Jose 'Wonder Boy' Lopez Returns, 2/7 In Carolina, P.R.

By Jake Donovan

The last time Jose  “Wonder Boy” Lopez appeared in the ring, a wild fight ensued—in the ring and still in the courtrooms to this day.

The unbeaten super bantamweight prospect survived multiple knockdowns in the opening round of an eventual eight-round decision win over Roberto Castañeda last August. Actions beyond the ropes for their UniMas-televised brawl sparked a series of investigations suggestive of corruption, with those cases still ongoing.

Meanwhile, Lopez (15-0, 11KOs) returns to the ring for the first time since that crazy night last August, as he faces Josean “El Tren” Figeuroa on February 7 in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

The show is presented by Promociones Miguel Cotto and Hector Soto's H2 Promotions. 

While fireworks are promised, the unbeaten 20-year old prospect insists lessons were learned the last time he attempted to put entertainment before education.

“What happened was that I knocked him down and he caught me with a good shot when I wanted to finish him,” theorizes Lopez, who enjoys true hometown advantage for the February 7 show. “These things happens in boxing. But I am still learning, It’s all new for me. I still have a world to learn.” 

Naturally, his opponent has other plans and is coming to swing for the crown. 

“It's a tough fight and he is undefeated, but not an impossible fight,” Figueroa (8-3-1, 7KOs) notes. “He's a fighter who makes a lot of mistakes. A draw would have been fair in his fight with Castañeda. This won’t happen to me on February 7; I am going after him and his undefeated record.” 

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox