By Miguel Rivera
Mario 'Quijote' Morales Coliseum in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico - Jayson "La Maravilla" Velez scored a convincing victory with a technical knockout in the twelfth round over former world champion Juan Manuel 'Juanma' Lopez in a very grueling match that saw both have their moments in the contest.
With the victory, Velez picked up the WBC International and the WBC's Fecarbox titles at the super featherweight limit of 130-pounds.
The contest headlined the 'Night of Champions DIRECTV: Live or Die' card that was broadcast via pay-per-view in Puerto Rico.
Velez started very strong and opened up a cut on Lopez with a right hand, which made the referee Luis Pabón pause the action for the doctor to check on the wound.
Despite this, Lopez raffled forward and pressed with his attacks, which turned the match into an extremely exciting one. But as the fight played out, Juanma appeared as if he was trying to survive while Velez was still landing and attacking.
During the twelfth, Jayson slipped a right that shook Lopez's bloody face. Pabón called the doctor again and took Lopez to the corner to have his wound checked. The doctor gave permission to continue.
That was the worst thing that could happen for the veteran.
A moment later, Velez landed a hard right hand that dropped Juanma.
He beat the count, but he was on unsteady legs and the end was near.
Velez knew his moment had come to close the show. He quickly jumped on Juanma and began to punish him with both hands. And once he had Lopez on the ropes, he placed in two hard hooks in a row, which landed flush and forced Pabón to stop the hostilities. The end came at minute 1:54 of the last round.
Juanma, a two division world champion, is likely going to retire in the aftermath of the loss.