IBF world featherweight champion Luis Albero Lopez has targeted big names and unifications following his unanimous points decision win over Joet Gonzalez on Friday in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Lopez [29-2 16KOs], defending his IBF world title for the second time, would headline this past Friday on North American soil following back-to-back fights boxing overseas on the British Isles against Josh Warrington and Michale Conlan, respectively.
The Mexican, when speaking to Boxingscene, was fearless in offering his services and intentions to face the likes of Leigh Wood and Top Rank promotional stablemate Robeisy Ramirez, who are the respective champions of the WBA [Wood] and WBO [Ramirez].
Wood returns to action on October 7 in Sheffield, UK, against the previously mentioned Josh Warrington. Warrington would lose the IBF title to Lopez in December of 2022 in one of the more exciting fights on British shores of 2022.
On the other hand, Ramirez is still searching for an opponent following a successful first defence of his title in July against Satoshi Shimizu in Tokyo, Japan. Ramirez would capture the title in April against Isaac Dogboe via a unanimous decision to claim the then-vacant title.
Furthermore, Lopez also spoke about possibly facing pound-for-pound rated, four-weight world champion Naoya Inoue.
“I’ll fight against anyone,” Lopez told BoxingScene.com through a translator. “I’ve said it a lot. Every single contract that has been sent to me, I have signed it. I’m always ready to fight. Now it’s time for me to be valued, to pay me more, to give me those big purses, to give purses to those warriors like me, who always give great shows. It could be against Robeisy Ramirez or against Inoue, who says he wants to move up in weight. Those are great fights that the people wanna see.”
Ultimately, Lopez is more interested in pursuing unification and believes that a fight with the double Olympic champion and now WBO title holder Ramirez will be his best route to accomplishing his ambitions.
“It would be a great fight,” Lopez said. “Robeisy is an Olympic boxer, but I’m strong and I’m able to take punches. And my punches come from different angles, something you have a hard time expecting from me. So, it would be a great fight for the people.”
Ramirez, who is no stranger to competing overseas in the past calendar year, has yet to rule out travelling to England again if an opportunity to contest the winner of Wood-Warrngton becomes available, as long as the money is right.
“Of course I want unification fights,” Lopez said. “That’s what most interests me now. Let’s do it. But like I’ve said, as long as they pay me well to give those great shows.
