The win moved Lopez to 16-0 (13 KOs) and earned him the WBA Continental Americas and WBO Latino light heavyweight titles.
Gallegos (22-4-1, 19 KOs) forced the type of fight he wanted early. The pressure fighter from Los Mochis worked Lopez in tight exchanges, pushing forward and throwing heavy hooks and body punches in rounds that rarely slowed down.
The fight reached its most dramatic moment in round seven when Gallegos dropped Lopez during a furious exchange. Instead of unraveling, Lopez quickly gathered himself and began firing back with heavier shots as the action spiraled into another violent round.
By the eighth, Gallegos was still coming forward, but absorbing more punishment than earlier in the fight. Lopez eventually trapped him in the corner and unleashed a barrage that forced the referee to intervene.
“It just shows you I’m a true champion and I’m here to stay,” Lopez said afterwards. “I’m willing to prove that every time I step in the ring. He was the best version of himself possible. I fought a true champion tonight.”
Lopez also acknowledged the pressure Gallegos brought.
“It’s a tough mf out there,” Lopez said. “Once I had him on the hook, I wasn’t going to let him down. It was 100% a test, and I feel like I passed it.”
Valle wins contested decision
In the 10-round super featherweight co-feature, Dominic Valle (13-0, 7 KOs) scored a controversial unanimous decision over veteran Eduardo “Zurdito” Ramirez (29-6-3, 14 KOs).
Ramirez controlled much of the early action, crowding Valle and forcing the younger fighter to fight off the back foot. The Mexican veteran staggered Valle with a hook in round five before Valle came back later in the round with an uppercut that rocked Ramirez.
Valle’s right eye began to close as the fight moved into the middle rounds, but he continued to throw to the body and had success in rounds seven and eight. Ramirez finished the last round aggressively with combinations to the head and body.
Judges scored the fight 96-94 and twice 98-92 for Valle.
Benjamin remains undefeated
Light heavyweight Dante Benjamin (14-0-1, 9 KOs) continued his undefeated run with an eight-round unanimous decision over Angel Lozano (8-1, 6 KOs).
The fight was competitive through the opening rounds before Benjamin began to take control in the fourth with long jabs and straight right hands. Lozano found success in the sixth round but was unable to sustain the pace in the closing rounds.
Benjamin finished strong and won with scores of 80-72, 78-74 and 77-75.
McKinley pulled away, upset
Heavy puncher Delvin McKinley (14-5-1, 13 KOs) earned a majority decision over Italy’s Christian Chessa (6-1, 6 KOs) in a six-round fight between two knockouts.
McKinley hurt Chessa in round two with an uppercut that caused swelling under the Italian’s left eye. Chessa tried to box and move during the middle rounds, landing counters and body shots, but McKinley’s pressure and power punches carried the closing rounds.
The judges twice returned scores of 57-57 and 58-56 for McKinley.
Valle opens broadcast with decision
Kenyan Valle (3-0, 1 KO) opened the televised portion of the card with a six-round unanimous decision over Anel Dudo (4-7-1, 1 KO).
After a cautious opening round, Valle began to land combinations and gradually took control of the exchanges. Dudo found success with pressure and an uppercut that briefly troubled Valle, but the younger fighter’s accuracy carried the fight.
All three judges scored the match for Valle with scores of 59-55, 59-55 and 60-54.
