.jpg)
Earlier today in Caguas, Puerto Rico, WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez could be seen engaging in one of his final workouts leading into his fight this weekend against former champion Orlando Salido. On Saturday night Lopez will put his skills on display inside of the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Bayamon, Puerto Rico in front on his rabid and adoring fans. At 27 years of age, Lopez is one of the sport’s most complete champions yet he has also shown a few chinks in his armor, as evidenced by his first round knockdown at the hands of Bernabe Concepcion last July as well as tasting some heavy leather from Rafael Marquez in his following fight inside the MGM Grand. His fight with Salido, who is limited but sturdy, is more about what the future holds more than anything else.
<--- Slideshow: Juan Manuel Lopez works out in Puerto Rico as Salido bout nears
Sporting a 30-0 record with 27 early outs, Lopez is dynamic and explosive with his fists, making a fight with WBA champion Yuriorkis Gamboa all the more intriguing. Late last month the Cuban-born Gamboa thoroughly outclassed Jorge Solis in Atlantic City, scoring five knockdowns on his way to a 4th round stoppage, and Lopez greeted him in center ring afterwards.
Lopez and Gamboa have made it a custom to attend each other’s fights in order to drum up interest in a possible meeting between the two but for now Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is hinting that the money has to be right. It may be 2012 or later until we see this dream match, if ever, so until then all we can do is appreciate Lopez’s talents against other opposition, even if it isn’t the fight we really want to see him in.
