The featherweight champion of the World Boxing Organization (WBO), Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lopez, is in Los Angeles participating in various promotional activities before heading to Las Vegas to attend the fight between Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana, and after that he will travel to attend a birthday party for Manny Pacquiao in the Philippines.
This was announced Peter Rivera, vice president of PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP), indicating that Lopez (30-0, 27 KOs) stayed in Los Angeles after attending Saturday's boxing event in Anahein, California. He was invited by the president of Top Rank, Bob Arum, to participate in various promotional activities.
"Juanma stayed in Los Angeles with the people of Top Rank to be in various activities of presented by the company. HBO invited him to attend this Saturday's card between Khan and Maidana, and then on Sunday we are going to travel to the Philippines with Arum to go to attend the birthday party of Manny Pacquiao," said Rivera. "Juan has many fans in the Philippines and it's important for him to be there and to celebrate with the people of the Philippines."
Rivera added that at this time, Lopez is preparing to fight in mid-March to mid April in Puerto Rico, all depending on the meeting that takes place between Arum and Pacquiao in the Philippines. Arum wants enough promotional space between Pacquiao's return, slated for April 16 in Las Vegas, and Juanma's return.
"Right now I'm waiting for Pacquiao's decision in order to determine the exact date of Juanma's fight, which should be on the Showtime television network in March or April 2011," Rivera said.
