CAGUAS, PUERTO RICO, Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lopez, the featherweight champion World Boxing Organization (WBO), came away without problems during the pre-fight weigh-in ceremony for his next fight on July 10 on the Billboard "The Challenge", which has him facing Filipino Bernabe Concepcion in a presentation by Top Rank in association with PR Best Boxing Promotions, which will be transmitted through the U.S. by Showtime from the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Lopez (28-0, 25 KOs) weighed 128 pounds, which is 4.3* below the maximum allowed by the Boxing Commission of Puerto Rico (CBPPR) of 132.3 or 5% above the 126 featherweight.
"We are more than good, eating well, hydrated and working hard to win this fight," Lopez said after the weigh-in, which took place in Las Catalinas Mall in Caguas. "We have never had weight problems, but now at 126 we are much better than we were at 122."
For his part, Concepcion (28-3-1, 15 KOs), who arrived last night in Puerto Rico, weighed 136 pounds going a little over the weight, but the group insisted that there will be no problems on the day of the official weigh-in, and his weight is a result of the long journey and the fact that today he had not yet trained.
Other contenders also made weight, bantamweight Jonathan Oquendo (18-2, 11 KOs) and his rival Eden Sonsona (25-1 and 17 knockouts), who will clash for a regional title in 10 rounds.
Oquendo, ranked eighth at 122-pounds in the WBO, weighed the 128 maximum allowed, while the balanced Sonsona was 137.1, and argued the same case of Concepcion.
In other clashes already announced McJoe Arroyo (3-0 and one KO), will face an opponent to be announced in the bantamweight and in his first fight in six rounds, while Carlos Negron (9-0 and seven KOs) will face in an eight-round cruiserweight bout against Mexican Gustavo Enriquez (15-9, 12 KOs).
Meanwhile, unbeaten José "Chelo" Gonzalez, 10-0 with six knockouts, will be facing an opponent to be announced in a clash in a six round lightweight bout.
On the other hand, the former Olympian Victor Bisbal (16-1, 11 KOs) will go to his second fight of this year when he faces Terrell Nelson (8-10 and five knockouts). The clash will be six rounds at heavyweight.
The TV bouts include Juanma Lopez (28-0, 25 knockouts) against Bernabe Concepcion (28-3-1, 15 KOs) for the WBO featherweight title and the Filipino Nonito Donaire (23-1, 15 KOs) against Mexican Hernan "Tyson" Marquez (25-1 and 18 knockouts) for the bantamweight interim title of the World Boxing Association (WBA).
The event will have a total of seven matches, starting the first game at 6:15 pm, while the Showtime telecast will open at 9:00 pm.
Tickets can be purchase at the Box Office of the Colosseum in Puerto Rico or Ticketpop ( www.ticketpoppr.com ) by calling (787) 294-0001 at a cost of $ 35, $ 50, $ 75, $ 150, $ 200 and $ 400.
