Luis Alberto Lopez is calling for a clash against fellow Mexican countryman and WBO featherweight champion
Rafael Espinoza.
Lopez, the former IBF 126-pound titleholder, posted on social media that "it's time for Espinoza to make a quality defense."
"Venado" Lopez said the fight against "Divino" should take place in September.
Both fighters are promoted by Top Rank, so signing off on the slugfest should be a cinch if all parties are interested.
Lopez (31-3, 18 KOs) returned on March 29 in Mexico for an easy first-round knockout win against agemate Eduardo Montoya, seven months after suffering a brain bleed and being hospitalized following a tenth-round knockout loss to
Angelo Leo.
Lopez, 31, scored the featherweight title in December 2022 by beating
Josh Warrington via majority decision. Leo defended his title against Michael Conlan, Joet Gonzalez, and Reiya Abe before suffering the vicious stoppage to Leo.
Espinoza (27-0, 23 KOs) is coming off a title defense last month against
Edward Vazquez in a one-sided, seventh-round stoppage win.
Espinoza has also defended his title in stoppage wins against
Robeisy Ramirez and Sergio Chirino Sanchez after notching the belt by beating Ramirez in a December 2023 firefight.
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.