By Jhonny Gonzalez
Early next week, former world champion Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lopez will appeal the sanctions imposed by the Boxing Commission of Puerto Rico (CBPPR). On April 3rd, the commission punished Lopez for last month's comments against referee Roberto Ramirez Sr. During a live televised interview, Lopez called Ramirez "a gambler" after getting stopped in ten rounds by Mexico's Orlando Salido on March 10th in San Juan.
The Puerto Rico Commission suspended Lopez for a period of one year, and he was hit with a $10,000 fine and 100 hours of community service. A few weeks go, Lopez held a press conference to issue a public apology to Ramirez - and he stated during a hearing with an officer appointed by the Puerto Rico Commission that he didn't have any evidence to support his remarks that Ramirez had a gambling problem.
Lopez's suspension will officially begin on May 3rd and expires on the same date in 2013.