Luis Alberto Lopez Re-Signs With Top Rank

Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez, the fast-rising featherweight from Mexicali, Mexico, has signed a new multi-year promotional contract with Top Rank. The 28-year-old Lopez (24-2, 13 KOs), ranked the IBF No. 1 featherweight contender, broke out from the 126-pound pack in 2021.

He began his campaign on March 18 with a first-round knockout over countryman Mauro Loreto in Mexicali. His breakthrough performance came on Sept. 10 in Tucson, Arizona, when he battered then-unbeaten prospect, Gabriel Flores Jr., over 10 rounds en route to a unanimous decision. Less than three months later, he punched his passport once again and knocked out the previously unbeaten Isaac Lowe at the historic York Hall in London.

IBF No. 1 Featherweight contender @Venadolopez1 has inked a new multi-year contract with TR!

Lopez has a world title shot in his sights in the first half of 2022 🔥👀 pic.twitter.com/KK1BAngAPg

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) December 23, 2021

The Lowe triumph — an IBF world title eliminator — made Lopez the mandatory challenger for Kiko Martinez, the decorated Spaniard who recently knocked out Kid Galahad to become a two-weight world champion. Lopez hopes to challenge Martinez in the first half of 2022.

“There are few more entertaining warriors in boxing than Luis Alberto Lopez, and he earned a new promotional contract and a shot at the title with a sensational year,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.

Lopez said, “I am thankful to Bob Arum, Brad Goodman, and everybody at Top Rank. 2022 is the year I achieve my dream of becoming a world champion. Kiko Martinez is a great champion, but he is the man standing in my way. Next year, I will bring that IBF title home to Mexicali.”