By Cliff Rold
It was supposed to be the weekend’s ‘other’ Jr. Flyweight title fight. When the excellent match between WBO and Ring Magazine 108 lb. titlist Donnie Nietes and former WBO/IBF unified 105 lb. titlist Francisco Rodriguez Jr. was moved to July 11th, it became the main event for the week.
Pedro Guevara made good on a second chance at a major title after dropping a decision to Johnriel Casimero in 2012. A knockout of former lineal Flyweight king Akira Yaegashi late last year placed him in new regard. Now Guevara has a veteran challenger who enters in the last chance phase of boxing life.
Let’s go the report card.
The Ledgers
Pedro Guevara
Age: 26
Titles: IBF Light Flyweight (2014-Present, 1 Defense)
Previous Titles: None
Height: 5’4
Weight: 107.8 lbs.
Hails from: Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico
Record: 25-1-1, 17 KO
Rankings: #1 (Ring, BoxRec), #2 (BoxingScene, TBRB, ESPN)
Record in Major Title Fights: 2-1, 2 KO
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: 4 (Mario Rodriguez D12, UD12; Johnriel Casimero L12; Raul Garcia SD12; Akira Yaegashi KO7)
Vs.
Ganigan Lopez
Age: 33
Title/Previous Titles: None
Height: 5’4 ½
Weight: 107.8 lbs.
Hails from: Mexico City, Mexico
Record: 25-5, 16 KO, 1 KOBY
Rankings: #5 (BoxingScene, BoxRec), #10 (TBRB)
Record in Major Title Fights: 1st Title Opportunity
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: 4 (Adrian Hernandez L10; Mario Rodriguez UD12)
Grades
Pre-Fight: Speed – Guevara B; Lopez B
Pre-Fight: Power – Guevara B; Lopez B
Pre-Fight: Defense – Guevara B; Lopez B-
Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Guevara B+; Lopez B-
This could be a fight where both men feel like they’re looking in a mirror in spots. They’re about equally matched in terms of speed. Neither is blazing of hand or foot, but they are capable professionals. Both men work well off the jab, but Lopez coming from the southpaw side could make it interesting. Southpaw Raul Garcia held Guevara to a split decision.
Overall, Guevara holds the edge in quality opponents but that could be by way of looking at former titlists and not deeper in the record. Lopez has seen tough guys like Juan Palacios (who held an interim title and bested Lopez) and Luis Ceja amidst an assortment of the usual suspects.
Youth could play a role here. 33 isn’t as old as it used to be in boxing but it’s still old for all but a select few in the lower weight classes. Guevara beat Yaegashi in part on sheer freshness, Yaegashi having just been through the Roman Gonzalez meat grinder and with several wars prior. Lopez, only shortly removed from a decided win over former 105 lb. titlist Mario Rodriguez is doing some of his best work.
That said, Guevara has also been more successful against better fighters than Lopez has. Seeing tough outs is different then beating them consistently when you do. Guevara so far has answered the call in a bigger way and will be in his hometown for this second defense of his title.
The Pick
Lopez has only been stopped once by big puncher Denver Cuello, that in the second round. He’ll last longer here and make an honest go, but his age and the superior quality of Guevara are big obstacles. Guevara showed real growth against Yaegashi and he's the fresher of the two. Lopez will suffer the second stoppage of his career but the fight will have its share of fireworks.
Report Card and Staff Picks 2015: 54-13 (Including staff pick for Freshmart-Diaz)
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com