Juan Manuel Lopez Vs Orlando Salido: Saturday Boxing Showdown on Showtime
By Geno McGahee
One of the most exciting fighters in boxing today, Juan Manuel Lopez, 30-0, 27 KO’s, will be stepping into the ring on Showtime to defend his WBO Featherweight Title against Orlando Salido, 34-11-2, 22 KO’s.
As Felix Trinidad retired, and Miguel Cotto fights beyond his prime, Puerto Rico has a new superstar that exhibits many of the characteristics of both national heroes. Much like Trinidad, he can be dropped, but like Trinidad, he will come back with ferocity. He stalks his opposition like Cotto, and packs a punch that has destroyed nearly everyone he has faced.
In 2008, Lopez made his mark on a big scale, stopping Daniel Ponce De Leon in one round, and with the exception of one questionable performance against Rogers Mtagwa, where he may have underestimated his foe and struggled to a decision win, he has been very impressive. He is in competition with another champion, Yuriorkis Gamboa, and Gamboa easily stopped Mtagwa early, and went the distance with Salido. Now it’s Juanma’s turn to see if he can win against a common opponent in more impressive fashion.
Salido went twelve with Gamboa, and has not lost by stoppage since 2000. He has won the majority of his fights after a rocky early career that gave him a record of: 11-7-1, 7 KO’s. His 11 defeats are deceiving. He is a live dog in the fight, but Juanma is just such a wonderful puncher and fighter, it’s hard to imagine him not overcoming Salido and in style.