Abq.’s Leo reportedly to get title fight
WBO bout would be between undefeated super bantamweights
Nothing is certain in 2020, especially in the always-precarious world of boxing. Still, it appears, Albuquerque native Angelo Leo is getting the world title shot he’s been working toward since he turned pro almost eight years ago.
Leo will fight for the World Boxing Organization super bantamweight title Aug. 1, according to multiple online reports.
Leo (19-0, nine knockouts), who lives and trains in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Philadelphia’s Stephen Fulton (18-0, eight KOs) reportedly will meet for the WBO 122-pound belt recently vacated by Emmanuel Navarette, who is moving up to featherweight.
The bout would headline the first card on Showtime since the coronavirus pandemic interrupted the sport in March.
The story was first reported by The Athletic and first reported in Albuquerque by Southwest Fight News. Neither Showtime nor any of the principals — promoters or fighters — have confirmed the matchup. But a Twitter exchange between The Athletic’s Mike Coppinger and Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, all but confirmed it.
Leo is a Mayweather promotions contract fighter.
Fulton tweeted that he’ll fight Aug. 1 but did not mention Leo as the opponent. In the past, though, he has said he expected to face Leo at some point.
Coppinger tweeted that the card will be staged at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. Other sources have placed the card in Las Vegas.
Leo, 26, turned pro in 2012 at the age of 18. After struggling to get fights in New Mexico, he and his father, Miguel, moved to Las Vegas in 2017. Since signing with Mayweather, he has quickly moved up in the super bantamweight ranks.
He last fought in December, defeating Cesar Juarez by 11th-round TKO in winning the NABO 122-pound title. The NABO is sponsored by the WBO.
Fulton, 25, turned pro in 2014 after an extensive amateur career. In January, he defeated Arnold Khegai by unanimous decision for the WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight title.
Fulton is the WBO’s No. 1 challenger to the title just vacated by Navarette. Leo is No. 2.
Even with no contracts in place and with no officially announced site for the card, the trash talking has begun. But it’s not coming from the fighters, at least not yet.
“(Fulton is) a very good fighter,” Ellerbe tweeted, “but he’s never fought nobody like Angelo Leo!”
“You’re right …” responded Philadelphia promoter Michelle “Raging Babe” Rosado. “Fulton hasn’t fought nobody like Leo. He’s fought guys BETTER than Leo.”
Ellerbe replied: “Leo can/would beat anybody on Fulton’s resume. (Fulton) says it’s his easiest payday. We surely going to see. …”