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Juanma Lopez next fight will be against Tanzanian Rogers Mtagwa, but, judging by the concerns of journalists, one would think that his next rival will be Celestino Caballero, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Israel Vazquez.
During a conference call Wednesday, whose main purpose was that the Puerto Rican champion talk about his fight with Mtagwa, who he will meet Oct. 10 at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden (which will be televised on pay per view), virtually all press questions were about those so-called "big names" that Lopez must begin to address from 2010.
And it sbecause the media expects Lopez handling Mtagwas his 13th defeat and in a one sided fashion without much emotion.
This makes it more interesting to ask Lopez about the likes of Caballero, Gamboa and Vasquez. Lopez must begin his path to stardom with the fight with the Panamanian Caballero, WBA and IBF Super bantamweight champion. For the unification fight, the promotion is already running with the insults of the canalero champion and lopez and is designated tentatively for Jan. 23 in Puerto Rico.
Then, Lopez is expected to move up to 126 pounds and there await Gamboa, Vasquez and other rivals such as Rafael Marquez, Steven Luevano, Bernabe Concepcion and Chris John.
"My career is going well. This is step by step and we are there, a few fights to get to the point of being elite, to reach the top. But no hurry, "said Lopez, adding that" I'm flattered that I've been mentioned as a possible rival of so many good fighters and it said that for them to make a good fight has to be me. That means the work we have done has worked. "
The left-handed Lopez, unbeaten in 26 fights with 24 KOs, added that once surpasses Mtagwa, "I'm ready to fight against all those names, its only a matter of getting the cintracts signed.
The Cuban Gamboa (15-0 with 13) is the interim WBA featherweight champion and will be the co-star on October 10 when he faces Whyber Garcia.
To meet the challenge, Gamboa could be the rival of Lopez on the blockbuster card that Top Rank traditionally helds in June at the Garden on the eve of the Puerto Rican Parade in 2010 in wich Lopez will be the main event.
Another option for Lopez that night may be the Mexican Vazquez, former super bantamweight champion, who will return Oct. 10, but in Los Angeles. He will be making his first fight since March last year, colliding with the Colombian Angel Antonio Priolo. Vazquez has not fought since the last fight of the trilogy that was spectacular with Marquez.
Emotioned with N.Y.
Lopez said that is a dream come true, to be headlining at the garden.
"I am grateful to this great opportunity to headline in New York. That's the dream of all Puerto Rican fighters and did not think it would be so fast. "
CAUTION WITH ROGERS
Although Mtagwa has an unimpressive record of 26-12-2 with 18 knockouts, Lopez said he will not underestimate him.
"Mtagwa is a strong fighter that gets hit a lot, but we have to be carefull, beause he punches from weird angles and he throws lots of wild punches.
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