Press Conference Notes: Venado Lopez Ready to Defend Featherweight Crown on Angelo Leo’s Albuquerque Home Turf
Venado Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) will defend his IBF featherweight world championship against Angelo Leo (24-1, 11 KOs) on Saturday, Aug. 10, at Tingley Coliseum in Leo’s hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lopez won his world title in December 2022, upsetting Josh Warrington on the road in Leeds, England. His first title defense, a May 2023 knockout of Michael Conlan, came before a sold-out crowd in Conlan’s hometown of Belfast.
In the 10-round junior welterweight co-feature, Lindolfo Delgado (20-0, 15 KOs) and Bryan Flores (26-0-1, 15 KOs) will lock horns in an all-Mexican showdown.
Venado-Leo and Delgado-Flores will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Undercard action, streaming exclusively on ESPN+, begins at 5:50 p.m. ET/2:50 p.m. PT and features Albuquerque native Matthew Griego (14-0, 10 KOs) fighting late replacement opponent Gilberto Mendoza (23-18-4, 11 KOs) in an eight-round rematch at flyweight. Griego defeated Mendoza via six-round unanimous decision in June 2022.
Junior middleweight contender Vito Mielnicki Jr. (18-1, 12 KOs) will make his Top Rank debut in a 10-rounder against Laszlo Toth (32-8-2, 20 KOs).
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Legacy Boxing Promotions, tickets are on sale via Etix.com (https://TopRank.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aa1ae9f9e3c18dcf7df10dda1&id=884f48ba8a&e=ae69d13328) .
This is what the fighters had to say at Thursday’s press conference.
Venado Lopez
“I’m used to being taken to different parts of the world. London. Leeds. It doesn’t matter where I go. Venado Lopez, the ‘Road Warrior,’ will always do his job. I work hard in the gym to do what I have to do. If we can end the fight early, we’ll do that. Either way, I’m coming back home as a world champion.”
“We always work on everything. We work on speed. We work on strength. We work on defense. We try to improve everything. I work really hard in the gym. So, the camp ends up really well. Angelo Leo is a former world champion. He wants to be a world champion again. So, we expect the best version of him, and it will be a war.”
Angelo Leo
“This means the world to me. Fighting back in my hometown is something I’ve always wanted. And what better way to do it than with a title shot.”
“In my last fight, the main goal was to win. I knew everything else would fall into place with a Venado fight.”
Lindolfo Delgado
“I like getting in the ring and doing things well. I don’t do things just to do them. And all of that has helped me. Aside from that, I also like boxing. And I’ve been taught well in the gym as well.”
“They always put really good fighters against me, and like I said, I always try to get better with each fight with every preparation. Every preparation is the same, but I try to do things a bit better. So, that’s what we did for this camp.”
Bryan Flores
“I feel blessed. Aside from the result this Saturday, I feel like a winner already because of all the work I did in the gym. I’m confident. I come with the confidence of having done everything in the gym. Lindolfo is a great fighter and opponent for me. I know it’s going to be a difficult fight, where he can win the {WBO Latino title} as well. But I know it will be a big war on Saturday.”
Matthew Griego
“It’s a dream come true. Fighting on one of these cards for any boxer is a dream come true. It’s just the start of something.”
“I just have to go in there and put on a show. I want to be impressive. That’s what I plan to do.”
“Business as usual. We should be able to adapt to the {late-notice opponent}.”
Vito Mielnicki Jr.
“This is what I’ve been doing since I was 7 years old. It’s all I’ve done. It’s my dream. So, for me to be on this platform, this stage, is a blessing. I’m going to take advantage of every opportunity I get.”
“I just want to continue to grow and build on what we’ve already built. And I’m excited for the next part of my journey.”
Saturday, Aug. 10
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)
Venado Lopez vs. Angelo Leo, 12 rounds, Lopez’s IBF Featherweight World Title
Lindolfo Delgado vs. Bryan Flores, 10 rounds, Vacant WBO Latino Junior Welterweight Title
ESPN+ (5:50 p.m. ET/2:50 p.m. PT)
Matthew Griego vs Gilberto Mendoza, 8 rounds, Flyweight
Vito Mielnicki Jr. vs. Laszlo Toth, 10 rounds, junior middleweight
Albert Gonzalez vs. Damian Alcala, 6 rounds, featherweight
Alan Garcia vs. Maickol Lopez Villagrana, 8 rounds, lightweight
Steven Navarro vs. Israel Camacho, 6 rounds, bantamweight
Arnold Khegai vs. Belmar Preciado, 10 rounds, featherweight
