Lopez says rivalry has boosted his career

[Fibroso]

Lopez says rivalry has boosted his career June, 13, 2013 Jun 13
2:04
PM ET

By Carlos Narvaez | ESPN.com





SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Former two-division titlist Juan Manuel Lopez, like many others, has his opinions about boxing's Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry -- including that it has been extremely favorable to his career.

Nearly half of Lopez's 35 professional bouts have come against Mexican fighters -- fourteen, to be precise. Four, specifically, have had a major impact on his path.

"Fighting against Mexicans has been a huge part of my career," Lopez said. "But I see it more as a competition between two countries with big fighting styles. Puerto Rico fighters move well, they are more technical. Mexico fighters like to clash, there are very few who like to counterattack. Juan Manuel Marquez is one of the few, and we might consider Oscar De La Hoya, since he is of Mexican origin but developed in the United States.

"If we want to talk about the topic, we have to divide it by eras. The [Wilfredo] Gomez era was huge. 'Tito' Trinidad and his 'Fight of the Millenium' against Oscar De La Hoya was huge. [Ivan] Calderon had two big clashes against [Hugo] Cazares. And back in the day, Hector Camacho was a headache to the Mexican boxers. They were all transitions."

Lopez won a junior featherweight title in 2008 when he defeated Mexico's Daniel Ponce De Leon by first-round TKO. He moved up to featherweight in 2010, winning a title in his first bout in the division, and later bested Rafael Marquez (yet another Mexican star) to run his record to 30-0.

But the prestige that came with those wins all but vanished in 2011 when Lopez put his belt on the line against another of Mexico's finest: Orlando Salido.

"Salido is the toughest fighter I've ever faced," Lopez said. "Sometimes, styles define the fights. Salido is a fighter who takes a lot of punches, and that's one of the factors that helped him beat me."

On Saturday, Lopez will face featherweight titlist Miguel Angel "Mikey" Garcia (who, like De La Hoya, is Mexican-American). In January, Garcia mostly had his way with Salido before winning a technical decision and grabbing the belt that Salido had lifted from Lopez.

"Mikey was a huge puzzle for Salido, but that won't be the case for me," Lopez said. "Styles make fights, and Mikey has the perfect style for me."

[Bonzo]

Sorry Lopez , but tomorrow night is the end of your career.
Mikey Garcia is a very hard puncher and a pretty tough guy.
And yes styles do make fights but not when your opponent can adapt and change.
Mikey Garcia is still a work in progress, but he seems to be taking huge steps fight after fight(doesn't hurt to have a great trainer(brother) and trainer of the year probably again).
I say Lopez will not last past seven rounds on Saturday.
Garcia via KO.

[Fibroso]

I feel Juanma's been given his last chance in this weight class, to say the least. I think he's aware of this and will come ready for Garcia.
The rivalry is on, so I will take away those 2,093.00 buxs you have there by taking a bet that Lopez will come out as what he was when he KO Ponce de Leon in the first round. It took Abner Mares longer than that and Mares is better than Garcia by a long shot. Ready or not?

[Fibroso]

Sorry Lopez , but tomorrow night is the end of your career.
Mikey Garcia is a very hard puncher and a pretty tough guy.
And yes styles do make fights but not when your opponent can adapt and change.
Mikey Garcia is still a work in progress, but he seems to be taking huge steps fight after fight(doesn't hurt to have a great trainer(brother) and trainer of the year probably again).
I say Lopez will not last past seven rounds on Saturday.
Garcia via KO.
Garcia is so ready for this event that missed the weight limit by 2 pounds at the weight in, he's got two hours to make 126 pounds or loose the title. The fight just began! Juanma made the weight at 125.5 and looked in good shape. Guess Garcia feels he needs to be bigger than JML to beat him, losing 2 pounds in an hour will make him weak on fight time tomorrow,unless he is Brandon Rios the brawler. If he brawls with the Puerto Rican from the start he can get KO himself. JMO

[Fibroso]

Garcia decided not to make the weight and walked away. Now the title is vacant. He chickened out and decided to try to beat Juanma any way he can. His (great coach) decided not to put him through the burden, the same thing he does with Rios. He will move on to another division to run away from Nonito and Guillo that are waiting to take him on. I think the Boricua may not even fight if the compensation isn't good enough,his pay is guaranteed, no use to fight an irresponsible fighter that will have an advantage over him. Must rather wait for a descent opponent to get his title back.

[Bonzo]

Oh Fibroso you just made my day.
The fight is still on and my 2096, not 93 will be put on the line.
You just got to tell me where I can pick up my earnings lol.
I really enjoy watching Mikey and I think he is getting better fight after fight.
Juanma has been dissappointing(did not try anything different with Salido2) and just looks like he doesn't want to be there.
May the best man win (me of course).

[Fibroso]

Oh Fibroso you just made my day.
The fight is still on and my 2096, not 93 will be put on the line.
You just got to tell me where I can pick up my earnings lol.
I really enjoy watching Mikey and I think he is getting better fight after fight.
Juanma has been dissappointing(did not try anything different with Salido2) and just looks like he doesn't want to be there.
May the best man win (me of course).
Bro, is 2099 now as you can see the numbers change. Juanma had many personal problems that you don't know about, but I do.
He has 30 KO, so the punch is there. It wont be a walk in the park for Garcia. As we all saw Juanma looks very good physically and mentally, can't say the same for Garcia who's face looked weary. His training camp don't appear to have been his best. The bet is on and let the best boxer win. Anyone else who wants to follow you, there's plenty more satfix buxs.

[Fibroso]

Quit letting them (payoff the opponent and) fight if they don't make weight!!
No fight, no money!! Not a dime and they have to reimburse the promoters for their training camp expenses!!
That will stop this BS!!
Because they know if they don't make weight, they bribe their opponent and they still get to make a huge payday. They could care less about that belt. They'll fight for another one of the alphabet belts the next fight!
These fights are sold as World Championship fights and they're NOT!!!

I read this and decided to bring it here. Arum the biggest cheater of them all is always involved in this type of schemes.
A great fighter makes the weight, a charlatan will take advantage of his opponent by doing this, especially when backed up by professional cheaters.

[El Chido®]

I read this and decided to bring it here. Arum the biggest cheater of them all is always involved in this type of schemes.
A great fighter makes the weight, a charlatan will take advantage of his opponent by doing this, especially when backed up by professional cheaters.

Arum isn't about the best interest of the fighter, We All know That!!
Juanma still got something in Him and He's willing to show it, despite All predictions, that's what makes this bout Very Interesting all along!
Let The Best Man Win, without filling Arum pockets!!..

[rudee]

You guys make interesting reading! I don't know if the fight is on or not...
But if it is.... and if anyone has DTV as their sub... its a free HBO weekend.
Catch it there... 7:45 pm Pacific.

[tequilero]

Tuned in for this fight if it goes down tonight.

[Bonzo]

I am pretty sure the fight is on.
No mention of cancellation.

[Bonzo]

Where is my friend Fib?
Been waiting all day to chat.
Don't we have like a prefight conference lol?
Anyway I still think the fights are going to be pretty good tonite especially after I take those Buxs off you.

[Fibroso]

Where is my friend Fib?
Been waiting all day to chat.
Don't we have like a prefight conference lol?
Anyway I still think the fights are going to be pretty good tonite especially after I take those Buxs off you.
I see your numbers went up, I can cover that and some more. Love to be the underdog. Garcia will be heavier but no muscle mass just water. He looked sick on the weight in so I figure they hit him with some fluids by vein to hydrate him quick. Juan should be stronger, if he wants to exchange his trasero will be ours.

[Bonzo]

I am glad you are not a sore loser.
"if he wants to exchange his ass will be ours"now thats some good thrash talk.
Mikey will destroy him before the seventh round.
I can taste those sat buxs right now.

[Fibroso]

I done changed it to trasero, to be polite. jejejje:tehe:

[Bonzo]

Hey Fibroso, how you doing?
I hope you got over that beating Mikey just laid on you.
Anyway we should do this more often and its a great pleasure to talk boxing with someone who actually likes the sport.
Thanks for the gift , your a bigger man than I'll ever be and thanks for the buxs.
I had a bit of money on Garcia to ko him between the fourth and sixth round , so all good everywhere.
Thanks bud for the excitement and 'till the next time.

[Fibroso]

I try to make it an exiting event, guess lots of friends here did not joint the discussion so they would hurt my feeling. No problem here, Juan just lost everything he once had, sorry for his family. As you mention, he was not there at all. Cheers and happy fathers day everyone. By the way, you got double compensation from me, you deserved it. Get back at you the next time.:yes:

[Bonzo]

You alright man(was gonna ask you about that "buxs").
Thanks again and a happy fathers day to all.

[Fibroso]

Condor,Gamer,Aqua,rudee and Rokko know, I'm a patriot, win or lose I stick to my roots. Salud