By Mark Vester

WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano would love to accept a fight with Juan Manuel Lopez - but not in Puerto Rico. Top Rank, who promote both guys, want to match the two fighters in the main event of an HBO televised card on January 23 in Puerto Rico.

"Lopez is a good person and it would be a great fight for me, but not if it's held in Puerto Rico. It would have to take place in the United States," Luevano told Primera Hora. "[Top Rank] have not yet spoken to me about the possibility of the Lopez fight, so it all depends on Top Rank. Fighting against Lopez would open many doors for me and I am willing to do it."

Lopez was upset when the paper told him that Luevano would refuse to fight him in Puerto Rico. When Lopez won his WBO super bantamweight title from Daniel Ponce De Leon, he was unable to do so before his countrymen. He would like to win the second championship of his career at home. 

"He knows that it's the promoter (Bob Arum) who is in charge of [where the fight takes place]. Everything will be solved over time. I do not have any problems fighting with Luevano anywhere, but I he would like to be able to win a second world title before my people. I couldn't do that when I beat Daniel Ponce De Leon," said Lopez. 

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