By Jhonny Gonzalez

WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lopez will continue to train until his fight with Rafael Marquez is officially called off. Their fight for September 18 is in jeopardy after Marquez injured the thumb of his right hand and was told by a doctor on Thursday to stay away from training for a few weeks. Now there are rumors going around that the injury was simply a minor sprain of the finger. Lopez is taking no chances and won't stop training. Amid the rumors, Lopez sparred for twelve rounds on Thursday.

The co-promoter of Marquez, Fernando Beltran flew to the Federal District of Mexico to further evaluate the situation. He will bring Marquez to an expert to take a look at the injury. Lopez says the situation should be made clear by the end of the week.

"I'm calm, working and following our plan. Fernando Beltrán went to Mexico to verify the seriousness of the matter and to determine if he really can not fight. I was told to continue doing my training until we get the latest information, which should come between [Friday] and Saturday afternoon," Lopez told reporter Reymund Colon.

"They said he was injured in a bus and others say it happened when he was sparring. So I have to wait for Beltran to speak to him and check how serious is the injury and determine whether or not the fight will go forward or if there is a plan B. I really do not know anything else. We will fight someone else if he have to, but that's not what I want to do, but my manager will decide what to do."