Former IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez has racked up two wins since losing his title to Angelo Leo in August 2024.

Lopez, rated at No. 5 by The Ring at featherweight, is determined to get back to where he once was and showed he still has something to offer, stopping Miguel Arevalo Meija in three rounds, in Mexicali, on December 13.

"Arévalo was an experienced opponent," Lopez (31-3, 18 KOs) told The Ring. "I had almost nine months since my last fight, so I knew I needed to train really hard to come back strong and make a statement.

"I felt really strong, happy to come back in my hometown, but also really excited to come back on a good card looking for a title shot in 2026."

Lopez's manager Kiki Magaña believes his fighter has rebounded strongly from losing the title.

"Honestly, I feel that Venado's greatest attribute is his mentality, after a really difficult loss we've been working really hard to get back stronger and 2026 is going to be a really good year," said Magaña. "We'll be ready for any challenge."

"Venado" had hoped that opportunity may open up sooner rather than later and had been vocal calling out his countryman Rafael Espinoza, who holds the WBO 126-pound title, but to no avail, with Espinoza ultimately choosing a different path for his November title defense, instead facing Arnold Khegai, stopping the tough but out-gunned challenger in 11 rounds.

"Espinoza is a solid champion," he said. "Honestly my team and personally myself felt really disappointed because we knew it was going to be a true Mexican war."

That won't stop Lopez calling for a title opportunity.

"I'll continue working and looking for all the champions in the 126 and 130 division," he said. "My target is to became a two-time world champion in 2026.

"I know my next fight will be tough and that’s why I'm getting a couple days to rest after this fight and come back to the gym asap."