Lopez wants to team up with Ramirez

Luis Alberto Lopez. Getty Images
Luis Alberto Lopez. Getty Images

Luis Alberto Lopez (29-2, 16 KOs) has officially requested special permission from the IBF to attempt a unification fight for the IBF and WBO featherweight world titles against Robeisi Ramirez (13-1, 8 KOs), rather than making a mandatory defense against Reiyi Abe (25-3-1, 10 KOs).

Luis Alberto Lopez defended his IBF featherweight belt last weekend. Theoretically, the IBF champion's opponent should now be Reiya Abe. The Japanese is a mandatory challenger according to the International Boxing Federation, having recently retired from Kiko Martinez.