Free-Swinging Juan Manuel Lopez Has Superstar Potential

A storm is brewing in the superbantamweight and featherweight divisions of professional boxing, and Puerto Rican southpaw Juan Manuel Lopez is at its epicenter.

For whenever a rising 122-, or, 126-pound fighter mentions an opponent, Lopez's name always comes up.

"It's a big compliment when people talk about me being the centerpiece," Lopez said. "It's up to me to do what they expect me to do."

The 26-year-old WBO superbantamweight (122 pounds) will put his unbeaten record on the line yet again on Saturday, Oct. 10 at New York's Madison Square Garden, making the fifth defense of his crown against Tanzanian-born Rogers Mtagwa (26-12-2, 18 knockouts), now of Philadelphia.

"[Mtagwa's] a guy that comes at you. He's awkward, throws a lot of punches from different directions to overwhelm you," said Lopez, who is 26-0 with 24 KOs. "But he leaves himself open, which is when you can counter-punch him. He's a guy I can knock out."

A fomer 2004 Olympian, Lopez won his title in June 2008 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, starching veteran Daniel Ponce de Leon in the first round. Ponce de Leon lost for the second time in 36 bouts and was stopped for the first time in his career.

Lopez looks to turn in a similar effort against Mtagwa at the Garden, where fellow Cuagas, P.R., native and welterweight (147) Miguel Cotto has gone 6-0 with three KOs mostly before capacity, partisan Latino crowds.

On the undercard of Cotto's ninth-round knockout of Muhammad Abdulaev at the Garden in June 2005, Lopez scored a third-round KO of Eric Nemo in his fourth fight.

Lopez aspires to be like Cotto at the Garden, where the latter has vanquished Shane Mosley, Zab Judah and Joshua Clottey.

"That's always a goal of any Puerto Rican fighter -- to be in the big fight at the Garden. I want all of the Puerto Ricans to see that I can do something special," Lopez said. "I'd like to show them a little bit of everything. I know that I'm a good defensive fighter, I know that I'm a great offensive fighter. Everyone knows my power is there."

In victory, Lopez would have a plethora of potential opponents to chose from, even as Top Rank's Todd duBoef tries to keep him focused on Mtagwa.



"When we talk about Juanma [Lopez's nickname] being at the epicenter of the different types of opponents, the different type of styles, he's prepared for it," said duBoef. "But Mtagwa is someone you're going to be on pins and needles with.

"I don't want him to get distracted. He's got to perform. He's got a big road ahead of him. He may have one or two more fights at this weight, so has to deliver in the ring."

The possibilities, however, are impossible to ignore.

One such opponent that will be competing on the same MSG card Saturday night is WBA featherweight (126) titlist Yuiorkis Gamboa (15-0, 13 KOs). Born in Guantanamo, Cuba, and living in Miami, Gamboa takes on challenger Whyber Garcia (22-6, 15 KOs) of Panama City, Panama.

"If the fight (with Gamboa) comes, I really know him very well. I've had an opportunity to see him a few times. I know how he fights and what he likes to do," Lopez said. "There's no doubt in my mind that when we do fight, I can beat him. It would be a big challenge for me and a great fight for both of us."

Also competing on Saturday night at Los Angeles' Nokia Theater is WBC super bantamweight (122) champ Israel Vazquez (43-4, 31 KOs), who defends his title against Columbia's Angel Antonio Priolo (30-7, 20 KOs).

An exciting veteran in his own right, Vazquez recently completed a classic, three-fight round-robin with Mexico City's Rafael Marquez.

Vazquez, 31, lost to Marquez by a seventh-round knockout before earning successive victories by sixth-round stoppage and decision.

A resident of Huntington Park, Calif, Vazquez was born in Mexico City. So a bout against the Puerto Rican Lopez would blend into a long-standing rivalry that might do for the super bantamweight division what Felix Trinidad-Oscar De La Hoya did for the welterweights.

Vazquez, whose last fight was the decision over Marquez in March 2008, returns from a 19-month layoff against Priolo after having had three operations to repair a detached retina.

"Without a doubt, I'm going to be rooting for [Vazquez] to win. I know that I'm going to win the same night and I do look forward to maybe fighting him in the future," Lopez said. "My company's going to be looking to make those great fights for me. That's one guy I would look forward to fighting if there's an opportunity to do so."

Moving up to face WBO featherweight (126) champ Steven Luevano (37-1, 15 KOs) of Los Angeles is yet another consideration, said Lopez, who noted, "I'm probably just doing one more fight, maybe two at 122, then I'm looking to go to 126."

WBA and IBF super bantamweight champ Celestine Caballero (33-2, 23 KOs) is another potential opponent. Caballero has drawn the ire of Lopez, who believes him to be trashtalking.

"I know that he's out there and I'm looking forward to shutting his mouth up once and for all," Lopez said. "There are some big names out there that I can fight. Whoever's next is next."