This Saturday, 25th of April in a card titled ?Champion vs Champion?, the Puerto Rican champion Juan Manuel ?Juanma? L?pez (24-0 y 22 knockouts) will defend his WBO junior featherweight title against the WBO bantamweight champion, the Filipino Gerry Pe?alosa. The event is presented by PR Best Boxing Promotions and Top Rank and will be broadcast live by HBO from the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Bayamon Puerto Rico.
In the second part of our interview with Juan Manuel Lopez, the young Puerto Rican champ talks to us about another Filipino fighter has been rumored to be matched against him in the past, Bernabe Concepcion, gives us his thoughts on the Pound for Pond debate (Manny Pacquaio-Juan Manuel Marquez), discusses the possibility of the start of a boxing rivalry between Puerto Rican and Filipino boxers, and sends a message directly to all Filipino boxing fans.
Pe?alosa is a boxer from the Philippines, a country that is currently going through a great moment in its Boxing history. Another boxer from this country which has been mentioned as a possible opponent for you has been Bernab? Concepci?n. The last thing I heard about him was that he was moving up to face Steven Luevano, until Luevano got injured. What?s your opinion of Concepci?n and do you still see him as future rival?
Look, that was going to be a good fight, but to me Concepci?n is not a 126 pounder. I still see him as a junior featherweight. He?s even shorter then I am. I really don?t know why he?s thinking of fighting at 126. Like you said he has been mentioned as a possible opponent of mines in the past, but only they know why they didn?t accept the fight against me. Bernab? Concepci?n is a great fighter, but you know Luevano was going to be a much bigger boxer and has the boxing skills to beat Concepci?n if that fight took place.
It has been mentioned that you could be moving up to 126 in the near future. Are you following the division to see who your future rivals could be?
Yeah, of course, we?re paying attention to all champions at 126. Fighters like Rocky Juarez, Chris John, and the Cuban Yurokis Gamboa. We?re paying attention to all the elite fighters in the division, since we eventually plan to go up to that division. I don?t know if this could be in our next fight or towards the end of the year, but this year I should be at 126. We have to pay attention and see what we will find up there and what type of opponents the featherweight division has.
One of the most discussed debates in boxing right now is who the best pound for pound boxer in boxing is right now. Most people seem to believe it is between Manny Pacquaio and Juan Manuel Marquez. I would like to know your opinion on who is the best fighter in boxing at this moment?
Well, it?s definitely Manny Pacquiao. Juan Manuel Marquez is a great boxer that?s had great fights against Manny Pacquiao, but Pacquiao has done big ? big things in boxing. So I definitely believe Manny Pacquiao is the number one pound for pound boxer in the world and of course I believe he is followed by Juan Manuel Marquez, who has also accomplished great things in the sport.
The week after your fight Manny Pacquiao is going to be facing Ricky Hatton. What?s your take on that fight, and who do you see winning it?
If we go based on styles, Pacquiao style should dominate Hatton?s. However, that doesn?t mean that?s what will happen inside the ring. We have to see how Manny Pacquiao deals with a boxer like Ricky Hatton that is strong and aggressive. A fighter that always goes forward, because Pacquiao did beat Oscar de la Hoya, but the reality is that Oscar had nothing left in that fight. I was there at the weigh in and fought on that card and De la Hoya was dry and dehydrated. He had a lot of difficulties making the weight. Now Manny Pacquiao has to deal with a strong and aggressive Ricky Hatton with lot of desire to win and with a lot to prove to the world since his career has kind of stalled after his loss to Mayweather. I do believe that if we look at the two styles, Manny Pacquiao should dominate this fight, but we have to see what happens. Its one thing what should happen and another what will happen when Hatton and Pacquiao start landing on each other. I think most people are choosing Manny Pacquiao to win this fight, but I?m not so sure who?s going to win. A fight with Ricky Hatton is never easy.
In the last few years the Filipino boxing has risen, lead in great part by Manny Pacquiao. At the same time Puerto Rico is currently going through its own resurgent having 6 champions at this moment. This could possibly lead to some good fights in the future and a new rivalry between Filipino and Puerto Rican boxers. This fight between you and Pe?alosa could be the bout that sets off this rivalry. What?s your opinion of Filipino boxers and the possibility of this new rivalry?
Look, the Filipino boxers have recently surged to create a name for themselves. Maybe there was a time when they weren?t recognized as great boxers, but nowadays everyone has to recognize that they have a great school of boxing. Great foundation and they appear to me a lot like us Boricuas because they have more or less the same height, reach and a somewhat similar style. The difference is Filipinos like to come forward, while we like to box a bit more. But the Filipino boxer is quick and even though he comes forward they box also. So they have a style that while it is not the same, it is similar to ours and because of their physical characteristics which is similar to us, we could create a great and respectful boxing rivalry between our countries. It was would be something positive because if you look we?ve had some great fights between Puerto Rico and Mexico, so I think it would be great for boxing to have fights of that caliber between the Philippines and Puerto Rico as well.
Do you have a final message for the Filipino boxing fans that might be watching you fight for the first time against Pe?alosa?
Look when I went to Las Vegas and fought in the Manny Pacquiao card there were a lot of Filipino boxing fights that recognized me and gave me their support. I hope they keep watching my fights, because there is going to be Juan Ma for a long time. But above all, no matter what happens in this fight, I wanted then to know that I have a lot of respect and appreciation for Filipino community. I?m a great friend of Manny Pacquiao and what ever happens I hope this won?t change things too much and always thank your support.
