by Rey Colon
Former two-division world champion Juan Manuel Lopez (33-2, 30 KO's) admits his June 15th bout, against undefeated WBO featherweight champion Mikey Garcia (30-0, 26 KO's), is a "life and death" battle at this point of his career. Juanma suffered two knockout defeats to Orlando Salido and came back with two quick wins. Now he returns to the featherweight limit of 126-pounds to face the rising star Garcia.
"I want to return to the top. Several things motivated me to return to featherweight. This is a fight where I'm risking a lot by going down to 126, which is no joke. It's life or death. I've been on a diet since April. I know I'm the underdog but in the ring it will only be me, him and the referee. Again, this is life or death. We're going to die in the ring if we have to and go all out. Salido, with his styles, gave mine fits. Pure boxers are easier than those who fight crazy. Then I can work more calmly. He is not a Floyd Mayweather and he is not a Manny Pacquiao. Mikey Garcia was getting tired when Salido was coming on," Juanma said.
"It's a tough fight but we will win it round by round. If the knockout comes, it will be late in the fight, around round eight or nine."
