Luis Alberto The deer López (27-2-0, 15 KO) faces the first defense of his belt, and will do it away from home. The Mexican will put his International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight title on the line against Michael Conlan (18-1-0, 9 KOs) this Saturday, May 27, at the SSE Arena in Belfast, in Dublin. He became champion by defeating Josh Warrington (31-2-1, 8 KO) in December, and will defend the title at the challenger’s home. El Venado is already used to competing away from home. “Most likely, I’m going to win by KO”, the Mexican assured AS.
This weekend, two Mexican champions will put their world champion belts on the line. Mauricio Rough Lara (26-2-1, 19 KO) will face again Leigh Wood (26-3-0, 16 KO), from whom he took the WBA featherweight title in the United Kingdom, and The deer Lopez will make the first defense of his IBF division belt against Michael Conlan in Belfast, Dublin. They will both do it the night of Saturday May 27 and outside their homes, like their previous bouts. “I am used to going out, to always be the B side. Today I have to be world champion. I think it’s something very different from a long time ago,” the Mexican told AS when the lawsuit was announced.
López was proclaimed IBF featherweight champion in December of last year by defeat Josh Warrington, an old acquaintance of Spanish boxing. The Briton, who snatched the World Cup from Kiko Martínez (44-12-2, 31 KO) with headbutts, presented the same type of dirty fight against the Mexican, but he won by majority decision. Warrington cut him above the left eye from a headbutt in the second round. Spanish fans celebrated Venado’s victory as if it were a national fighter.
This Saturday, it’s his turn to make his first title defense against Michael Conlan. The Irishman has only lost one match, and it was precisely against Leigh Woodthe rival of Rough Laura that same night. They were meeting for the WBA featherweight title in March 2022, and Wood knocked him out of the ring with a heavy hand in the 12th round. A spectacular KO that served to tighten the belt that a few months later the Mexican would snatch from him. After losing his undefeated win, he went on to string together two more wins. But The deer trust to be victorious. “It is most possible that he will win by KO”, assured the Mexican, who will fight at his opponent’s house.
