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By Thomas Gerbasi - More humble than your average world champion (and probably more humble than your average group of champions), WBO super bantamweight boss Juan Manuel Lopez doesn’t specialize or even dabble in incendiary trash talk or outlandish statements. So when he tells you of the importance of his Saturday title defense against Rogers Mtagwa, you would normally just shrug it off as JuanMa being JuanMa – respectful, classy, and doing what it takes to make sure the WAMU Theatre at Madison Square Garden is filled on fight night.
But he’s right.
Sure, with a 26-0 record, four successful title defenses and consideration as one of boxing’s ten best, pound for pound, Lopez should have little problem taking out the tough, but limited Mtagwa, whose title shot may just be the boxing equivalent of a gold watch for 12 years of gallant service in the line of duty.
But in this day and age, it’s not if you win, but how, and with prospective dance partners like Israel Vazquez and Yuriorkis Gamboa all fighting on the same night, and fellow 122-pound champ Celestino Caballero no doubt watching intently, Lopez is well aware that if he wants the big fights in 2010, he has to finish off 2009 and Mtagwa in style. So in other words, Saturday night may be the most important night of his pro career. [details]
But he’s right.
Sure, with a 26-0 record, four successful title defenses and consideration as one of boxing’s ten best, pound for pound, Lopez should have little problem taking out the tough, but limited Mtagwa, whose title shot may just be the boxing equivalent of a gold watch for 12 years of gallant service in the line of duty.
But in this day and age, it’s not if you win, but how, and with prospective dance partners like Israel Vazquez and Yuriorkis Gamboa all fighting on the same night, and fellow 122-pound champ Celestino Caballero no doubt watching intently, Lopez is well aware that if he wants the big fights in 2010, he has to finish off 2009 and Mtagwa in style. So in other words, Saturday night may be the most important night of his pro career. [details]
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