By Rey Colon

Former WBO world featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez (31-2, 28 KO's) believes Orlando Salido is no longer the same after their two vicious wars from 2011 and 2012, and points to that as the reason for Salido's one-sided showing in his recent loss to undefeated Mikey Garcia. Salido was dropped four times and lose an eight round technical decision. He says Salido was already feeling the effects after their first match, stating the Mexican boxer fought unknown Weng Haya in December 2011 and was nearly knocked out.

Salido came back the following year to stop Lopez for the second time in a very physical fight. Lopez comes back on February 2 in Puerto Rico. Salido will now go up to 130-pounds, which Juanma says is a good thing.

"I think the [first] fight me was very tough [for him]. Then he took another fight with a Japanese boxer and that was also tough and then he came back to fight me again and that was really hard for him as well. On my record, the fighters who I faced in tough battles have never been the same - like Bernabe Concepcion, Gerry Penalosa, Roger Mgtawa. [Salido] looked weak [at 126] and couple of those knockdowns were from punches that were not as strong as the shots I hit him with. Garcia is a great fighter. It seemed like he was sparring [with Salido] and playing with him," Juanma said.