ANGELO LEO isn’t known as one of boxing’s biggest punchers but last weekend his 10th round win over Luis Alberto Lopez will go down as one of the knockouts of 2024. Eric Armit looks back at the fight round-by-round and how it reached its conclusion.

Round 1

Leo was boxing neatly on the retreat stabbing out his jab and circling the advancing Lopez who was looking to cut off the ring to work the body. Lopez connected with some strong hooks and a right to the head.

Score: 10-9 Lopez

Round 2

Lopez was marching forward behind his jab and looping hooks to the body. Leo turned aggressor firing some good body shots but strayed low. Leo really let his hands go landing to head and body with a series of punches. He continued to force Lopez back landing jabs and body shots and the difference in hand speed was evident

Score: 10-9 Leo                                                           `             TIED 19-19

Round 3

Leo used some nifty footwork to circle Lopez and then fire some quick punches through the champion’s guard. Lopez was trying to cut off the ring but Leo was just too quick. Lopez did manage to connect with some hefty hooks. Leo pinged him with some jabs but again Lopez landed some clubbing hooks.

Score: 10-9 Lopez                                                      Lopez 29-28

Round 4

Leo drove Lopez to the ropes and hammered home punches to head and body. He was looking to take the fight inside and was outscoring Lopez. Leo backed off then came in again taking the fight to Lopez muscling him to the ropes and hooking to the body. He kept crowding Lopez and smothering his attempts to attack. He was out-throwing and outscoring Lopez.

Score: 10-9 Leo                                                           TIED 38-38

Round 5                                                                                       

Leo drove forward with Lopez meeting him with left and right hook counters. Leo was still coming but Lopez was doing the scoring with Leo not really effective inside. Plenty of pressure from Leo but he was caught by a sharp uppercut and a right to the head.

Score: 10-9 Lopez                                                      Lopez 48-47

Round 6

Lopez came out swinging immediately putting Leo on the back foot. He was following Leo around the ropes firing looping hooks but missing lots. Leo came to life but was still being caught by hooks and rights to the head. He did get inside but was just pumping out punches with no accuracy until a right sent Lopez stepping back. Leo bulled his way forward but as Lopez dodged Leo fell to the canvas (no punch so no count).

Score: 10-9 Lopez                                                      Lopez 58-56

Round 7

Leo was on his toes spearing Lopez with jabs and firing home quick rights. A punch from Leo strayed low and as Lopez backed off complaining Leo came forward and landed some straight shots. Leo was on his toes again getting through with jabs and sending Lopez onto the back foot. A frustrated Lopez was swinging wildly and leaving himself open to counters but landed a fierce uppercut. Leo had a growing swelling under his right eye.

Score: 10-9 Leo                                                           Lopez 67-66

Round 8

They went toe-to-toe at the start of this round swapping hooks and uppercuts. Leo was getting his punches off then stepping inside to deny Lopez any room for his looping punches. Once again they stood and exchanged punches with Leo’s accuracy giving him the edge. Lopez was looking tired.

Score: 10-9 Leo                                                           TIED      76-76

Round 9

A series of jabs from Leo had Lopez backing up and he kept popping him with the jabs before sending Lopez staggering with a right to the head. The pace had dropped and Leo was making it a brawl and doing most of the scoring inside then landing two thumping rights to the head. Leo decided he had done enough to win the round so danced around Lopez avoiding contact.

Score: 10-9 Leo                                                           Leo 86-85

Round 10

They brawled at the start of the round exchanging shots inside and suddenly Leo uncorked a devastating left hook that sent Lopez crashing to the canvas on his back and he was counted out. Leo was ahead on two of the judge’s scorecards, 86-85, while one judge had Lopez ahead, 86-85, at the time of the stoppage. Huge joy for Leo as he wins the title in front of his home fans. A former WBO super-bantamweight champion Leo makes it five wins in a row since losing his WBO belt to Stephen Fulton in 2021. Lopez was defending the IBF title for the fourth time and suffers his first inside the distance loss.