Juan Manuel Lopez Back on October 1 Against Mike Oliver

by Scott Christ on Aug 19, 2011 6:37 PM EDT in Boxing News Analysis

Juan Manuel Lopez will get back in the ring on October 1 for his first fight since losing to Orlando Salido on April 16, facing Mike Oliver in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Lopez (30-1, 27 KO) is the latest in a string of guys who are supposedly fighting Oliver (25-2, 8 KO), after Salido and Rafael Marquez both had dates set against the 31-year-old Connecticut native in July. Neither of those fights came off, obviously, but this one seems far more concrete, as actual press events have been held and everything.

Also on the card will be Puerto Rican super featherweight Roman "Rocky' Martinez (24-1-1, 15 KO) taking on Ramon Maas (25-1, 15 KO) of Mexico, and a WBO super bantamweight eliminator between Jonathan Oquendo (21-2, 14 KO) and Sod Kokietgym (51-2-1, 21 KO).

Really, it's a nice-looking card that would appeal to diehards, but U.S. TV isn't likely. HBO is running the Sergio Martinez vs Darren Baker / Andy Lee vs Brian Vera II double-header that night, and Top Rank has a show on Fox Sports Net headlined by the super bantamweight title fight between Toshiaki Nishioka and Rafael Marquez.

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Why would Top Rank compete against themselves?

Bob Arum would promote Lucifer himself if he could put asses in the seats.

by Apprentice on Aug 19, 2011 6:52 PM EDT reply actions

They aren’t, really. PR Best is putting on the show in Puerto Rico.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Aug 19, 2011 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I mean, it’s going forward with Top Rank’s blessing and all that, but PR Best is leading the promotion here, and it’s nothing but a stay busy fight for Juanma. Dates are very limited and he needed to fight sometime.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Aug 19, 2011 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Got it, thanks.

Bob Arum would promote Lucifer himself if he could put asses in the seats.

by Apprentice on Aug 20, 2011 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Oliver possess some of the fastest hands in Boxing today. Overall he has a pretty good skill package. Sadly for him his chin is 100% china. He just can’t take a punch. This won’t end well for him

All of it. Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie. I want it all.

by Eugene Banks on Aug 19, 2011 9:19 PM EDT reply actions