First Luis Alberto Lopez closed Reiya Abe’s proper eye. Then he closed the present.
Lopez, the IBF featherweight titleholder, damage his obligatory challenger with a left hook – actually, a left thumb – in Spherical 2. The harm was instantly obvious; there was swelling and discoloration surrounding Abe’s eye, and it was shortly closing shut.
Abe gamely tried to battle by way of the harm, surviving one other six rounds. Lopez stored coming, nonetheless, and in the end persuaded the referee to cease the bout 39 seconds into Spherical 8.
The battle started with Lopez coming ahead behind fixed stress and a clumsy assault that proved surprisingly efficient, typically main with a large proper to the physique and following with an excellent wider left hook to the top. Abe tried to field and elude these photographs however couldn’t keep away from all of them.
The pursuit continued in Spherical 2. Lopez missed lots however was undeterred, touchdown that pivotal left about midway by way of the spherical.
If Lopez’s unorthodox angles and timing had been tough sufficient when Abe was wholesome, then the issue stage had abruptly been ratcheted up.
The ringside doctor checked on Abe between rounds and allowed the battle to go on. Abe sought to fend off Lopez, shifting for a lot of Spherical 3, then stopping to throw a number of, rinse and repeat.
Once more, the ringside doctor examined Abe between rounds. “He must be cautious,” the physician mentioned, advising that the battle would have to be stopped if the swelling elevated. Abe continued to throw and transfer in Spherical 4, whereas Lopez remained undeterred, scoring with two right here, a number of there.
Abe tried to vary his techniques at first of Spherical 5, strolling Lopez down however lacking with a left hand. Lopez quickly resumed coming ahead. The motion deteriorated for a bit because of ineffective offense from each males. Every so often, Lopez would land one thing clear to remind Abe and the judges who was in management, together with proper hand earlier than the bell.
By Spherical 7, Abe was discovering extra success on each offense and protection. Lopez confirmed frustration, then discovered his alternative after maneuvering Abe to the ropes, tossing in three photographs to the physique and two uppercuts towards the chin. Abe’s proper eye gave the impression to be worsening. He didn’t appear to have a lot steam behind his punches. CompuBox confirmed Lopez going 33 of 74 within the seventh, in comparison with simply 7 of 35 for Abe.
As Spherical 8 started, the group on the Turning Stone Resort On line casino in Verona, New York, started to chant Lopez’s title. Lopez visually responded after which let free with an prolonged barrage. Many of the punches missed, however the referee had seen sufficient.
“I got here out to complete that battle within the eighth spherical,” Lopez mentioned afterward by way of a translator. “I appeared over to see my spouse, my mom and my daughter and mentioned, ‘That is the second to finish the battle.’”
The victory brings Lopez, a 30-year-old from Mexicali, Mexico, to 30-2 (17 KOs). This was the third protection of his IBF belt, acquired in December 2022 from Josh Warrington and defended twice final 12 months, in opposition to Michael Conlan (TKO5) and Joet Gonzalez (UD12).
In his postfight interview, Lopez spoke of desirous to unify at 126 – his battle was the co-feature to a different featherweight title battle that includes Raymond Ford vs. Otabek Kholmatov – but additionally mentioned he’s keen to go as much as junior light-weight to problem the winner of the March 29 bout between Oscar Valdez and Liam Wilson.
Abe, a 30-year-old from Japan, falls to 25-4-1 (10 KOs).
