Luis Alberto “Venado” Lopez is determined to turn his third world title defense into a war of attrition.

Lopez will defend his IBF featherweight world title against Japanese contender Reiya Abe on Saturday, March 2 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. 

Lopez-Abe will serve as the co-feature to the vacant WBA featherweight world championship showdown between Uzbek phenom Otabek Kholmatov and American standout Raymond Ford.

Lopez (29-2, 16 KOs) captured the IBF title by defeating Josh Warrington in his hometown of Leeds, England, in December 2022. The fighting pride of Mexicali, Mexico, defended his crown by traveling to Belfast to beat hometown hero Michael Conlan via fifth-round TKO. Lopez then beat division mainstay Joet Gonzalez with a hard-earned unanimous decision last September. The 30-year-old looks to vanquish his mandatory challenger as he preps to face the other champs in his division. Abe (25-3-1, 10 KOs) is coming off a points win over former two-division world champion Kiko Martinez to earn his shot at the belt.

Following a recent training session in Santa Fe Springs, California, this is what Lopez had to say: