It may only be mid-March, but on Friday I became convinced that Najee Lopez-Manuel Gallegos joined Nick Ball-Brandon Figueroa as one of the fights of 2026.
Ball-Figueroa being a world-title fight may have given it more importance, but Lopez-Gallegos was an even more exciting fight.
Lopez has spent his career fighting for relevance and legitimacy. He’s very talented – the only questions that have continued to be asked about him are when he’s truly going to step up to the big time and whether, once he does, he’ll prove the real deal. There have been times he’s left more questions than answers – he’s previously needed to get up off the canvas to win.
Gallegos has long been a gatekeeper proven at separating the pretenders from the contenders. He was fighting to remain in that territory, but doing so while aware that a victory over an opponent with Lopez’s pedigree could lead to a really big opportunity – perhaps even bigger than the time he fought Diego Pacheco.
Lopez’s abilities have not only long meant that spectators know that they can expect him to perform – they also know that he often makes fights more exciting than he needs. Gallegos, like Lopez, is consistently good value – he’s always in the faces of opponents, creating havoc, and attempting to force a physical fight. A match-up between them therefore not only seemed certain to entertain, but had the potential to deliver an upset – like many other ProBox TV co-main and main events. Would Lopez fight with the discipline he showed against Kalvin Henderson, or get drawn into a slugfest like he so often has? If a slugfest, given his chin has been questioned, could Gallegos hurt him? Once a fighter finds himself in the pocket with an opponent like Gallegos and involved in that kind of battle it can be difficult to change the tempo and range.
We ended up seeing both. In the first round Lopez fought with discipline and a laser focus that was led by his jab and him boxing impressively, which Gallegos struggled with as he looked to force his way inside. Lopez appeared capable of keeping the distance under control.
Then, in the second round, Lopez did what Lopez has largely built his reputation on. Realising that Gallegos was easy to hit he struggled to contain his excitement and discipline, and instead started to spend more time in the pocket and extend the combinations he was throwing. In other words, giving Gallegos the type of fight he was looking for – a brawl. Lopez didn’t go down like we’ve seen in the past, but he got caught with a head-butt that opened a cut, and once that cut opened there was no going back. There was a sense of urgency on both sides of the fight, which is what made it what it became.
The atmosphere at the Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida was so loud. The crowd was on its feet; it was thunderous. There’s been a lot of very good ProBox cards, but that might be the best of all. It wasn’t just the main event – it was the close and competitive co-main between Dominic Valle and Eduardo Ramirez, Delvin McKinley’s victory over Christian Chessa, and Dante Benjamin’s over Angel Lozano. The fights went the distance and yet by the main event everyone was ready for more.
I was particularly proud on Friday evening. I’ve been at ProBox since the early days and had heard the promises of Garry Jonas about ProBox – you’re forever hearing promises from those in boxing about their “product” – and I’ve watched him accomplish what he has and have also been a part of it, and I’m aware that there’s much more to come. The adrenaline I had, post-fight, meant that I went to nearby Plant City, went to the gym, and worked out. Chris Algieri and the rest of the TV crew also clearly felt similarly.
I almost never watch back the fights I commentate on but I’ve already watched this one back. The only other time I’ve ever done that was for Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko, back in 2017. Lopez-Gallegos may well be second only to Joshua-Klitschko as a fight that got me that excited and left me in awe to that extent – and Joshua-Klitschko was at Wembley Stadium in London.
I saw Lopez on Saturday – I’d also have liked to have given my congratulations to Gallegos for his contributions to such a memorable night – and told him what I saw as the pros and cons of the fight he’d just had.
Lopez is proving himself one of his generation’s must-see fighters. The way he finished Gallegos in the eighth round can’t be taught – he’s a killer of a finisher. A born finisher. I also expect him to get some very appealing opportunities – he’s not only an exciting, world-class fighter, he’s sufficiently flawed that there will be those willing to risk fighting him. He’s capable of winning a world light-heavyweight title – at that level most fights are ones he can both win and lose.
By December I’ve usually forgotten the earliest contenders for fight of the year. I may well need reminding about Ball-Figueroa, but Lopez-Gallegos is certain to still be in my mind.
