by James Slater: According to a flash on top news site Fightnews.com, the scheduled September 18th clash between Juan Manuel Lopez and Rafael Marquez will not go ahead as planned. Marquez apparently injured his thumb, on the door of a bus of all things, and has been advised by his doctor to rest for six to eight weeks. This obviously means the Mexican warrior will not be ready in time to face the unbeaten Puerto Rican banger on the 18th of next month as planned.
According to the news, World Boxing Organization featherweight champ Lopez is hoping to find a replacement high profile foe so as to keep the date of Sept. 18th and not disappoint his fans. Hopefully, when Marquez is back in tip top shape, the intriguing and potentially explosive match will find a new date. Las Vegas was to host the big fight, and perhaps if the fight is rescheduled the venue will stay the same.
One of the most eagerly anticipated fights of the year, it’s a real downer that Lopez-Marquez has fallen through. Marquez, now aged 35 but still an incredible fighter, is coming off his May win over archrival Israel Vazquez, and the decision to take on the lethal southpaw known as “Juanma” was seen as a brave/audacious one on his part. Now we will have to wait and see if the veteran’s choice of next opponent was a wise one or a foolish one.
Lopez, much the younger man at age 27, will hopefully get it on with a big name next month; but will a big name want to risk taking such a dangerous (albeit lucrative) fight at such short notice? Is four-and-a-half weeks enough time for a top-rated and well known 126-pounder to get into shape for a rumble with one of the sport’s hardest hitters? Top Rank hopes so. As do the fans.
Lopez, 29-0(26) is coming off a get-off-the-floor win over Bernabe Concepcion, who he halted inside two explosive rounds back on July 10th. Having won his second title, at a second weight, Lopez was looking forward to his first Las Vegas headline slot against a legend. Marquez, who improved to 39-5(35) with the easy win over Vazquez, has already won two world titles in different weight classes himself , and a win over Lopez would have further solidified his superb reputation as one of the best of the last decade.