GUAYNABO, PUERTO RICO - Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lopez, the former two-time world champion, appeared before the Puerto Rican media to apologize to the referee Roberto Ramirez for his post-fight comments that followed his TKO loss to Mexico's Orlando Salido, the featherweight champion of the World Boxing Organization (WBO), on March 10th in San Juan. Photos by Jose Perez/PRBBP.

"I want to apologize and apologize to referee Roberto Ramirez for the things I said after the fight with Salido. I'm embarrassed about what I said because I said things perhaps in the way that I do not even remember now, "said Lopez, who was accompanied by Peter Rivera, vice president of PR Best Boxing Promotions, Orlando Piñero his manager, his coach Alex Caraballo, his trainer Alexander Greaux and his attorney Pedro Hernandez.

"I saw the fight afterwards and I was really hurt and he stopped it, so I apologize and apologize to the people of Puerto Rico for what happened."

As for facing a suspension from the Boxing Commission of Puerto Rico, Lopez said that a one year suspension would be "advancing the end of my career. A year is too long without a fight. This is my job, boxing is my job."

Ramirez was unable to attend the press conference due to prior commitments, but Lopez said that at some point he will issue an apology in a face to face manner.

Tags: Juan Manuel Lopez , photos