Angel Acosta Defends WBO World Title Belt For The Third Time

By Ron Jackson

WBO.com

Puerto Rico’s Angel Acosta defends tonight his WBO Jr. Flyweight belt for the third time when he meets Ganigan Lopez of Mexico at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California on Saturday night. Streaming live in DAZN

The 28-year-old Acosta, 19-1; 19, won the vacant WBO belt with a tenth round stoppage win over Juan Alejo (24-4-1) in December 2017 and made two successful defences in 2018, against Carlos Buitrago (tko 12) and Abraham Rodriguez (ko 2).

Acosta made his pro debut in November 2012, winning all his fights inside the distance and his only loss came against Kosei Tanaka on May 20, 2017 in a challenge for the WBO belt, losing on a unanimous point’s decision with scores of 116-111 and 117-110 twice.

In a 16-year pro career Lopez has compiled a record of 35-8; 19 and won the World Boxing Federation light-flyweight belt in November 2012 with a unanimous 12-rounds points decision over Mateo Handig. In July 2015 he lost on points to Pedro Guevara in a challenge for the WBC Jr. Flyweight belt.

In March 2016 he captured the WBC Jr. flyweight belt with a majority points decision win over Yu Kimura.

After a successful defence against Johnathon Tacoma he lost the belt to Ken Shiro in May 2017.

Since the setback against Shiro he has won two fights and lost on a second-round knockout to Shiro in a return match.