, 21 KOs
Last: L (TKO7) Artur Beterbiev, Jan. 13
Next: TBA
Record: 20-2, 16 KOs
Last: L (UD12) David Benavidez, June 15
Next: TBA
Record: 18-1, 13 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Craig Richards, June 1
Next: Sept. 21 vs. Joshua Buatsi
Record: 24-2, 16 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Liam Cameron, June 21
Next: TBA
Record: 61-2-2, 39 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Jaime Munguia, May 4
Next: Sept. 14 vs. Edgar Berlanga
Record: 27-0, 23 KOs
Last: W (KO1) Mark Heffron, May 25
Next: Aug. 17 vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko
Record: 43-1, 34 KOs
Last: L (UD12) Canelo Alvarez, May 4
Next: TBA
Record: 21-0, 17 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Shawn McCalman, April 6
Next: TBA
Record: 22-0, 17 KOs
Last: W (KO6) Padraig McCrory, Feb. 24
Next: Sept. 14 vs. Canelo Alvarez
Record: 32-1, 19 KOs
Last: L (TKO6) David Benavidez, Nov. 25
Next: TBA
Record: 14-1, 10 KOs
Last: W (TD8) Pierre Dibombe, April 20
Next: TBA
Record: 32-0-1, 23 KOs
Last: Draw (SD10) Shakeel Phinn, May 2
Next: TBA
Record: 23-0, 20 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Durval Elias Palacio, June 13
Next: TBA
Record: 11-0, 10 KOs
Last: W (KO1) Evgeny Shvedenko, June 6
Next: Sena Agbeko
Editor’s note: David Benavidez moved up to light heavyweight. Caleb Plant has been removed for inactivity.
Janibek Alimkhanuly unifies two middleweight titles with a sixth-round stoppage of Vincenzo Gualtieri.
Record: 15-0, 10 KOs
Last: W (TKO6) Vincenzo Gualtieri, Oct. 14 (Watch this fight on ESPN+)
Next: TBA
Record: 24-1, 18 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Terrell Gausha, June 15
Next: TBA
Record: 33-0, 22 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Jose Benavidez Jr., Nov. 25
Next: TBA
Record: 32-3, 24 KOs
Last: W (TKO10) Liam Smith, Sept. 2 (Watch this fight on ESPN+)
Next: TBA
Record: 20-0, 16 KOs
Last: W (TKO11) Austin Williams, June 1
Next: Sept. 21 vs. Tyler Denny
Record: 30-3-3, 18 KOs
Last: W (KO2) Michael Zerafa, March 30
Next: Sept. 14 vs. Danny Garcia
Record: 20-0, 11 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Julio Alamos, Nov. 17
Next: TBA
Record: 19-3-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Elijah Garcia, June 15
Next: TBA
Record: 33-4-1, 20 KOs
Last: L (TKO10) Chris Eubank Jr., Sept. 2 (Watch this fight on ESPN+)
Next: Sept. 21 vs. Josh Kelly
Record: 19-1-1, 11 KOs
Last: W (TKO12) Nathan Heaney, July 20 20
Next: TBA
Editor’s note: Gennadiy Golovkin has been removed for inactivity.
Record: 41-0, 31 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Israil Madrimov, Aug. 3
Next: TBA
Record: 21-1-1, 13 KOs
Last: W (SD12) Tim Tszyu, March 30
Next: TBA vs. Errol Spence Jr.
Record: 10-1-1, 7 KOs
Last: L (UD12) Terence Crawford, Aug. 3
Next: TBA
Record: 24-1, 17 KOs
Last: L (SD12) Sebastian Fundora, March 30
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Record: 22-0, 21 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Serhii Bohachuk, Aug. 10
Next: TBD
Record: 26-2, 18 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Jesus Ramos Jr., Sept. 30
Next: TBA
Record: 24-2, 23 KOs
Last: L (UD12) Vergil Ortiz Jr., Aug. 10
Next: TBD
Record: 22-0, 16 KOs
Last: W (KO11) Jack Culcay, April 6
Next: TBA
Record: 21-1, 17 KOs
Last: W (TKO9) Johan Gonzalez, May 4
Next: TBA
Record: 19-0, 12 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Patrick Teixeira, June 8
Next: Sept. 27 vs. Damian Sosa
Editor’s note: Jermell Charlo has been removed for inactivity in the division. Brian Castano have been removed for inactivity.
Record: 32-0, 29 KOs
Last: W (TKO5) David Avanesyan, July 13
Next: TBA
Record: 28-1, 22 KOs
Last: L (TKO10) Terence Crawford, July 29
Next: TBA vs. Sebastian Fundora
Record: 15-0, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Gabriel Maestre, May 4
Next: TBA
Record: 29-2, 18 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Fabian Maidana, May 4
Next: TBA
Record: 23-0, 14 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Peter Dobson, Feb. 3
Next: TBA
Record: 26-0, 20 KOs
Last: W (KO10) Giovani Santillan, May 18
Next: TBA
Record: 17-0, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Isaias Lucero, Nov. 4
Next: TBA
Record: 16-0, 9 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Miguel Parra, July 31
Next: TBA
Record: 25-2, 16 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Santiago Dominguez, July 19
Next: TBA
Record: 17-1-1, 16 KOs
Last: W (TKO5) Joe Noynay, May 16
Next: Sept. 3 vs. Qamil Balla
Editor’s note: Cody Crowley has been removed for inactivity.
Teofimo Lopez wins via unanimous decision over Steve Claggett in Miami.
Record: 21-1, 13 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Steve Claggett, June 29
Next: TBA
Record: 31-0-1, 15 KOs
Last: No contest (NC12) Ryan Garcia, April 20
Next: TBA
Record: 29-1, 13 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Josh Taylor, May 25
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Regis Prograis
Record: 25-0, 15 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Subriel Matias, June 15
Next: TBA
Record: 14-2, 9 KOs
Last: W (SD12) Gary Antuanne Russell, June 15
Next: TBA
Record: 26-3-1, 18 KOs
Last: L (SD12)Jose Valenzuela, Aug. 3
Next: Aug. 3 vs. Jose Valenzuela
Record: 29-1, 18 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Rances Barthelemy, April 27
Next: TBA
Record: 20-2, 20 KOs
Last: L (UD12) Liam Paro, June 15
Next: TBA
Record: 29-2, 24 KOs
Last: L (UD12) Devin Haney, Dec. 9
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Jack Catterall
Record: 19-2, 13 KOs
Last: L (UD12) Jack Catterall, May 25
Next: TBA
Editor’s note: Ryan Garcia has been removed for testing positive ahead of his win over Devin Haney.
Vasiliy Lomachenko throws an onslaught of punches to the body of George Kambosos Jr. that forces the referee to stop the fight in the 11th round.
Record: 30-0, 28 KOs
Last: W (KO8) Frank Martin, June 15
Next: TBA
Record: 18-3, 12 KOs
Last: W (TKO11) George Kambosos Jr., May 11
Next: TBA
Record: 31-0, 27 KOs
Last: W (KO3) Giovanni Cabrera, July 6
Next: TBA
Record: 22-0, 10 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Artem Harutyunyan, July 6
Next: TBA
Record: 19-0, 9 KOs
Last: W (SD12) Emanuel Navarrete, May 18
Next: TBA
Record: 11-0, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Miguel Madueno, July 6
Next: TBA
Record: 18-1, 12 KOs
Last: L (KO8) Gervonta Davis, June 15
Next: TBA
Record: 21-0, 16 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Tevin Farmer, July 13
Next: TBA
Record: 21-3, 10 KOs
Last: L (TKO11) Vasiliy Lomachenko, May 11
Next: TBA
Record: 18-1, 11 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Roger Gutierrez, Feb. 10
Next: TBA
Emanuel Navarrete comes out victorious in a 12-round classic vs. Oscar Valdez in Arizona.
Record: 38-2-1, 31 KOs
Last: L (SD12) Denys Berinchyk, May 18
Next: TBA
Record: 22-1, 8 KOs
Last: W (TKO8) Joe Cordina, May 18
Next: Sept. 21 vs. Josh Warrington
Record: 19-2-1 1 NC, 9 KOs
Last: W (SD12) O’Shaquie Foster, July 6
Next: TBA
Record: 32-2, 24 KOs
Last: W (TKO7) Liam Wilson, March 29
Next: TBA
Record: 22-3, 12 KOs
Last: L (SD12) Robson Conceicao, July 6
Next: TBA
Record: 25-1-1 10 KOs
Last: W (TKO8) Feargal McCrory, June 28
Next: TBA
Record: 17-1, 9 KOs
Last: L (TKO7) Anthony Cacace, May 18
Next: TBA
Record: 26-1 26 KOs
Last: W (TKO2) Oscar Escandon, Oct. 28
Next: TBA
Record: 22-0, 12 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Abraham Nova, June 21
Next: TBA
Record: 26-2, 17 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Eduardo Ramirez, June 15
Next: TBA
Ray Ford gets a TKO on Otabek Kholmatov to win the vacant WBA featherweight title.
Record: 30-3, 17 KOs
Last: L (TKO10) Angelo Leo, Aug. 10
Next: TBD
Record: 28-3, 17 KOs
Last: W (TKO7) Josh Warrington, Oct. 7
Next: TBA
Record: 25-1-1, 19 KOs
Last: W (KO9) Jessie Magdaleno, May 4
Next: TBA
Record: 25-0, 21 KOs
Last: W (TKO4) Sergio Chirino, June 21
Next: TBA
Record: 20-0-1, 11 KOs
Last: W (SD12) Raymond Ford, June 1
Next: TBA
Record: 14-2, 9 KOs
Last: W (TKO7) Brandon Leon Benitez, June 29
Next: TBA
Record: 36-1, 22 KOs
Last: Split draw (SD12) Nick Ball, March 8
Next: TBA
Record: 15-1-1, 8 KOs
Last: L (SD12) Nick Ball, June 1
Next: TBA
Record: 12-0, 8 KOs
Last: W (TKO8) Brayan De Gracia, June 8
Next: Sept. 27 vs. Sulaiman Segawa
Record: 31-3-1, 8 KOs
Last: L (TKO7) Leigh Wood, Oct. 7
Next: Sept. 21 vs. Anthony Cacace
Editor’s note: Gary Russell Jr. has been removed for inactivity.
Naoya Inoue gets knocked down for the first time in his career, but he rallies for a big KO victory over Luis Nery.
Record: 27-0, 24 KOs
Last: W (KO6) Luis Nery, May 6 (Watch this fight on ESPN+)
Next: Sept. 3 vs. TJ Doheny
Record: 21-1, 8 KOs
Last: L (TKO8) Naoya Inoue, July 25
Next: TBA
Record: 38-4, 20 KOs
Last: W (KO1) Nattapong Jankaew, May 10
Next: TBA
Record: 12-1, 9 KOs
Last: W (TKO8) Kevin Gonzalez, Dec. 16
Next: TBA
Record: 35-2, 27 KOs
Last: L (TKO6) Naoya Inoue, May 6
Next: TBA
Record: 19-0, 8 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Thachtana Luangphon, July 10
Next: TBA
Record: 33-4-1, 22 KOs
Last: Draw (TD4) Yukinori Oguni, Oct. 12
Next: TBA
Record: 19-2, 16 KOs
Last: W (TKO4) Arthur Villanueva, March 29
Next: TBA
Record: 26-4, 20 KOs
Last: W (TKO4) Bryl Bayogos, May 6
Next: Sept. 3 vs. Naoya Inoue
Record: 16-0, 8 KOs
Last: W (TKO2) Erik Robles, March 16
Next: TBA
Editor’s note: Ra’eese Aleem has been removed for inactivity.
Junto Nakatani secures a first-round victory over Vincent Astrolabio with a well-placed body shot to retain his WBC bantamweight title.
Record: 27-0, 20 KOs
Last: W (KO1) Vincent Astrolabio, July 20
Next: TBA
Record: 20-1, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Sho Ishida, May 6
Next: TBA
Record: 9-0, 1 KO
Last: W (UD12) Emmanuel Rodriguez, May 4
Next: TBA
Record: 52-4, 42 KOs
Last: W (TKO10) Rober Barrera, July 12
Next: TBA
Record: 9-0, 8 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Jason Moloney, May 6
Next: TBA
Record: 28-4-5, 14 KOs
Last: L (TKO6) Junto Nakatani, Feb. 24
Next: TBA
Record: 22-3, 13 KOs
Last: L (UD12) Ryosuke Nishida, May 4
Next: TBA
Record: 33-4, 16 KOs
Last: L (UD12) Takuma Inoue, May 6
Next: TBA
Record: 27-3, 19 KOs
Last: L (UD12) Yoshiki Takei, May 6
Next: TBA
Record: 19-5, 14 KOs
Last: L (KO1) Junto Nakatani, July 20
Next: TBA
Editor’s note: Gary Antonio Russell and Kal Yafai have been remove for inactivity.
Record: 20-0, 13 KOs
Last: W (KO7) Juan Francisco Estrada, June 29
Next: TBA vs. Juan Francisco Estrada
Record: 17-0, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Kazuto Ioka, July 7
Next: TBA
Record: 44-4, 28 KOs
Last: L (KO7) Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, June 29
Next: TBA vs. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez
Record: 31-3-1, 16 KOs
Last: L (UD12) Fernando Martinez, July 7
Next: TBA
Record: 20-1, 11 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Christian Bacasegua Rangel, Feb. 24
Next: TBA
Record: 42-5-1, 28 KOs
Last: W (SD12) Pedro Guevara, Nov. 17
Next: TBA
Record: 17-0, 13 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Jun Blazo, Feb. 13
Next: TBA
Record: 42-4-1, 22 KOs
Last: W (SD12) Andrew Moloney, May 11
Next: TBA
Record: 16-1, 11 KOs
Last: W (UD12) John Ramirez, April 20
Next: TBA
Record: 37-6, 22 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Francisco Gomez, March 23
Next: TBA
Editor’s note: Srisaket Sor Rungvisai has moved to bantamweight.
Record: 21-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (TUD9) Adrian Curiel, June 29
Next: TBA
Record: 20-2-1, 11 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Taku Kuwahara, May 6
Next: TBA
Record: 17-0, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Felix Alvarado, Oct. 14
Next: TBA
Record: 7-1, 5 KOs
Last: W (KO3) Riku Kano, July 20
Next TBA
Record: 24-2, 17 KOs
Last: W (KO10) Angel Acosta, July 6
Next: TBA
Record: 18-0-1, 12 KOs
Last: No Contest (NC) Julio Cesar Martinez, March 30
Next: TBA
Record: 22-1, 15 KOs
Last: L (UD12) Seigo Yuri Akui, Jan. 23
Next TBA
Record: 7-0, 5 KOs
Last: W (TKO8) Agustin Gauto, April 6
Next: TBA
Record: 41-4, 35 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Francisco Gomez Sanchez, July 13
Next TBA
Record: 24-2-2, 15 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Quaise Khademi, Jan. 27
Next TBA
Editor’s note: Jesse Rodriguez has moved to junior banatmweights. Julio Cesar Martinez has been removed for testing positive ahead of his win over Angelino Cordova.
Record: 23-1, 14 KOs
Last: W (MD12) Carlos Canizales, Jan. 23
Next: TBA
Record: 28-3-1, 14 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Rene Santiago, March 2
Next: TBA
Record: 13-1, 10 KOs
Last: W (TKO10) Adrian Curiel, Feb. 16
Next: TBA
Record: 27-2-1, 19 KOs
Last: W (MD12) Ivan Garcia Balderas, July 19
Next: TBA
Record: 16-4, 15 KOs
Last: W (TKO4) Kevin Vivas, March 16
Next: TBA
Record: 10-0, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Gerardo Zapata, June 7
Next: TBA
Record: 22-3, 12 KOs
Last: W (SD12) Yudai Shigeoka, March 31
Next: TBA
Record: 7-0, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD12) Yudel Reyes, April 5
Next: TBA
Record: 17-4-1, 13 KOs
Last: W (TKO9) Ginjiro Shigeoka, July 28
Next: TBA
Record: 11-1, 9 KOs
Last: L (TKO9) Pedro Taduran, July 28
Next: TBA
Editor’s note: Knockout CP Freshmart has been removed for inactivity.