Juan Manuel Lopez finishes Steven Luevano in seven, wins WBO featherweight title
by Scott Christ on Jan 23, 2010 11:02 PM EST
in Boxing Results and Post-Fight Analysis
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Though it wasn't as rousing or spectacular as Yuriorkis Gamboa's two-round blitzing of Roger Mtagwa in the co-feature, Juan Manuel Lopez dominated and knocked out Steven Luevano in seven rounds, winning the WBO featherweight title in his first fight at 126 pounds.
Lopez (28-0, 25 KO) looked a bit sluggish early, and overly tentative, but by the fourth round or so, it was clear he was in firm control of the fight. Luevano (37-2-1, 15 KO) never did establish any rhythm or consistency in the fight, and really never troubled Lopez.
It was Luevano's sixth defense of the title he won in 2007. It was also his first loss inside the distance. The stoppage came just 44 seconds into the seventh round.
Lopez is now on track to fight Gamboa this summer if all stays according to plan. That fight will generate a lot of interest for both men, as they're two of the best young fighters in the sport today. Lopez may have lost some hype momentum while Gamboa has gained even more, but it's still a tremendously intriguing fight. Those guys can punch, and styles make fights.
We'll have more tomorrow. Thank you for joining us tonight for the first big card of 2010, and rest assured, we're just getting started for this year.
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Oh yeah!!!
"If you sit there and watch a person take about an hour to tie his shoestrings, then you realize that whatever problems you got ain't that significant"
---Vernon Forrest 2006
by The Midnight Rambler on Jan 23, 2010 11:06 PM EST reply actions
Mr. Sares,
Are you Puerto Rican?
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Jan 23, 2010 11:13 PM EST up reply actions
No. Greek and Italian—first generation American
"If you sit there and watch a person take about an hour to tie his shoestrings, then you realize that whatever problems you got ain't that significant"
---Vernon Forrest 2006
by The Midnight Rambler on Jan 25, 2010 9:13 AM EST up reply actions
i thought you were a fellow hispanic this whole time :(
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Jan 25, 2010 11:49 PM EST up reply actions
Wow, IHop just opened in Caguas didn’t think they were such aggresive sponsors, they got to him quick
Was that like in
International House of Pancakes?
by Don From Prov on Jan 24, 2010 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
Im picking Lopez
I’m picking Lopez. He would be the “technical fighter” against Gamboa and can keep him at a distance for a decision.
Lopez doesn’t look very technical to me. He looks like a 1-2 puncher with decent inside ability. And he’s slow. I don’t know how a slow fighter can beat Gamboa unless they just KO him, and I don’t see Lopez throwing enough punches to KO Gamboa.
"Yes Gina, I am a Wise Cracker"
Lopez has gotten slower in the last few years
Not exactly sure why. More bulk? But I remember that I used to be impressed by his quickness, and I wasn’t so much last night. Then again, Luevano has decent quickness as well, and Gamboa has some of the fastest hands in boxing.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
gamboa looked impressive against a slower, less technical dude than lopez. lopez won’t throw those wild, slow shots.
Lopez TKO 3
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Jan 23, 2010 11:21 PM EST reply actions
why won’t he throw those wild, slow shots against Gamboa? Do you think Gamboa will be easier to hit than Luevano?
"Yes Gina, I am a Wise Cracker"
No he won't be
Which is why throwing those wild shots would be foolish and that is why you would see less of them against Gamboa.
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 24, 2010 4:39 PM EST up reply actions
I think this performance puts Lopez
Firmly in contention for a top 20 p4p place. He and Gamboa are both fantastic boxers and I can’t wait till they face off. I like Lopez by fairly comfortable decision when they do.
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
HOPE YOY ARE RIGHT
"If you sit there and watch a person take about an hour to tie his shoestrings, then you realize that whatever problems you got ain't that significant"
---Vernon Forrest 2006
by The Midnight Rambler on Jan 24, 2010 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
Didn't used to think too much
of Gamboa’s amateur-heavy style. He’s settled down. Gamboa/Lopez = tough going.
The One Time
Bob Arum wasn’t lying was when he said,‘yesterday i was lying but today i’m telling the truth’,because i could swear he more or less guaranteed a Lopez V Gamboa fight if they both won last night.
Now,i agree,the fight will be better later in the year when it has more time to build but either one of them could get beat in that time so surely it’s better to strike while the iron’s hot?
Whatever,he’s the promoter but it just makes me think that he promised the Lopez V Gamboa match to hype up and sell tickets for this double bill.
Then i read he is quoted as saying ‘f**k the fans’ when interviewed last night.What a f**king d**k….The fans are lining his fat pockets,the smug b*stard!
For all the big fights they have made,i will be glad when Arum and Don King are gone and hopefully boxing becomes more controlled and regulated.
I live in hope.
NO
Ain’t no way Arum puts these two together now, and he shouldn’t, let em’ build up a following, the average guy doesn’t know them yet. Gamboa-John, Juanma-Caballero, then they meet in a HUGE fight. If either loses before then, well then it wasn’t meant to be, I don’ think it happens that way tho. They are the two best and next year we’ll see a helluva fight, and till then we get to see em’ both mature into top P4P guys. they’re young whats the rush. Peace!!
YES
but my point is that he talked it up like they were more or less a cert to fight next.He’s full of s**t.Why even say it if your just gonna go back on your word?He’s a big part of whats wrong with boxing,imo.He’a another of em who thinks he’s bigger than boxing.
If
you read my post properly you would see that i am in agreement that the fight would be better later.My point is that Arum is a lying rat.And thats a fact.
Arum is a boxing promoter. All the things he says are lies in order to hype up his fighters. Never believe anything unless its set down in a contract. Sounds cynical but its also realistic…..
by Waldo Rastel on Jan 24, 2010 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
Yes,
i’m aware of that:),but i don’t believe you have to be dishonest to do business.Like Iron Beach says though,maybe they did intend to match them next,then they saw how Gamboa destroyed the guy JuanMa struggled with.
I think you might need a little bit of dishonesty to do this business. If we just look at the top-level promoters, they are all skeez-balls.
Arum & Schaefer – Showed the true colors in the May – Pac nego
Shaw – Bradley Campbell aftermath
Goossen – Demanding home matches for Ward during the Super Six (Jerk move or Good Business move?)
DiBella – Allan Green ’nuff said
To do these negotiations I think you just have to be a jerk, and with that comes a bit of dishonesty. Just kinda the way it is.
by Waldo Rastel on Jan 24, 2010 3:50 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah,
probably true.I mean GBP started off well but they seem to be learning the tricks of the trade now:).I suppose,like you say,thats the way boxing is.
Also,i admit that Arum is making the right decision.I just think he should have said,‘we are gonna match these two down the road’,instead off,‘if they win,they will fight each other next’.
Well Matt
I didn’t wanna’ say this but maybe off of last nites performances somebody, like Bruce Trampler, TR’s matchmaker saw somethin’ he didn’t like for this match right now. Perhaps one of the guys didn’t look ready for the other rite now, I ain’t sayin’ which one or if its true or not,..but just maybe it’d be a better fight down the road a little. Whoops just read your 2nd post, but still I think it may be Trampler advising against doin’ it now. Peace!!
Well,
i can understand that.At this stage i just wonder if Gamboa would blow Lopez away to be honest.
I’d be shocked if JuanMa and Gamboa actually fought next. It would be a terrible business move. Assuming they both keep winning, a fight a year or so from now would be much bigger. Of course, in the old days these guys would be chomping at the bit to get into the ring with each other, money be damned. When it happens Gamboa will end JuanMa’s night fairly early.
in the old days these guys would be chomping at the bit to get into the ring with each other, money be damned.
Do you have a beter economic model than the international monetary system?
Also how old are these old days? Perhaps 50,60 or 70 years ago? Sorry but I really dislike the nostalgic idea that boxing was “better back in the day”.
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 24, 2010 4:46 PM EST up reply actions
Arum
has already been quoted as saying the fight won’t happen next.I would be happy to see them fight Chris John and Caballero next(who i think is overrated).
I was just saying that Arum changed his tune after the fight…..But then he never said he was the most honest person and he most probably has his reasons.
Lopez won’t handle the speed of Gamboa.As accomplished as Lopez is,i think he is pretty slow,certainly compared to Gamboa.And with the power and the range and placement of his punches,i see Gamboa stopping him within the first half of the fight,as things are at the moment.Also,with Lopez moving up i’m not sure he can KO Gamboa,even with Yuri’s dodgy whiskers.It may be different once Lopez has settled into the weight more but i really can’t see him being able to handle of Gamboa.
I’m pretty sure that when these two do eventually fight,speed will kill.
MATT
Arum doesn’t keep Trampler around ‘cause hes pretty, I’ve known Bruce since he was a matchmaker for club shows around Orlando 30 yrs. ago. The man knows the game and the fighters inside out, trust me he saw somethin’. Peace!!
Ya bobs saying there’s no way they’re gonna meet up yet. He wants to build the matchup. He wants them to first clean out the division, which means one of them would fight caballero in the near future which if true would be 100% fine with me. But I wonder if he really matches them up so tough.
by boxzilla on Jan 24, 2010 3:48 PM EST via mobile reply actions
He already has matched them up pretty tough
JunaMa was in with a top 5 guy last night and Gamboa was in with a rugged top 20.
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 24, 2010 4:49 PM EST up reply actions
To Give Lopez Due Credit,
no one has ever done that to Luevano and Lopez was moving up so who know?Maybe Lopez v Gamboa will be more competitve than in am seeing it right now.Especially once JuanMa has had 1 or 2 more fights at this weight.
I was totally unimpressed with Lopez
He’s slow, wild, hittable, relatively low output, and has plodding feet. I’m surprised to see so many people favoring Lopez to beat Gamboa. If they fought today, I think Gamboa blitzes Lopez. And, I think this guy’s a commercial creation. There’s nothing wrong with that – DLH was a commercial creation, but I didn’t really cheer for him either.
Remember Gamboa’s counter-left hook, I think against the southy’s lazy jab that punch is gonna wreak havoc.
"Yes Gina, I am a Wise Cracker"
feel similar .. overall i thought lopez looked slow and sloppy at many points of the fight. that being said it coulda been the aftereffects of his tough fight with rogers and moving up in weight as well as fighting a legit opponent. i do not know if this is regression, possible overhype or imo and hopefully more of blip/slump in his career. i will not discredit a guy or throw that over used term ‘exposed’ from a couple shaky performances against pretty legit fighters.
its odd he just dominated and stopped a legit titlest in a completely new weight-class and were doubting him … seems silly. personally i still look forward to seeing juanma back in the ring and at this point i am still a believer.
Lopez started off REALLY sluggish last night. That was actually probably the worst I’ve seen JML look, and I’m counting the rough go against Mtagwa. Had they fought last night, Gamboa would’ve beaten the crap out of him.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Jan 24, 2010 5:19 PM EST up reply actions
And I realize I’m criticizing a performance which, as boxzilla says, was him dominating and stopping a very legit titlist and an incoming top 2/3 featherweight in the world. I thought Luevano looked pretty lifeless for most of that fight too. The uppercuts Lopez kept landing probably should not have been getting through, for one thing.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Jan 24, 2010 5:20 PM EST up reply actions
May I take a bow?
“Now, his chance for redemption comes on January 23, 2010 when Mexican American Steven Luevano (37-1-1) defends his featherweight title against “Juanma,” who is moving up in weight at Madison Square Garden. This should prove a tough test for Lopez as Luevano is a well-disciplined, methodical and skilled fighter who relies on stiff jabs and a good defense as much as his solid chin and decent to win. He should be able to keep his Puerto Rican foe at a safe distance in the early going, but Juanma will torque things up around the fifth or sixth stanza and will be the first to stop the game but overwhelmed Luevano in the late rounds. And if so, look for the baton to be passed to Juan Manuel Lopez as the next next great Puerto Rican fighter."
"If you sit there and watch a person take about an hour to tie his shoestrings, then you realize that whatever problems you got ain't that significant"
---Vernon Forrest 2006
by The Midnight Rambler on Jan 24, 2010 5:57 PM EST reply actions
Well,Ted,
you certainly nailed the fight prediction to a tee,but the next great Puerto Rican??
That remains to be seen:).
He sure seemed popular in the mostly Puerto Rican arena
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Well, if he can avoid the Cuban, he has a chance…..
"If you sit there and watch a person take about an hour to tie his shoestrings, then you realize that whatever problems you got ain't that significant"
---Vernon Forrest 2006
by The Midnight Rambler on Jan 24, 2010 6:05 PM EST reply actions
I’m a fan of JML and Gamboa, but I think Gamboa would ice JuanMa, and without too much effort. Watch how and by what punches Lopez gets hit. His vulnerabilities are custom made for Gamboa, particularly considering Gamboa’s speed.
It’s very possible for sure. That left hook that Gamboa has turned into a killer punch is nasty.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Jan 25, 2010 3:20 AM EST up reply actions
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