by Dafydd Thomas Showtime’s premature announcement of the deal between Juan Manuel Lopez and Rafael Marquez for a bout on September 18 gave Bernabe Concepcion all the motivation he could have asked for as he prepared for his WBO featherweight title bout on Saturday night. The arrogance brewing out of Team Lopez was on show for the boxing world to see, with Lopez already … [Read more...]
Can JuanMa Pass His Final Exam?
by Paul Magno Juan Manuel Lopez burst upon the scene as quickly and as violently as the right hand that helped him end the reign of , then WBO Jr. Featherweight champ, Daniel Ponce de Leon. A well-regarded prospect with an excellent amateur career, Lopez, was immediately pushed on to the main stage and expected to act the role of heir apparent to fellow Boricua, Miguel … [Read more...]
Juanma’s Big Step Up
by Paul MagnoJuan Manuel Lopez is not your father's Puerto Rican boxing hero.There is a long line of stoic, no-nonsense boricua heroes, from Jose Torres and Carlos Ortiz to Wilftredo Gomez and Wilfredo Benitez, right up to Felix Trinidad and Miguel Cotto. The Puerto Rican hero has been characterized by an old school blend of technical proficiency and pure, island-forged … [Read more...]
Magno vs. The Machine (Stage 8 Luevano-Lopez, Gamboa-Mtagwa)
We’re back. After both competitors hibernated over the Christmas period, hopefully both are in top condition; looking to erase those New Year cobwebs with two correct predictions in our first Magno vs. Machine of the decade.WBO featherweight titleholder Steven Luevano will defend his crown against undefeated Puerto Rican sensation Juan Manuel Lopez, who survived his first gut … [Read more...]
Juanma Lopez Passes First Gut Check
Latin Fury 12, New York- WBO Jr. Featherweight champion, Juan Manuel Lopez (27-0, 24 KOs) wouldn't know what he was really in for until the seventh round of his fifth title defense against Rogers Mtagwa (26-13-2, 18 KOs) in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.From the signing of the fight, right through to the first half of the encounter, this was thought to be just another … [Read more...]