By Jhonny Gonzalez
WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez says that he learned a valuable lesson by watching Miguel Cotto's recent knockout win over Ricardo Mayorga. He plans to apply his new education in the fight with Orlando Salido on April 16 in Bayamón. In the past, Lopez has made mistakes by chasing a knockout from the start of the first round. He saw how Cotto stayed calm, boxed from round to round and took the knockout in the twelfth.
"The fight to me was like going back to school. I saw him moving more and doing a few things that he did in the past, and I have to do the same. Also based on that, you have to look, learn and know that you have to take things round by round. Being smart in the ring, cautious, is what we plan to do," Lopez said to Jose Sanchez.
"I'll have to make my adjustments, leaving the audience a little to the side. I have to forget about pleasing the public for a moment, focus on doing our job by moving and going back to basics. In the past, I made mistakes by always looking to please the public. I'm a two-time champion and have a record of 30-0, with 27 knockouts. I have nothing to prove to anybody."
Juanma acknowledged Salido is a very dangerous opponent, despite the 11 defeats that are connected to his 34 wins with 22 KOs. Lopez returns from last November's technical knockout win in eight rounds over Mexico's Rafael Marquez.
"I know Salido is a dangerous fighter. I can not get carried away by the record and I can not get carried away because he has 11 losses. He fought with the best of the division. He's a warrior, but as I always say, this is my time and I will not let anyone push me from my position," Lopez said.
