In an action-packed weekend, Northern Ireland’s Belfast roared with excitement as Luis Alberto Lopez (28-2, 16 KOs) took on two-time Olympian Michael Conlan (18-2, 9 KOs) in an intense IBF featherweight championship fight. The same night also saw WBC silver featherweight champion Nick Ball (18-0, 11 KOs) face off against Ludumo Lamati (21-1-1, 11 KOs) in a highly anticipated bout. Simultaneously, over the Atlantic, in Indio, California, Alexis “Lex” Rocha (23-1, 15 KOs) and Anthony “Juice” Young (24-3, 8 KOs) headlined the main event at Fantasy Springs Casino, with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions at the helm. The co-main event featured a clash between WBO World Minimum champion Melvin “Gringo” Jerusalem (20-3, 12 KOs) and 2019 Pan Am Gold Medalist Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (7-0, 5 KOs), drawing the attention of fans from across the globe.
In Belfast, Luis Alberto Lopez secured a fifth-round knockout victory over Michael Conlan in a thrilling showdown. Lopez's winning uppercut left Conlan reeling, compelling his corner to promptly throw in the towel, demonstrating Lopez's powerhouse performance. This victory furthers Lopez’s ambition of challenging all the world champions in the featherweight division and aiming to take their belts back to Mexico.
Official fight highlights: Watch Prelims on Youtube
The undercard in Belfast witnessed Nick Ball defending his WBC silver featherweight title with a final-round knockout victory against Ludumo Lamati. Although Ball’s performance impressed the spectators, questions remain about his readiness to face WBC featherweight champion Rey Vargas.
In California, Alexis “Lex” Rocha showcased a robust performance, stopping Anthony “Juice” Young in just 5 rounds. Rocha maintained a constant barrage of powerful blows, rocking Young multiple times throughout the match and ending the scheduled ten-round bout early in the fifth round, solidifying Rocha's status as a dominant force in the welterweight division.
The co-main event in California saw an upset as Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo halted Melvin “Gringo” Jerusalem's reign. Collazo's strategic pacing and powerful left hands left Jerusalem reeling, and the fight was ultimately declared in Collazo's favor after the ring physician's intervention, marking a memorable highlight in an exhilarating night of boxing.
Official full card highlights: Watch Prelims on Youtube
Image Credit: Golden Boy