By James Slater: It was a great night for Puerto Rican star Juan Manuel Lopez, as the local hero came back from his upset loss to Orlando Salido with a crushing KO win over fellow southpaw Mike Oliver last night.
Fighting in front of a loud and supportive crowd, “Juanma” wanted a quick win and he got one. Twice in the opening round Lopez decked the 31 year old, and once in the 2nd. It was after the third knockdown that the ref dived in to end matters.
Lopez is now 31-1(28). Oliver is now 25-3(8).
With his confidence restored after the win, 28 year old Lopez is now in the mood to reclaim his featherweight belt. There is talk of Lopez facing Salido in a rematch, with the return looking like going down early next year. Was the stoppage win the Mexican warrior scored over Lopez a fluke, or can the veteran repeat his win? The fans want to find out and so does Lopez.
“I just want to win a championship, you know?” Lopez said to ring.com. “I just want to fight for a title in my next fight. Obviously, I would like for that to be against Salido, but whoever my promoter decides, that’s who I will fight.”
Still a major player in the 126 pound division (and maybe a future big name up at 135), Lopez, if he can avenge his loss, can go on to get the massive fights he and his fans want. Fights against the likes of Yuriorkis Gamboa and Brandon Rios would be hugely exciting, and due to his withering power Lopez would have a great chance of winning.
These big pay days will only come if Lopez can get back to where he was with a revenge win over Salido. The rematch, which has to happen, will be a make or break fight for “Juanma.”
Lopez stops Oliver
(WBO Latino Title 126lbs – 12 Rounds)
MIKE OLIVER – VS. JUAN MANUEL LÓPEZ –
Hartford, Connecticut (25-3, 8KOs) Caguas, Puerto Rico (31-1, 28KOs)
Lopez won by TKO at 2:32 of the second round when after downed Oliver for the second time in the rounds, this fighter decided not to continue the bout. Oliver also downed in the first round.
(WBO Intercontinental Title 130lbs – 12 Rounds)
DANIEL ATTAH – VS. ROMÁN MARTÍNEZ –
FT. Lauderdale, Florida (26-8-1, 9KOs) Vega Baja, Puerto Rico (25-1, 16KOs)
Martinez won by TKO at 1:50 of the sixth round when referee stopped the fight after Atta down for the second time in the round.
(WBO Latino Title 122lbs – 12 Rounds)
JOSÉ LUIS ARAIZA – VS. JONATHAN OQUENDO –
San Diego, California (32-5, 23KOs) Vega Alta, Puerto Rico (22-2, 15KOs)
Oquendo won by KO at :56 seconds of the second round when sent to the floor Araiza with a left hook. Araiza downed in the first round too.
(135lbs – 6 Rounds)
EDWARD VALDEZ – VS. LUIS JOEL GONZÁLEZ –
New York, New York (5-8-2, 3KOs) Bayamón, Puerto Rico (9-0-1, 5KOs)
Gonza;ez won by unanimous decision when judges voted 59-55, 58-56 and 58-56.
(122lbs – 6 Rounds)
OMAR GONZÁLEZ – VS. CAMILO PÉREZ –
San Antonio, Texas (3-8, 1KOs) Carolina, Puerto Rico (6-0, 4KOs)
Perez won by unanimous decision when judges voted 60-50, 59-51 and 59-51. Gonzalez downed two times in the first round, one in the second an one in the sixth round.
(140lbs – 4 Rounds)
ANTHONY SÁNCHEZ – VS. CARLOS LÓPEZ –
Toa Baja, Puerto Rico (2-1, 2KOs) San Juan, Puerto Rico (3-1, 1KOs)
Sanchez won by unanimous decision when judges voted 40-35, 39-36 and 38-37.
(142lbs – 4 Rounds)
RADAMES VÉLEZ – VS. KENNETH DÍAZ –
Yauco, Puerto Rico (1-3, 1KOs) San Juan, Puerto Rico (3-0, 3KOs)
Diaz won by TKO when referee stopped the fight after Velez downed at 1:12 of the second round. Velez downed too in the first round.
(135lbs – 4 Rounds)
JOSÉ DEL VALLE – VS. RAFAEL GONZÁLEZ –
Corozal, Puerto Rico (1-1-1, 0KOs) Caguas, Puerto Rico (3-0, 3KOs)
Gonzalez won by KO at 2:06 of the second round with a left shot that downed Del Valle, who didn’t responded.
(130lbs – 4 Rounds)
PETER RAMPOLLA – VS. JEFFREY FONTÁNEZ –
Guánica, Puerto Rico (0-1) San Juan, Puerto Rico (3-0, 3KOs)
Fontanez won by KO at 2:15 of the first round when a hard left hook sent Rampolla to the canvas until the ten count.
Dominant Mathis Retains With Shutout
World Boxing Federation (WBF) Women’s World Welterweight Champion Anne Sophie Mathis decisively defended her title Saturday night in Yutz, France when she beat Puerto Rican-American challenger Cindy Serrano by wide unanimous decision.
After ten one-sided rounds, where Mathis controlled almost every second and put on a very impressive display of her boxing skills, judges Dominique Schmitt, Jean-Francois Toupin and Arnold Golger all scored the bout 100 – 90.
Cerrano proved to be very game but thoroughly out-gunned, and deserves a lot of credit for making it to the final bell.
The hard-punching Mathis, who hasn’t lost since her second pro fight almost eleven years ago, is now 25-1 (21). Serrano lost for the fourth time in a 15-4-1 (7) career.
Referee in charge of the action was Toni Tiberi from Luxembourg.
“It was very hot in there tonight, but it was a good experience going the distance. She was very tough, and you can’t win by knockout every time. I had her hurt a few times though, but let her off the hook”, said Mathis after the fight.
Mathis, performing at as high a level as ever at age 34, also defended her WIBA title and won the vacant WIBF crown in the process, and is now lined up for a super-fight against American Holy Holm (30-1-3, 9 KOs) in Albuquerque in December.
www.worldboxingfederation.net