Juanma Looks Like a Star!

October 6, 2008

Photos: Jose Perez Cabrera/PR Best Boxing Promotions

Juan Manuel Lopez fights in his country's glamour division, and has the smile and the personality of a boxing hero. If he keeps on getting knockouts like he has his last two fights, he could soon be considered the new face of Puerto Rican boxing, the country's true national sport.

Over 10 thousand people led by his idol Felix "Tito" Trinidad came to see him make his first world title defense Saturday night at the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot better known as the "Choliseo" and Lopez did not disappoint. His walk into the ring was spectacular and a bit longer then the fight, but the fans did not care,  they came to see "Juanma" get a knockout and he gave it to them.

It took 39 seconds for Lopez to land a perfect left-right combination to the face of Cesar Figueroa and it took Robert Ramirez 10  seconds to count the Mexican out and to start a 20 minute celebration of the Island's newest boxing star.

"I trained for twelve long hard rounds against Figueroa, but when I landed that right hook and saw him go down, I knew he was not getting up," said Lopez after the quick knockdown.

After his devastating knockout of Daniel Ponce de Leon to capture the WBO junior featherweight crown in Atlantic City on June 7, Lopez has been looking forward to fighting as a world champion at home and on Saturday night he got his chance.

"I'm just to happy to be able to fight here in Puerto Rico as a champion and to give them a victory they can enjoy. I know the fans want me to fight some of the best fighters in my division and I want to do it just as bad as they do. I want to face the Israel Vazquez' and Rafael Marquez' of the world and I hope I get a chance to do it," said Lopez.

The large crowd went wild when he made his entrance after a long video of his best knockouts, some very loud fireworks and to a song written specially for him by a local "Regatton" singer, as Lopez made the walk to the ring.

"I know some people said I got lucky to knock out Ponce de Leon in the first round. I hope tonight I showed that I have the power to stop anyone at anytime and look forward to many years as a champion, not only at 122, but 126, 130, all the way up to 135. I want to be the first Puerto RIcan to win world titles in four weight divisions," said Lopez.

But when asked if he was the new face of Puerto Rican Boxing, Lopez gave them his big smile and said: "We have a lot of great boxers here in Puerto Rico. Just because Miguel Cotto lost it doesn't make him a bad fighter. Ivan Calderon is a great champion with many title defenses. I'm just glad that the people like to see me fight and I want to give them as many good fights as I can," said Lopez now 23-0, with 22 knockouts.

Lopez was also very moved by having Trinidad come to see him fight.

"Tito Trinidad is my idol and to have him come to see me fight is a big honor. But to also have him come in the ring before and after the fight to see me, it  was something I will never forget. Wilfredo Gomez and Tito Trinidad are the biggest idols we have and I will never even would think to reach those heights. I'm just happy people think I can someday reach those levels but those two are still our greatest," said Lopez

Lopez said he hoped to get another fight before the year is out and hopes to be on the December 6 big show headed by four-time world champion Manny Pacquiao and boxing superstar Oscar de la Hoya.

"I hope I can be included on the Pacquiao-De la Hoya card. It  would be a great honor for me to be part of the big card, but its not up to me, its up to my managers Peter Rivera and Orlando Pineiro and to my promoter Top Rank to see if they can get it done. I will fight whomever and whenever they tell me," said Lopez.

On the undercard, world ranked Jose "Carita" Lopez run his undefeated streak to 15 fights with a seven round knockout of Jonathan Perez and Juanma Lopez' Olympic teammate Alexander "Pollo" de Jesus stopped Jose Antonio Izquierdo in the eight round.