Juanma Feels Time Off Helped Heal Damaged Body
May 28, 2013 • 2:43 AM ET
By Jake Donovan
It’s been more than a year since Juan Manuel Lopez has fought at the championship level, after having spent the previous four years as a titlist or challenger. The Puerto Rican southpaw returns to that level of the sport when he faces top featherweight Miguel Angel Garcia, June 15 in Dallas, Texas.
The bout marks his first title fight since his 10th round knockout loss to Orlando Salido last March, an ill-fated rematch that was met with a subsequent suspension. Lopez didn’t take the loss very well, insisting that the referee (Roberto Ramirez Sr.) was on the take.
“The stupid things I said after the Salido rematch was without a doubt the lowest point of my career,” Lopez (33-2, 30KO) admits. “You make errors, you live with them. I paid the price and I regret that it happened.”
The comments were deemed offensive enough for the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission to have the former two-time titlist sit out for the remainder of 2012. Lopez initially protested the ruling, insisting that a year-long ban would squander the remainder of his prime.
Looking back, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, even if a road he’d rather never again travel.
“As they say, there is a silver lining to everything. That was my silver lining,” Lopez says of the time off. “My body was better off. I was in a lot of wars, especially the two fights with Salido. Now I’m ready for these types of fights again.”
The bout with Garcia (31-0, 26KO) was originally rumored to take place at a catchweight given Lopez’ reported struggles to properly make the featherweight limit. However, a pair of tune-up fights and a year free of any physical punishment absorbed has him feeling good heading into what he views as the most important fight of his career.
“I feel great right now,” said Lopez, who is easily on target to make weight. “These two fights (knockout wins over Aldimar Silva and Eugenio Lopez earlier this year) have helped. I will be in best shape I can for this opportunity to reclaim my title.”
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board, Yahoo Boxing Ratings Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
