Juan Manuel Lopez: Tonight, I join the elite of the division -- Las Vegas Sun

By Brett Okamoto, Las Vegas Sun

It took Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto about six years to become a household name in the sport.

Juan Manuel Lopez appears to be on the same plan.

The 27-year-old Lopez (30-0, 26 KO) recorded the biggest win of his career Saturday in front of 4,818 fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, stopping two-time world champion Rafael Marquez (39-6-0, 35 KO) in eight rounds of work.

The charismatic fighter will celebrate the win by returning to Puerto Rico where, according to Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, he’ll host his next fight in early 2011.

“His next fight will take place in Puerto Rico,” Arum said. “This is the way we handled Miguel Cotto. We kept bringing him back to Puerto Rico and that made him huge later down the road on pay-per-view.

“We’ll do the same thing with Juan Manuel Lopez in the first quarter (of 2011).”

Like Lopez, Cotto began his professional career on a tear, winning his first 31 fights.

Included in those was a 2007 bout against Zab Judah in New York City at the Madison Square Garden. The fight helped Cotto break his way into the mainstream. Two years later, he’d fight Manny Pacquiao in a bout that generated 1.25 million pay-per-view buys.

Lopez still has a way to go when it comes to worldwide star power, but his dominant performance over Marquez this weekend went a long way in showing that, competitively speaking, he’s ready for the biggest stage.

Following his impressive win over a future hall of famer, Lopez may have put the win into words best.

“Today, I join the elite of the division,” he said.

Even the fact that Marquez may have been slowed by a nagging shoulder injury shouldn’t dampen Lopez’s biggest win.

Although Marquez wasn’t present at the post-fight press conference to give Lopez full credit for the win, his promoter, Gary Shaw, did it for him.

“(Marquez) is a great champion but he was beaten by a better fighter in the ring tonight,” Shaw said. “There are no other excuses. We knew we had a shoulder problem coming into the fight, but it’s not an excuse.

“Juan Manuel Lopez is an explosive fighter.”

Following in the footsteps of another Puerto Rican champion, Felix Trinidad, Lopez has developed one of the most exciting fighting styles in all of boxing — one of very little defense.

In the buildup to Saturday’s fight, Marquez and his camp made comments on the featherweight champion’s chin, stating he’s shown a vulnerability of going down often in his fights.

Whether cognitive or not, it almost seemed as if Lopez took those claims as a challenge Saturday, standing in the pocket and throwing caution to the win throughout all eight rounds.

“This was an opportunity for me to show everyone not only that I can punch, but that I can take a punch,” Lopez said. “I fought the best puncher in the division and he couldn’t knock me down.”

Marquez nearly took advantage of Lopez’s aggressiveness in the fourth round, when he landed a hard counter left hook that buckled his opponent’s knees and had him in visible trouble.

Instead of going down, however, Lopez survived and weathered every shot the hard-hitting Marquez gave him. Even with the knowledge of Marquez’s injury, Shaw admitted he couldn’t believe Lopez didn’t hit the canvas.

“(I was) shocked,” Shaw said. “Everyone said Juan Manuel didn’t have a chin — that he went down against this guy and that guy.

“I know one thing. The Juan Manuel that showed up tonight had one hell of a chin.”

Following his next bout in Puerto Rico against a yet to be determined opponent, Lopez is expected to get his shot against fellow undefeated featherweight Yuriorkis Gamboa (19-0, 15 KO) in June, who holds the IBF belt.

Like Lopez, Gamboa is expected to fight once before that.

While a title fight against the Cuban Gamboa might not catapult Lopez into the spotlight quite like the victory over Judah did for Cotto, a matchup between two confident, undefeated knockout artists is an easy fight to promote.

And one Arum is clearly looking forward to.

“If we can make it, which I think we can make it, we’ll look forward to fighting Gamboa in June.”

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com. Follow him on Twitter at LVSunFighting

Source: lasvegassun.com

Manny Pacquiao's Adviser Michael Koncz Speaks Out -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

In one of 2010's most exciting nearly two rounds of boxing action, challenger Bernabe Concepcion of the Philippines scored a first-round knockdown, but was floored three times himself during last Saturday's Showtime-televised, second-round knockout losss to WBO featherweight (126 pounds) champion Juan Manuel Lopez.

In defeat, the 22-year-old Concepcion (28-4-1, with 15 KOs) may have done more for his career than he had in his previous bouts, including an August, seventh-round disqualification loss to then-WBO champ, Steven Luevano, when he flattened the titlist with an errant punch long after the bell ending the seventh round.

But the aftermath of Lopez-Concepcion has gotten ugly for Michael Koncz, one of the fighters' handlers as a partner with seven-divison champion, Manny Pacquiao in the WBO welterweight (147 pound) titlist's MP promotions. An adviser to Pacquiao, Koncz has taken criticism from some members of the Filipino press who perceive him to be responsible for having pushed Concepcion into a fight that was beyond his capabilities to win.

In this Q&A, FanHouse sought Koncz's reaction to that criticism as well as that he has taken for the handling of other boxers in the MP promotional stable such as light flyweight (108 pounds) Rodel Mayol (26-5-2, 20 KOs) and flyweight (112 pounds) Richie Mepranum (22-2-1, five KOs).


FanHouse: So Mike, is it your perception that there are shots being taken at you as Manny Pacquiao's adviser and his partner handling the fighters at MP Promotions?

Michael Koncz: Taking the shots as Manny Pacquiao's adviser? No problem. That's part of my job and I'm willing to do that in order to -- I don't know if this is the right term -- but to save Manny from some of the wrong doings. I'm willing to do that.

But right now, it's not the negative criticism of me being Manny's adviser, but it's the negative criticism about MP Promotions and myself. And, first of all, all of the matches that I make with our boxers, I discuss that with my partner at MP Promotions, who is Manny.

And then Manny and I discuss it with the boxer. So, it's really up to the boxer. We give our advice and our opinions, but they're never threatened like, 'you take this fight, or you will never fight again.'


What is your take on all of this outcry that has come as a result of the loss by Bernabe Concepcion?

Specific to this most recent fight involving Bernabe Concepcion, when that fight was offered to us prior to his last fight with Mario Santiago [won by Concepcion via 10-round decision] --that's when the discussion was.

Now Bernabe had a very poor showing and we were very disappointed in him against Steven Luevano. That's a fight that Bernabe should have won within four or five rounds by knockout. But forever reason, he didn't perform.


Because he was disqualified for hitting after the bell?

Well, forget even that shot. He should have taken Luevano out way before that because he was a better boxer than Steven. So the discussion was that we'll give Bernabe a shot against this individual [Santiatgo,] and if he can beat this guy, then we have the opportunity for a title shot.

So this fight with Juan Manuel Lopez was not something that we did over night. This goes back to even before his last fight. That was the idea. If Bernabe showed good against Santiago, then we would get a title shot. So it was well planned out.

And that's how we do it. First I get the opportunity at a match, which I discuss with Manny, because he's my partner at MP Promotions, and I value his opinion as a boxer. And then we both felt Bernabe would have a tough fight.

But we felt that with the right game plan, that Bernabe had a very good chance of winning this fight.


What happened?

Unfortunately, the game plan that the trainer, Buoboy Fernandez, and Bernabe decided to use was absurd. I spoke to them all week, and we said, 'What does Bernabe have to do?' We talked to him before the training camp all of that time about the fight strategy. Manny's response?

'It's the same thing, Mike, that I told you before -- he's got to extend his punches, don't throw those short punches, give him angles and lateral movement, and throw combinations and get out. He can not stand in front of Lopez, who is a fabulous counter-puncher.'

We wanted to take him into the later rounds. Lopez has a tendency to tire out in the later rounds and Bernabe seems to have more power than Lopez, Manny and I felt, in the later rounds, that was when we felt a knockout would come if it was going to come.

Now, for some reason, fighter and the trainer, even though we had talked about the strategy many times during the week, they elected to go with a different game plan, which was the wrong game plan. So, that's what happened there.


Now, Bernabe Concepcion still is a young boxer with a lot of talent and a bright future, right?

Right, but now, I'll talk to Manny again, we'll give Bernabe another fight, and then we'll discuss with Bernabe if he wants to have the winner of Lopez and Rafael Marquez.

Nothing has changed. We still believe that Bernabe has the ability and the skill and the determination to beat either of those boxers. But he has to follow the game plan. Now, how can I get angry at Bernabe?

And he spoke to me right after the fight because he sensed the frustration in me. And I was very disappointed, and I expressed my disappointment in the locker room to the whole team. It was like, 'What the hell are you guys doing?'

We were supposed to box and give him angles. 'Why did you guys go toe-to-toe?' And, Bernabe was like, 'You know, I'm sorry, but I was listening to my corner.' And I'm the one that's always telling him that you have to have faith, trust and listen to your corner.'

So, there's not much that you can scold him on. But, again, it was a decision that was made by the fighter and the corner, and it was the wrong decision and it yielded a bad result. So, next time, hopefully they will listen to Manny and I.


Don't you believe that Bernabe raised his stature in the game by his performance?

Well, you can't baby the guy. Forget his age. He's had a lot of fights. Boxing is about taking chances with opportunities provided. Thank God, even though he lost the fight, it saved the television broadcast because it was an exciting fight.

Showtime is very happy. Even though it only went two rounds, it was the most exciting two rounds they said that they had had in a long time. But, again, we want to perform well enough for the network, but that's not our primary goal.

Our primary goal is to make sure that the fighter has a chance and performs and does the best that he can to win.


So do you believe that Bernabe will be better for this fight overall?

Yes. Bernabe is good that way, and he learns from his mistakes. I'm not a trainer, and I don't profess to be the trainer. I consult with Manny.

Manny's perception is that that's what they worked on in the gym -- the head movement, the combinations, the angles, the footwork -- it was unbelievable how good Bernabe looked. They were so confident and they were so sure that they were going to win this fight.

When Lopez went back to his corner after the first round -- and I watched the tape of the fight today -- I mean, he staggered into that corner. Throughout that whole sit-down in the corner Lopez didn't even know where he was.


So where is the criticism coming from and what do you believe is the source of it?

Well, I think they're just resentful. What these guys forget is that who got Rodel Mayol five shots at a world title in a year and a half? Who gave Bernabe Concepcion two title shots within six months? I mean, we're giving opportunities to our boxers.

And like Manny asked me, 'What happened in the Mayol fight [June's unanimous decision loss to Omar Nino Romero for WBC title]? I was in Mexico. I said, 'Manny, he was winning the first five, six rounds, and then, he got tired.'

Manny's response to me was, 'Mike, that's not your problem. That's the trainer's problem and the fighter's problem. Don't worry about it.' Because Manny knows that I take things personal when it comes to the fighters.

I feel for tehm and it's hard to explain. So he said, 'it's not your problem. We did what we're supposed to. We gave them the opportunity. How they train and if they don't train properly, that's not our problem, that's the trainer's problem.'


Why do you believe that it's coming at your expense?

Because what media is going to attack Manny? They're not going to attack Manny. Unfortunately, alleged investigative reporters are not the best investigative reporters. The only regret that I have in Bernabe's fight, and it's not like I just said, 'Bernabe, go fight the guy.'

All of the fights that we make are such that Manny and I discuss the match first, and then we discuss it with the fighters, and give them our opinion, and it's ultimately the fighter's decision. I would do it all over again and I plan on doing it all over again if Bernabe wants to do it all over again.

He'll have another fight, maybe two, but probably one more fight. And if he wins that fight, we're going to go after a rematch either with Lopez or Rafael Marquez. Did Bernabe lose because he was out-matched? I don't believe so.

I believe that he lost because of a very poor choice in the game plan. Based on the comments Showtime's people are making, they're very happy with the result of the fight -- not just because of who won or who lost -- but of the dynamics and the drama in the fight.

You get certain members of the media who decide to write certain things, but not once have you had one of our boxers that is with Manny or myself complain publicly.

Now, why is that? If these things were happening that a small number of reporters are alleging, don't you believe that a boxer would come forward and complain about them?

The fighters have a good rapport with me, and they know that I'm honest with them and I spend as much time with them as I can. They know that Manny is busy and he can't do that. Again, you don't have any fighters complaining.

Just the self-serving, propaganda media members.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Donaire is the only one who can carry torch after Pacquiao -- PhilBoxing

By Ed C. Tolentino, PhilBoxing.com

While it remains to be seen if Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao will lace on the gloves again, it cannot be denied that the clock is winding down on his illustrious career. Pacquiao has already made the cross-over to the House of Representatives and with each passing day at the hallowed halls of Congress, the seven-time world champion is arguably getting more convinced that he has found life after boxing.

Which begs the 64-peso question: Who will carry the torch for Philippine boxing after Pacquiao?

On Sunday, featherweight Bernabe Concepcion became the latest Pacquiao-wannabe to bite the dust. Looking to shave the lion (WBO featherweight king Juan Manuel Lopez) right inside his den (Puerto Rico), Concepcion ended up looking like a sacrificial lamb. Except for the Hail Mary left that nearly knocked the day lights out of Lopez in the first round, Concepcion did not really have a prayer, much less a solid offensive fight plan, in the fight and was predictably bamboozled.

Early in the card, super bantamweight Eden Sonsona blew a wide lead over Puerto Rican Jonathan Oquendo and ended up getting stopped in nine rounds. Sonsona was more than holding his own until the 5th round, when Oquendo nailed him with a huge blow to the breadbasket. Oquendo kept pounding the body until Sonsona wilted in the ninth round. While it may be argued that Oquendo was benefited by low blows and a referee who appeared to be suffering from some cataract problems, the fact remains that in a fight that was supposed to be a gut check, Sonsona ended up flat on his back.

WBA interim super flyweight champion Nonito Donaire was the only Filipino to emerge from Puerto Rico with his head held high. Donaire methodically dissected Mexican power puncher Hernan “Tyson” Marquez before stopping him for good in the eighth with a solid left.

So clinical was Donaire’s demolition of Marquez that he should be, from hereon, labelled “Doctor Donaire” instead of the “Filipino Flash.”

Skill-wise, Donaire once again showed that he is the only Filipino fighter right now who can carry the torch for Philippine boxing after Pacquiao archives the gloves. Donaire, however, needs to step up to the big leagues. An impending showdown with Fernando Montiel might just give his career back the momentum it lost after his spectacular knockout win over Vic Darchinyan in July 2007.

Outside Donaire, Philippine boxing is littered with prospects who want to be the next Pacquiao overnight.

Pacquiao has generously supported a host of promising Filipino fighters, including Concepcion. Pacquiao cannot do the fighting for them, which means these local prospects of ours must step up to the challenge and prove themselves worthy.

Thus far, only Donaire is moving to that direction.

Source: philboxing.com

Bernabe Concepcion to 'Make it Tough' on Juan Manuel Lopez -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

The last time Bernabe Concepcion fought for the WBO featherweight (126 pounds) title was in August, when he battled then-champion, Steven Luevano, in a closely contested bout.

Trailing, 67-66, on two cards, and leading by the same amount on the third, the challenger from the Philippines inadvertently unleashed an errant punch after the bell ending the seventh round, flattening Luevano to his back and knocking him cold.

Under the circumstances, refereee Jay Nady had little choice but to disqualify Concepcion, ending his unbeaten streak of 20-0-1 that included 12 knockouts.

"I didn't understand what happened. I didn't hear the referee tell us to break. I threw the punch, and it landed after the bell," said the 22-year-old Concepcion. "I think that I was going to win that fight. I was in great condition, and I trained very hard to win the title that night."

Concepcion will get another opportunity to earn the WBO crown in a Showtime-televised bout on Saturday night, when he takes on 27-year-old southpaw titlist, Juan Manuel Lopez (28-0, 25 KOs) at Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot, San Juan, before Lopez's home fans in Puerto Rico.

"JuanMa is a great fighter. A very tough fighter who has a lot of power," Concepcion said of Lopez, who dethroned Luevano in January with a seventh-round knockout. "I'm going to have to use my speed and my footwork, and, at the same time, apply pressure. I'm going to make it a tough fight for him."

Concepcion (28-3-1, 15 KOs) has bounced back from the loss to Luevano with February's 10-round, unanimous decision over Mario Santiago, who entered their bout with a mark of 21-1-1 that included 14 KOs.

Lopez is in only his second fight at 126 pounds, having risen from super bantamweight (122 pounds).

In his last outting at 122 pounds in October, Lopez was admittedly "dizzy," and "buzzed," and seemingly one punch away from being dethroned by Tanzanian journeyman named Rogers Mtagwa as WBO king.

Lopez, however, courageously retained his crown, even as teetered around the ring virtually out on his feet from the end of the 11th throughout the 12th.

But if he gets Lopez in that kind of trouble, Concepcion said that he won't let the champion off the hook.

"I've watched that fight. [Lopez] said that he was drained and that's why. He lost energy because of the fact that he had lost too much weight," said Concepcion.

"I think that I can do the same thing that Rogers did -- or even more than that," said Concepcion. "But I think that if I get him in that kind of trouble, I'll put a lot more pressure on him and finish him off. But it's going to be a great fight."

Like Lopez, Concepcion knows a little bit about being on the end of a comeback victory.

During a contentious match up with Giovanni Caro in September of 2008, Concepcion trailed on one of the three cards and was cut badly over one of his eyes.

After examining Concepcion following the seventh round, ringside physicians nearly stopped the fight. But Concepcion responded, scoring a knockout in the eighth.

"The referee strongly considered stopping the fight, but I wanted to take one more round, so he gave me one more round," said Concepcion, who began boxing at the age of 16.

"It's all about heart, and I showed that I had heart. And I did it. I won the fight," said Concepcion. "That was a very big victory for me. It was important to me. It was a great fight."

Since then, Concepcion's bravery has won the hearts of his Filipino countrymen. That includes his idol and seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), holder of the WBO welterweight (147 pounds).

"Bernabe has all of the ingredients to make a great champion," said Pacquiao on the website of Top Rank Promotions, which handles both Pacquiao and Concepcion. "He works hard and is focused only on boxing. We have very high hopes for him."

Those words are not lost on Concepcion.

"That means that Manny is there supporting us. He's my business manager," said Concepcion. "Manny knows that I'm going to work hard, and he knows that I trained very hard for this fight. That means a lot that Manny Pacquiao would say that about me."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Bernabe Concepcion hits Puerto Rico, veteran cut man Miguel Diaz expected to land next Wednesday -- Examiner

By Chris Robinson, Examiner.com

Bernabe Concepcion was a man on a mission earlier this week during his training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California. With a July 10th bout with Juan Manuel Lopez right around the corner the Rizal, Philippines fighter worked rigorously during his Monday afternoon session at the packed facility and appears to be leaving no room for error heading into the biggest bout of his career.

Concepcion’s older brother Bernard noted that he and Concepcion, along with other members of the team, would be hitting Puerto Rico on the first of the month and PR Best Boxing’s Jose Perez was on hand for the group’s arrival. The seemingly mild mannered Concepcion hasn’t had much to say in the way of trash talk heading into the fight, a sign of his professionalism, and he seems to be as likeable of a dark horse as you can find.

One man who will have a close view of the Concepcion-Lopez bout is veteran Miguel Diaz, who will be in the Filipino’s corner as a cut man. Diaz began working with Freddie Roach in late 2008 in the absence of Joe Chavez and has linked up with the Massachusetts trainer on and off ever since. This month alone Diaz made pit stops in New York and San Antonio, Texas to assist Wild Card fighters Vanes Martirosyan and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in their winning efforts against Joe Greene and John Duddy.

Speaking from Barry’s Boxing on the East side of Las Vegas, Diaz told the Examiner that he will be landing on the island next Wednesday and noted that the Lopez-Concepcion affair has all the makings of a dandy. Diaz is no stranger to Puerto Rico, having worked numerous training camps with Miguel Cotto in San Juan, and it will be business as usual for the affable Argentinean when he arrives.

Source: examiner.com

Weekend Review: Big nights for Gamboa, Lopez, Tamara -- The Ring

By Michael Rosenthal, The Ring

BIGGEST WINNER

Yuriorkis Gamboa: I don’t want to anoint Gamboa the next great fighter after his two-round demolition of Rogers Mtagwa on Saturday in New York City, particularly after writing that we make snap judgments too often. That said, WOW! Gamboa looked like a complete package at least on one night, showing the speed, power and poise of a true star. His punches were accurate and extremely punishing, the result being three knockdowns. Yes, Mtagwa’s aggressive style was made for a puncher like Gamboa. Still, the Tanzanian is a very rugged fighter who had given Juan Manuel Lopez hell in his previous fight. Gamboa’s performance was simply spectacular.


BIGGEST WINNER II

Juan Manuel Lopez: Lopez didn’t dazzle the crowd or television audience quite the way Gamboa did but also turned in a very impressive performance. The Puerto Rican star dominated a slick, experienced southpaw even though he was moving up in weight, which is saying a lot. Lopez patiently and methodically broke down the Californian and then took him out with two devastating rights in the seventh round, an emphatic end to a great night. Just like that, Lopez regained any ground he might’ve lost in his narrow victory over Mtagwa in October and set up a fascinating matchup with Gamboa – if and when it happens.


MOST FRUSTRATING

Lopez vs. Gamboa: Promoter Bob Arum urged those of us who would like to see Lopez and Gamboa fight immediately to do something unnatural and possibly illegal to ourselves. He said those people can, “Go (expletive) themselves.” I understand that Arum wants his two young featherweights to build their reputations, which would make for an even bigger showdown later on. However, what he’s saying is that he wants safer fights for Lopez and Gamboa. Is that what boxing needs? Safer fights? I love the idea of two young, immensely talented, undefeated fighters facing one another while they're hot rather than hoping they’ll get hotter. Maybe it’s just me. By the way, after Gamboa’s performance on Saturday, I don’t see him losing to Lopez.


MOST DISAPPOINTING

Rogers Mtagwa: Everything that Mtagwa built in his sensational performance against Lopez came crashing down against Gamboa on Saturday. He was outclassed, overmatched and overwhelmed against a far superior fighter. Mtagwa shouldn’t be written off but that was a giant step backward. Perhaps his poor performance lends credence to the notion that Lopez was weakened because he had difficulty making 122 pounds, meaning maybe Mtagwa wasn’t as good as he looked that night. Also, Mtagwa weighed only 122½ for the 126-pound fight. He’ll probably go back down to junior featherweight and try to rebuild.


MOST DETERMINED

Carlos Tamara: The thing that struck me about the Tamara-Brian Viloria fight on Saturday in the Philippines was how fierce and fresh the New Jersey-based Colombian was in the final round of a taxing fight, the round in which he stopped Viloria and took his junior flyweight title. To me, Tamara looked like an incredibly determined fighter who was thinking: “I’m just not leaving this ring without that belt.” Those who have followed Tamara knew going in that he was no pushover. He’s experienced – having fought once before for a major title – and tough. Now everyone knows how formidable he is.


MOST CRUSHING

Brian Viloria losing: Viloria was told by Sugar Ray Leonard after he first won a major title that holding onto the belt will be much harder than winning it. The former U.S. Olympian had another harsh reminder of that Saturday in the Philippines. Viloria worked very hard to regain his status as an elite fighter after struggling in 2006 and 2007 and succeeded, stopping Ulises Solis to regain a title. Now this. Viloria rebuilt once before; he can do it again if he wants to. The good news is that he’s apparently OK. He collapsed in his dressing room after the fight and was rushed to a hospital, where doctors reportedly determined he suffered no permanent damage.


MOST-DISTURBING SILENCE

Mayweather-Mosley negotiations: Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley’s representatives have been in talks for about a week and there’s no sign of a pending announcement. A report several days ago indicated that negotiations were going well. A more-recent report, on Examiner.com, cited a source close to Mayweather saying the fighter might be balking because he would make much less money fighting Mosley than he would’ve made fighting Pacquiao, whom Mayweather apparently deems the more beatable of the two. I hope that source is wrong. If he’s not, Mayweather will have the distinction of spoiling two huge events in a span of about a month. He might never live that down.


MOST DISTURBING NEWS

Erik Morales coming out of retirement: The former Mexican star was a great fighter, probably a first-ballot hall of famer. I miss his fire and unusual ability. However, the man has lost his last four fights and five of six, including two knockouts by Pacquiao. I was never more certain that a fighter should retire after his final fight, a decision against tough, but limited David Diaz in August of 2007. Now, ESPN.com reported, he will face Jose Alfaro in a welterweight bout on March 27 in Mexico and plans to fight beyond that. I support his right to fight if he meets the medical requirements but I don’t like it, which is the case whenever a badly faded star refuses to face reality.


TOUGHEST MANDATORY

Amir Khan fighting Marcos Maidana: I believe Khan is the most-talented 140-pounder in the world but I still wonder about his chin, which dramatically came into question when he was knocked out by Breidess Prescott in 2008. So who does the Briton get to defend his title against on April 17? One of the biggest punchers around, Marcos Maidana, who pounded the spirit out of another hot young prospect in Victor Ortiz last year. The Argentine has 26 KOs in his 27 victories. Khan probably will win because of his superior boxing ability but the odds say he’s going to get tagged once or twice. It will be fascinating to see what happens. This fight isn't set in stone. Khan is trying to get an exemption from the WBA to fight Juan Manuel Marquez first.


MOST UNSETTLING

Antonio Margarito possibly regaining a license: The Mexican slugger has the right to reapply for a boxing license after the minimum one-year suspension he was given in California for having loaded wraps. Arum, his promoter, is confident Texas will license Margarito to fight on the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey undercard on March 13 in Dallas. I also understand that Arum doesn’t want Margarito to re-apply in California, where the promoter doesn’t feel his client was treated fairly. If Margarito didn’t know trainer Javier Capetillo inserted the illegal pads in his wraps, as he claims, then I think a one-year suspension is sufficient. If he did know, then the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. And I, as well as most fighters I talked to, believe he had to know. Arum reportedly wants Pacquiao to fight Margarito this year.


BEST QUOTE

Arum, on a potential Lopez-Gamboa showdown: “I want to hear you guys ask me that question [about when they’ll fight] over and over and over. Because then I know they’re taking care of their business and we’re doing our jobs. They’re terrific young fighters and terrific kids, but this fight is going to be huge one day. If I just threw them in there now, yeah, you’d love it and it would be a great fight, but it wouldn’t do the kind of business it’s going to do a while from now. Believe me when I tell you, down the road a fight between these two guys is going to be huge. You watch.”


Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com

Source: ringtv.com

Photos: Juan Manuel Lopez-Steven Luevano fight

Boxing News World

Juan Manuel Lopez, left, in action against Steven Luevano during a WBO Featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Juan Manuel Lopez, left, connects against Steven Luevano during a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Juan Manuel Lopez, left, boxes Steven Luevano during a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Steven Luevano is seen on the canvas after getting knocked down against Juan Manuel Lopez during a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Juan Manuel Lopez, right, connects against Steven Luevano during a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Juan Manuel Lopez, left, in action against Steven Luevano during a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Juan Manuel Lopez, right, in action against Steven Luevano during a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Juan Manuel Lopez celebrates in the ring after his victory against Steven Luevano during a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Juan Manuel Lopez has his hand raised by the referee after defeating Steven Luevano in a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Source: images.search.yahoo.com

Juan Manuel Lopez takes Steven Luevano’s belt -- Boston Herald

By Associated Press

Juan Manuel Lopez knocked out Steven Luevano in the seventh round last night, using a brutal left hook to claim the WBO title in the main event of a featherweight doubleheader at Madison Square Garden’s Wamu Theater in New York.

Earlier in the night, rising star Yuriorkis Gamboa defended his WBA belt with a sensational second-round knockout of rugged challenger Rogers Mtagwa.

Lopez had been taken the distance by Mtagwa in his last fight in October, one he was on the cusp of losing several times. The junior featherweight champion moved up to challenge Luevano and was simply overwhelming at 126 pounds.

JuanMa staggered the champion early in the seventh before finally trapping Luevano against the ropes, unleashing a combination capped by a flush left near the corner. Luevano staggered to his feet by the count of 10, but referee Benji Esteves wisely waved it off.

Luevano (37-2-1), who defended his title five times, struggled to keep his distance against the hard-charging Lopez. He’s a counter-puncher by nature and never had a chance to throw a counter, wilting under JuanMa’s intense pressure.

Gamboa (17-0, 15 KOs) ran roughshod through Mtagwa in an electrifying display.

The 2004 Olympic gold medalist from Cuba did damage with his first blow, a counter-punching left that stunned Mtagwa in the middle of the ring. Gamboa then knocked the granite-chinned Mtagwa down with 15 seconds left in the round, and the Tanzanian-born challenger never looked the same.

Gamboa dumped him again midway through the second round with devastating combinations, finishing the fight moments later when Mtagwa (26-14-2) was unable to get himself into a clinch to buy time.

“We knew he was fast but we felt we could handle his speed,” Mtagwa’s trainer Joe Parella said. “The game plan was to go three rounds, battle through it, but Mtagwa got caught early.”

It’s no secret that Top Rank has been trying to build toward a fight between Lopez and Gamboa, putting them on the same card for the second straight time. It would be an exciting matchup between two of the sport’s rising stars, and one Gamboa said he’s ready to take.


Viloria collapses

American Brian Viloria collapsed in his dressing room and was hospitalized for apparent exhaustion soon after he was knocked out by challenger Carlos Tamara in a title fight in Manila, Philippines. Viloria won’t be cleared by doctors to fly home for at least 10 days, and he will need to return to the hospital to ensure there is no latent brain swelling, his manager Gary Gittelsohn told The Associated Press.

All tests came back negative on Viloria. Referee Bruce McTavish stopped the fight 1:45 into the 12th round.

. . .

Spanish boxer Pablo Navascues has lost his chance of fighting Sebastian Sylvester for the IBF middleweight title after failing a doping test during training.

Berlin-based promoter Sauerland Event said on its Web site that Navascues tested positive for banned substances during a random test earlier this month.

© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source: news.bostonherald.com

Lopez claims featherweight belt with knockout win; Gamboa also wins in doubleheader -- Google News

By Dave Skretta, Canadian Press

NEW YORK — Juan Manuel Lopez wants to follow his idol Felix Trinidad as the next great Puerto Rican fighter, winning a handful of titles as he climbs through the weight divisions.

JuanMa captured No. 2 in style on Saturday night. He used a thudding right hand and a flush left hook to knock out Steven Luevano in the seventh round, taking his WBO belt in the main event of a featherweight doubleheader. Earlier in the night, fellow rising star Yuriorkis Gamboa defended his WBA belt with a second-round stoppage of Rogers Mtagwa.

"We saw the video and we knew the right was there for me all night," said Lopez, who fought a more disciplined fight than his last time out, when he was taken to the brink by Mtagwa. "I could feel I was landing it, and I was very surprised he took so many punches. He took a lot of punishment."

Luevano (37-2-1), who defended his title five times, struggled to keep his distance. He's a counter-puncher by nature and never had a chance to throw a counter, wilting under JuanMa's intense pressure.

The charismatic Puerto Rican staggered the champion early in the seventh before finally trapping Luevano against the ropes, unleashing a combination capped by a clean left near the corner. Luevano staggered to his feet by the count of 10, but referee Benji Esteves wisely waved it off.

"He's a great fighter and a great hitter," said Luevano, his left eye swelling shut. "I was blocking that right punch during the entire fight, and he got one in."

Lopez (28-0, 25 KOs) had looked dominant at junior featherweight, and he was simply overwhelming at 126 pounds. He didn't have to drain himself nearly as much to make weight and showed that he can be a force in a crowded division that includes Chris John.

"He fought a really intelligent fight," said promoter Bob Arum, who would eventually like to put Lopez and Gamboa against each other. "Let's see if there's any featherweights left standing, I want to wipe them all out, so there's nobody left but those two guys."

The outcome certainly delighted a reunion of great Puerto Rican fighters.

Trinidad, the former five-time champion, drew the first big roar from a crowd of more than 5,000 that packed the smaller theatre at Madison Square Garden. He was followed by another roar for former welterweight titleholder Miguel Cotto, whose late father was honoured before the main event with a 10-bell salute and moment of silence.

Cotto, who is coming off a loss to Manny Pacquiao, was in town to work on an agreement to challenge 154-pound titleholder Yuri Foreman on June 12. Cotto would be reclaiming his annual date on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day parade in New York.

Despite all the star power in the house, including former heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis, Gamboa (17-0, 15 KOs) may have stolen the show with his electrifying display.

The 2004 Olympic gold medallist from Cuba did damage with his first blow, a counter-punching left that stunned Mtagwa in the middle of the ring. Gamboa then knocked the granite-chinned Mtagwa down with 15 seconds left in the round, and the Tanzanian-born challenger never looked the same.

Gamboa dumped him again midway through the second round with devastating combinations, finishing the fight moments later when Mtagwa (26-14-2) was unable to get himself into a clinch to buy time.

"We knew he was fast but we felt we could handle his speed," Mtagwa's trainer Joe Parella said. "The game plan was to go three rounds, battle through it, but Mtagwa got caught early."

Top Rank put Lopez and Gamboa on the same card for the second straight time. It would be an exciting matchup between two of the sport's rising stars, and one Gamboa said he's ready to take.

"I hope that with this performance nobody compares me to JuanMa. We're different fighters," Gamboa said through a translator. "I'd love for whoever the public or maybe the press considers the No. 1 featherweight, to have him in the ring for my next fight. That way I can show who is the best."

Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Source: google.com

Top Rank Donates to Haitian Relief -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

NEW YORK -- Starting with Saturday night's HBO-televised featherweight championship double-header at Madison Square Garden, Top Rank Promoter Bob Arum told FanHouse that "one dollar for every ticket we sell to our boxing matches for the rest of the year will go to Haitian relief, starting with Jan. 23."

On Saturday night at MSG's WaMu Theater, Arum is promoting WBA champ Yuriorkis Gamboa (16-0, 14 knockouts) and southpaw WBO king Steven Luevano (37-1-1, 15 KOs) against Rogers Mtagwa (26-13-2, 18 KOs) and Juan Manuel Lopez (27-0, 24 KOs), respectively, in title bouts.

Luevano is pictured above, at far right, with Lopez on the near left.

The proceeds will come from events that are included in Top Rank Promotions' 36-show "Top Rank Live" series with Fox Sports and Fox Sports en Español, as well as the March 13 defense of his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) belt by seven-division champion Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) against Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs).

"Pacquiao and Clottey should have around 60,000 people, so by the end of the year, this is going to mount up to a significant amount of money," said Arum. "All Americans should do their part to help the Haitians in their hour of need. We're doing a little bit ourselves."

Arum also said "we're definitely doing" a fight between WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion Yuri Foreman (28-0, eight KOs) and former two-time welterweight champion Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs) on June 12 at Madison Square Garden.


Felix Sturm vs. Ricardo Mayora?

Former world champion, Ricardo Mayora (28-7-1, 22 KOs), could be in line for a title shot against Germany's middleweight (160 pounds) champion, Felix Sturm (33-2-1, 14 KOs), "sometime in the middle of this year," said Mayorga's attorney, Tony Gonzalez, adding that the bout could take place in June or July.

"Ricardo has been in Florida, just taking a sabbatical at this point. He's there, and he's going to be back in the gym shortly," said Gonzalez of the 36-year-old Mayorga. "We'll see if he can pull that off, he'll be back in the mix. It will be interesting."

Mayorga dethroned Andrew Lewis for the WBA welterweight (147 pounds) crown by fifth-round knockout in May 2002, then twice defeated the late Vernon Forrest, adding the WBC welterweight title.

Mayorga lost both belts to then-IBF king Cory Spinks by decision in December 2003, then earned the vacant WBC junior middleweight crown via decision over Michele Piccirillo in August 2005 before being dethroned in May 2006 with a fifth-round knockout loss to Oscar De La Hoya.

Mayorga has not been in the ring since September 2008, when he was stopped in the 12th round by Shane Mosley in a junior middleweight bout for the vacant WBA inter-continental belt.


Arvin returns vs. Wolak

Baltimore's 34-year-old Ishmael Arvin (15-1-4, seven KOs) will end a 17-month layoff when he enters the ring for his Madison Square Garden debut on Saturday night opposite Polish-born, 28-year-old Pawel Wolek (25-1, 17 KOs) of Mount Arlington, N.J.

"I feel great. I'm ready to fight. No butterflies yet. I know that they'll probably come, but you can't control that. But I'm ready to fight," said Arvin, who is 1-1-2 in his past four bouts, including a sixth-round knockout of Anthony Thompson in his last fight in August 2008.

"I've known about the fight for two months, and I've probably sparred 80 rounds. I know I've been picked as 'the opponent, but I'm in great shape and I'm ready," said Arvin. "Come on, this is Madison Square Garden, so you know, I feel like Sugar Ray Robinson."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

David Weinberg's boxing blog: No big fights in Atlantic City this year

October 27, 2009, PressOfAtlanticCity.com

Ken Condon can find a big-name opponent for Paul Williams on Dec. 5, there will be no fights at Boardwalk Hall this year.

It will mark the first time since 2001 - when the hall was closed for rennovations - that Atlantic City has not hosted a major, big-time fight at its stately arena.

But contrary to some opinions, it does not mean that boxing is dead in Atlantic City. Sure, it has hit a dry spell, but only because of a lack of suitable talent in the sport.

Other than middleweight Kelly Pavlik, who was forced to pull out of his bout against Williams because of a lingering staph infection in his hand, there are few fighters who have the kind of popularity and style to pack the stands on the boardwalk.

Miguel Cotto has those qualities, but his Puerto Rican fan base prefers that he fight in New York. Juan Manuel Lopez, one of boxing's most exciting fighters, also has that potential, but has yet to build up a huge following.

I'd absolutely love to see Manny Pacquiao come to town, but the powers that be in Las Vegas and Los Angeles are not about to let a big payday get out of town.

We may have to wait until Pavlik's hand is healed before boxing comes back to Boardwalk Hall. In the meantime, local fans can enjoy a pair of competitive cards coming to Bally's (Nov. 7) and Trump Taj Mahal (Nov. 20).

Hopefully, 2010 will be a better year for big-time boxing here.

(This article is originally posted at pressofatlanticcity.com)

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