By Mark Vester
WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez (24-0, 22KOs) is planning to do a lot of damage when he meets veteran Gerry Penalosa (54-6-2, 36KOs), the WBO's bantamweight champ, on April 25 at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
Juanma predicts a big win by knockout, but doesn't want fans to think he is overconfident. He knows Penalosa is a veteran and that's why he's prepared to go the distance.
"I have no doubt about [knocking him out], but I was well prepared to go the full twelve rounds. I do not want people to misunderstand me and think that I'm overconfident or something. Penalosa always comes forward and takes a lot of left hooks and rights. I'm going to do a lot of damage," Lopez told Primera Hora.
"I am very calm. A lot of people say that I'm overconfident, but if I don't place trust in myself, then who will? I've done a very good job and I am well aware of things that are inside and outside of the ring."
Juanma also has no idea what Penalosa and his trainer, Freddie Roach, are talking about, pointing to their recent comments about his fighting style and the flaws it possesses.
"I don't know what [Roach] saw. Penalosa also said that I was hit a lot in the fight with Ponce De Leon. I don't know what punches landed. The fight only lasted two minutes," Lopez said as he laughed.
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