Boxing is a unique sport in that the yearly schedule of events is never orchestrated ahead of time and you never know what characters will be featured at which locations on a constant basis. During every notable fight week the venue at hand seems to become the center of the boxing world?s attention for that brief span while the pre-fight buzz mounts.
This weekend in San Juan, Puerto Rico the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot will play host to a WBO featherweight championship clash between champion Juan Manuel Lopez and gritty challenger Bernabe Concepcion. As the fight draws near several storylines from the beautiful island of Puerto Rico have been coming out, both in relation to the Lopez-Concepcion card as well as news featuring other figures in the sport.
This is some of the buzz coming from Puerto Rico at the moment?
Juan Manuel Lopez trains for Concepcion
Yesterday afternoon Juan Manuel Lopez shook out for the press under coach Alex Caraballo and trainer Victor Martinez. Lopez noted that he was in excellent condition and that he was already near the 126 pound mark, weighing in at 127 of 128 pounds at the moment.
Lopez moved up in weight for his last fight against then champion Steven Luevano and appears to have served himself well with the move. The last defense of his WBO Jr. Featherweight title saw him build an early lead against veteran Rogers Mtagwa before fading and getting tagged in the late rounds. Lopez was able to hang on for a unanimous decision but a change seemed to be in need.
Leading into this weekend?s main event on Showtime, much has been made about Concepcion?s challenger status and his chances but Lopez is one of the sport?s more complete champions and seems to be looking to make a statement. In front of the media Lopez stretched, worked on technique, hit the mitts, and spoke to the press just days before another crucial moment in his career.
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IMAGES: Juan Manuel Lopez trains in Puerto Rico
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Nonito Donaire hits Puerto Rico for the first time
On Sunday Nonito Donaire talked in depth with the Examiner about his search for big name opponents, the ups and downs of the sport, the support he has received in his career, and his thoughts on his matchup this weekend vs. Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez. Marquez also revealed that this will be his first visit to the island of Puerto Rico.
?I?m excited to be there, regardless of what happens and how things may be I am going to enjoy my time out there and it is going to be really fun,? Donaire said. ?I?m going to take a little vacation afterwards and enjoy the beauty of Puerto Rico as well. I?m just excited for this fight to go and I?m ready to get this over with.?
Michael Koncz in town while Pacquiao-Cotto rematch talks heat up
Puerto Rican fighters have always had a way of showing support to one another and heading into this weekend?s fight Miguel Cotto has been at several of the media functions to get behind Lopez and the other Boricua fighters on the card. The subdued Cotto also took some time from his schedule to address the possibility of a rematch with Manny Pacquiao.
Cotto and Pacquiao fought last November at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cotto was attempting to defend his WBO welterweight belt and despite starting strong against Pacquiao he would suffer knockdowns in rounds three and four before ultimately losing via a 12th round TKO. Cotto rebounded from that loss with an impressive 9th round stoppage over Yuri Foreman last month, a victory that netted him the WBA Jr. Middleweight championship, and has expressed his desires to face Pacquiao a second time.
?I?m always willing to fight the big names,? Cotto told ABS-CBN news. ?I?m not afraid of Pacquiao, otherwise I wouldn?t have fought him the first time.?
Pacquiao is currently trying to secure a November 13th date with undefeated Floyd Mayweather but there still seem to be question marks as to whether the fight will be made. All points in the contract seem to be agreed upon and word from the net is that everything is dependant upon Mayweather signing the contract.
Pacquiao?s advisor Michael Koncz, in town to show support to Concepcion who he co-manages along with Pacquiao as part of MP Promotions, noted that if Mayweather doesn?t go through with the fight that Team Pacquiao will eye Cotto and Antonio Margarito as suitable replacements.
