By Mark Vester
WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez is looking for big things in 2009. After his dominating stoppage of Gerry Penalosa last weekend in Puerto Rico, the unbeaten rising star wants to take part in bigger fights before the end of the year.
"I am very pleased to have won in the way that I did. I wanted once and for all to remove any doubt that I am a great fighter and I have the necessary conditioning to fight for more than just one round," Lopez said to
Primera Hora
.
Juanma wants the big fights. He says the other top fighters at his weight don't want him. He plans to move up to featherweight in the early part of next year.
"What many people don't know is that other boxers have not wanted to fight me. Celestino Caballero said that he would but I will not wait around for anyone. No later than February 2010 I'm going to look for a title at 126 pounds. In fact, there have already been early discussions about a fight in July, and maybe Israel Vazquez in September," Lopez said.
Juan wants to continue his busy pace by fighting four times in 2009. The fight in July may come against Antonio Escalante.
"We want to have at least four fights this year. For example, Antonio Escalante, who previously had said he wanted to fight me, seems to be a good option [for July]. I'll be away from the gym for about two weeks, but then I will upkeep my conditioning because in mid-May I going on vacation with my children, then in June I will begin a full training camp," Lopez said.
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