Lance Pugmire reports that IBF featherweight champion Angelo Leo’s next title defense will see him face Lerato Dlamini atop a February 21st ProBox show in Leo’s hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Leo (26-1, 12 KO) spent 2.5 years on the sidelines before racking up four wins in a nine-month stretch, capped off by a shocking one-punch finish of Luis Alberto Lopez that just barely missed out on Knockout of the Year honors. He unfortunately hasn’t managed to keep that same pace in 2025; Kameda Promotions
dragged their feet in staging his inaugural defense, which saw him edge out Tomoki Kameda in Osaka this past May, and he’s been effectively radio silent since.
Dlamini’s (21-3, 13 KO) career has been defined by close fights. He fell just short against Jazza Dickens in a 2022 bid for the IBO CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD, eked out a split decision over the aforementioned Kameda in an eliminator the following year, then lost another split decision in their rematch. He’s a solid operator, though promoters’ abject refusal to stage a featherweight unification gets more grating by the day.
