San Juan, Puerto Rico- Mexcican WBO feather weight champion, Orlando Salido (37-11-2,25KO?S) proved that last year?s stoppage wasn?t a fluke by scoring another brutal knock out over local hero, Juan Manuel Lopez (31-2,28KO?S) last night at the famed Roberto Clemente Coliseum. Savage battle that will remain vivid in the minds of fans that witnessed it, ended at thirty two seconds of the tenth round after Salido?s powerful combination of right hand left and right uppercut followed by a left hook deposited the challenger on the canvas. Regal warrior, Lopez got up on wobbly legs and no recognition in his eyes which forced the referee to wave off the contest.
There are a lot of people in the ring before the fight begins. But once the bell rings it could become a very lonely place. At least that?s what it looked like for the challenger from Puerto Rico, Juan Manuel Lopez who seemed gun shy and lost early on. Despite stopping Lopez last year for that same title Mexican champion, Orlando Salido came into the contest as an underdog. Salido acted like it, going after his adversary like a hungry dog after a bone; he charged after Lopez and rained hard punches from all angles and dominated early rounds.? I knew it was here in Puerto Rico and to win a decision I needed to at least throw two to one,? said thirty one years old Salido in a post fight interview. Advertisement
Salido continued his violent assault and just when it looked like he was going to overwhelm the challenger, he ran into a short right hook at the end of the fifth that could have ended the night. Visibly hurt, Salido beat the count and was aided by the bell that ended the round. This only inspired Mexican champion to fight even harder in the sixth stanza who continued to pour it on and press the action.
?We are in the trenches now,? was a statement Showtime viewers heard in Lopez?s corner in between rounds six and seven:? It?s time for battle.? It was about this time that Juan Manuel Lopez knew that he was not going to win this fight retreating and counterpunching. Savage battle ensued. Lopez decided that regardless of the price he had to pay he would back up the champion and that is exactly what he did in rounds eight and nine providing fans with drama and valiant combat they will not soon forget. Early candidate for the round of the year, round nine featured non stop toe to toe war in the trenches with Lopez backing up Salido to the ropes unleashing violent hooks and Mexican champion firing back in savage combinations. My heart skipped a few bits and fans in the arena were on their feet applauding the action.
?We both competed in that round, punch for punch,? said Salido after the fight:? And luckily he is the one that fell. I knew this guy was a warrior, so I still had three rounds in the tank, just in case.? Both warriors looked spent coming into the tenth round; Salido with both eyes almost completely shut and breathing hard and Lopez moving in slow motion. But Orlando Salido still had something left in his tank; he saw the opportunity and unleashed his vicious four punch combination and the war was over.
?This is how we planned this fight,? said Salido celebrating victory:? We knew it was going to be a tough fight. He is a tough fighter. This is a classic between Mexico and Puerto Rico. It always existed in boxing and this time it was my turn to win.?
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