By Ernesto Castellanos, notifight.com
According to WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido (39-11-2, 27KOs), he will defend his championship against unbeaten Mikey Garcia (29-0, 25KOs) on February 2 in Puerto Rico - if Garcia defeats former champion Jonathan Barros on November 10th in Las Vegas. If all goes as planned, Salido-Garcia would take place the day before the Super Bowl as an HBO televised doubleheader.
Salido was going to face Garcia on the upcoming November date, but he injured his hand and was forced to withdrew.
"Hopefully my next fight is on February 2 in Puerto Rico against the winner of the contest between Mikey Garcia and Jonathan Barros. Certainly those plans are not concrete unless Garcia is the winner, and then everything will be ready in San Juan," Salido said to BoxingScene.com/Notifight.com.
One fight being discussed for the doubleheader is an all-Puerto Rican grudge match between former champions Juan Manuel Lopez (31-2, 28KOs) and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (22-2-1, 19KOs).
Salido, who already knocked out Lopez twice, would like to get his hands on Vazquez. He hopes to beat Garcia and then face Vazquez, should he beat Lopez. During a recent war of words between the two Puerto Rican boxers - Vazquez trashed Lopez for suffering two knockout defeats to Salido. Vazquez laughed at Salido's record, citing the eleven defeats.
"Yes I lost eleven times, but I've had great quality opponents - unlike Vazquez who never faced the type of opponents that I have. I would like to fight Wilfredo wherever. I don't think Vazquez would last more than six or seven rounds. There would be a knockout," Salido said.
