Albuquerque boxer Angelo Leo looks to have long reign as WBO 122-pound champion

There is nothing easy about boxing, but Angelo Leo wouldn’t have it any other way.

Leo’s dream of becoming a world champion became reality Aug. 1 when he defeated previously undefeated Tramaine Williams for the World Boxing Organization's 122-pound title in a fight televised by Showtime.

“It’s an amazing feeling and ever since I was a kid I wanted to be a world champion,” Leo said. “There have been ups and downs, but being a world champion is worth it. It took a little time for it to hit me, but being a world champion means a great deal to me.”

Leo grew up in Albuquerque, where he first learned about the sport from his father Miguel Leo. He began boxing at an early age; his first amateur fight was when he was 11.

“My dad didn’t have any fights, but he loved the sport and followed it closely,” Angelo Leo said. “I found an appreciation for the sport early on in my life. It became my passion, it became something I wanted to be the best at.”

Miguel grew up in Mexico before moving to Albuquerque, where he raised Angelo.

“I always loved boxing; my mother didn’t want me to fight, so I followed the sport. I’d hit the bag, I’d try to learn anything about the sport that I could,” Miguel Leo said. “Angelo loved the sport and it helped us bond.”

That bond has stayed the course as Miguel Leo has been his son's coach throughout his career.

“It was tough in those early years, lots of traveling and always in the gym working out,” Miguel Leo said. “There were ups and downs but it was worth every second, every minute. Angelo worked hard and put in so much time to get better. It was a process to get where he’s at.”

Angelo Leo, who at 26 is 20-0 as a professional with nine knockouts, began his professional career like many boxers fighting on small cards throughout New Mexico. But it was in those fights that he learned the ropes of being a professional fighter.

“You go in as a pro knowing you have to be patient and fight in those small venues, but I learned so much and was able to build on what I was doing and build a fan base,” Angelo Leo said.

But Miguel Leo knew that if his son was going to become a world champion, staying with local promoters wouldn’t be the answer.

In March 2017 and with 10 fights under his belt as a professional, he began training at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas, Nevada. Eight months later, Floyd Mayweather Jr. saw his potential and signed Leo to a promotional contract.

Mayweather is one of boxing's greatest fighters and is a former Olympian. He is 50-0, a multidivision champion and last fought three years ago. 

“We had to make the move; there just wasn’t enough capital in New Mexico to get Angelo where he needed to be as a pro and get the fights he needed,” Miguel said. "The Mayweather family has been great to us and they believe in us. Floyd is one of the greatest champions of all time and to have him back us means a great deal. He saw something great in Angelo and we respect him a great deal."

Prior to his win against Williams for the title, Angelo defeated worthy opponents such as Jonathan Aguilar, Cesar Juarez and Alberto Torres. That set him up for a world title shot on Aug. 1. Initially, he was supposed to fight fellow unbeaten fighter Stephen Fulton, but Fulton was diagnosed with COVID-19 the week of the fight and Williams stepped in.

“It was a bit challenging,” Angelo said of the change in opponents. “But I adjusted well and I just let the fight come to me. In boxing, in sports, you learn to deal with adjustments. It's part of the game.”

Angelo Leo wore Williams down with a strong body attack and enough pressure to win a unanimous decision. Angelo is now back in training and will wait for a fight against Fulton.

The 122-pound division is loaded with great talents such as Daniel Roman, Luis Nery and Brandon Figueroa in addition to Leo, Fulton and Williams. 

Veteran boxing analyst Al Bernstein has been impressed with Angelo in his young career.

“Angelo is a great body puncher and he’s really improved in his young career,” Bernstein said. “He did a great job in his fight with Tramaine Williams. He made the adjustments he had to make and he showed a great determination and will. His offensive attack is really impressive in that he uses so much of it aimed at the body. It works well for him. He is in a talented division and there is no shortage of good fights on the horizon for him.”

New Mexico has produced many great champions through the years, such as Johnny Tapia, Danny Romero, Bob Foster and Austin Trout. Trout hails from Las Cruces. Other notable fighters from New Mexico include Las Cruces’ Louie Burke and Albuquerque’s Danny Perez.

Angelo hopes to return to New Mexico and the Southwest to establish himself as a fan attraction among Mexican American boxing fans in places like El Paso. El Paso has a strong history of fighters, such as Antonio Escalante, Fernie Morales, Abie Han, Jennifer Han and David Rodriguez.

“Every fight, I want to get better and better,” Angelo Leo said. “I want to fight in the biggest fights possible and make my family, my friends and those who follow me proud. It’s going to take a lot of hard work and dedication. I’m already back in the gym training. I know I have to be ready whenever the next fight is settled. I have to move forward and get better. There are other fighters who want what I have and that’s a title belt. I have to be mentally and physically prepared.”

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Felix F. Chavez may be reached at 915-546-6167; fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter.

Getting to know Angelo Leo 

Who: Angelo Leo

What: World champion boxer from Albuquerque 

Of note: Leo won the World Boxing Organization's 122-pound title on Aug. 1 on Showtime with a win over Tramaine Williams. He is undefeated and is promoted by Mayweather Promotions. He fought as an amateur in Albuquerque and several of his early fights were in New Mexico before he moved to Nevada.