Angelo Leo, who just became champion in two weight classes, says he would like to compete with Naoya Inoue in the 126-pound class.

Leo, 30, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, stopped Luis Alberto Lopez of Mexico in 10 rounds and claimed the IBF featherweight title at Tingley Coliseum in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, on August 10.

According to Leo (25-1, 12 KOs), he would like to take a chance to face the Japanese “monster” in the future.

“Yes, of course. I think Naoya is in some ways one of the best fighters in the world right now and I would love to attack him,” Leo told BoxingScene.I believe he is currently fighting in the 122-pound division, and I have heard a lot of rumors that he wants to move up to 126 pounds in the future.”

Leo’s decision to move up to 126 after losing his WBO junior featherweight belt to Stephen Fulton three years ago paid off as he knocked out Lopez by one punch to capture the IBF title. A powerful left hook from Leo knocked the champion to the floor and ended the event in front of Leo’s home crowd – where he was fighting for the first time in nine years.

Despite his clear KO victory, Leo admitted that he did not expect the fight to turn abruptly in his favor. However, he called the decision to move up to featherweight the best of his career, especially when his body began to fail at 122 pounds.

“I moved up because 122 pounds was just too hard to do,” Leo said. “I felt like I had outgrown 122 pounds and my body was demanding that I gain weight. So we went with 126 pounds and now I feel much better.”

“I have to say, this is the best decision“Honestly, we weren’t really hoping for the knockout. The strategy was just to go in there and outbox them, score more points, and if the knockout comes, it will come. But for the most part, we want to make a decision to just go in there and win.”

Leo ruled out a potential rematch with Lopez after revealing there was no such clause in their fight contract. His focus is on either facing undefeated four-division titlist Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) or unifying his new IBF title against fellow titlists Rey Vargas and Rafael Espinoza.

Inoue is reportedly looking to move up to 126 if he can successfully defend his unified WBC, IBF and WBO junior featherweight titles against TJ Doheny on September 3 at the Ariake Arena in Koto-Ku, Japan. Should the Japanese star decide to stay at 122 after the fight, Leo could opt to face Vargas or Espinoza.

Leo believes it would be exciting to face Vargas or Espinoza in a unification.

“I would like either Espinoza or Vargas. Espinoza is a big fighter who throws a lot of punches, and Rey Vargas is also a big fighter who throws a lot of punches. And I throw a lot of punches, so I think it’s a fan-friendly fight.”

Despite all these plans, Leo wants to gain weight in the future.

“I plan to stay here for a few more fights, possibly a few more years, and then move up to 130 pounds.”

Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist specializing in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column called “From The Ringside” for many years in his native Ghana. You can reach him on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, on LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye, and by email at [email protected].