By Miguel Rivera
Despite a six month suspension, former two-division world champion Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lopez is planning to fight again by June of this year.
Lopez was suspended for six months by the Professional Boxing Commission of Puerto Rico - for his role in a post-fight brawl with trainer Albert Rivera on October 29th. Last month, both men appeared at an administrative hearing before three members of the Commission to determine their punishment.
That night in October, seconds after Lopez was punishing Wilfredo Vázquez Jr. and referee Ramon Peña jumped in to stop the fight - Lopez walked over to the corner of his opponent where he was confronted by Rivera, and they traded punches before they were separated.
When the incident first took place, Herman Colberg, president of the Commission, decided to suspend the licenses of both men, and he also imposed fines of $1,000 on Lopez and $500 on Rivera. Lopez and Rivera have filed separate petitions for reconsideration.
Lopez expected a suspension, likely for a six month period. The suspension expires on June 1.
"I am calm and at peace. More or less I imagined that [six months] was the time that they were going to give us," said Lopez to El Vocero.
"We know we made a mistake that would lead to a fine and being out of action for several months ... but we always have to look for the positive side of things."
The fight with Vazquez was Lopez's first after announcing his retirement following two straight losses in 2014. He had in mind the possibility of another fight in late April or early May."
"That [suspension] gives us a little more time to train, although I've yet to sit down to speak with [promoter] Carlos Maldonado and the lawyers to see if we ask for an appeal," Lopez said.
"We will abide by what came down in the resolution. We recognize what happened that night and paid for those acts. We have been responsible for what happened. We know the situation and understand the message that the Commission wants to take, but now we are going to go through an evaluation process to see if a request for reconsideration should be made."
