Philippines, 14 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


PHILIPPINES? TOP FIGHTERS AWAIT WINNER OF DELEON-LOPEZ!


PhilBoxing.com




San Francisco, Ca ? Three interested fighters will be glued to their television sets this Saturday, June 7 (Sunday June 8 in the Philippines), when Daniel Ponce De Leon takes on rising superstar, Juan Manuel Lopez, on the undercard of the Kelly Pavlik vs. Gary Lockett. Gerry Penalosa, Rey Bautista, and Bernabe Concepcion all have stakes in the outcome of this WBO Jr. Featherweight clash.

Golden Boy Promotion?s De Leon, 34-1 (30KOs), makes the seventh defense of his title against Top Rank?s top prospect and future star, Lopez, 21-0 (19 KOs). Most boxing experts consider this bout an even bout where either fighter can come out on top by decision or knockout.

Filipino fans best remember De Leon for his one round destruction over the then undefeated Rey Bautista and his controversial decision win over Gerry Penalosa. If Manny Pacquiao is Mexico?s ?Republica Enemy #1?, then Ponce De Leon is the Philippines? version ?Republica Enemy #1?. Both Penalosa and Bautista have publically demanded from rematches.

Juan Manuel Lopez has been on the fast track to the world title since his debut just three and half years ago. Lopez makes a huge jump in class of opposition when he takes on the experienced and unorthodox De Leon. Lopez was scheduled to face Bernabe Concepcion earlier in the year but when talks of a title shot with De Leon heated up, the bout was scratched. Concepcion is managed by Manny Pacquiao and promoted by Top Rank, who has a keen interest in having Lopez face Concepcion in the future.

De Leon has had his most explosive knockout when faced with a fellow puncher, who was willing to trade power shots with Mexican. De Leon not only hits with rocks but the punches come from awkward angles. De Leon is also physically a strong fighter and despite his lack of defense, has shown to take a decent punch. De Leon has also been better tested against tougher opponents. Should De Leon win, a rematch with Penalosa seems to inevitable. Since losing to De Leon, Penalosa won his second world title in as many weight classes, knocking out Jhonny Gonzales with a body punch. That same night, Ponce De Leon knocked out Rey Bautista in the first round. Both are under the same promotional company, Golden Boy Promotions, and both want the rematch. Although Bautista would like to have another crack at De Leon, it?s clear that he still needs to improve before taking on the elite fighters at 122lbs.

However, De Leon is fighting under a Top Rank promotion against one of its top fighters in Lopez. The bout is also taking place during Puerto Rican National Pride Weekend. Lopez may end up having the ?home crowd advantage? come fight night. Lopez has also shown to have the edge in speed and overall boxing ability. In an evenly matched bout, the pro-Lopez crowd could sway close rounds in favor of the Puerto Rican. Should Lopez win the bout, a fight with Bernabe Concepcion could be on the horizon. Concepcion is in a similar boat as Bautista because he is still a young fighter and has not reached his fighting potential yet. The same could be said about Lopez, who is only 24 years old and 21 fights into his career. Often times in boxing the young prospect walks into a title bout and wins. Manny Pacquiao won the flyweight title when he was just 19. In 2006, Jermain Taylor won the middleweight championship against Bernard Hopkins, who had just two fewer title defenses than Taylor had professional fights. Therefore, while Lopez has a strong shot in capturing the WBO title this Saturday, a future fight with the likes of Israel Vasquez and Rafael Marquez is not likely.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jason Aniel.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Crawford to defy odds?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Clash of Titans: The Final Predictions for Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev
    , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Inoue and Akhmadaliev Make Weight for Sunday's Battle, Watch it LIVE on Facebook!
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • IIEE North Cotabato and Metro Central are the Golden Champion on 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Sydney Sy Tancontian is Female Awardee of Sports Hero of the Year
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: Size Matters
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • BOOTS TALKS SPARRING WITH CANELO IN ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’
    , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS: CANELO - 167.5 LBS., CRAWFORD - 167.5 LBS.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • BELFAST: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER
    , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • Canoy cancels title fight due to child’s death
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • Vietnam’s Pool Revolution: Hanoi Open Pool Championship
    , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • SUNDAY: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev Undisputed Super Bantamweight Showdown to Stream Exclusively on Top Rank’s Facebook Channel in the U.S. & UK
    , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • National Shelter Month Run on October 25 in DGT
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • Canelo-Crawford: Betting Odds Reveal a Battle of Money vs. Public Opinion
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • BELFAST PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING LEWIS CROCKER AND PADDY DONOVAN SAID AHEAD OF HISTORIC WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN
    , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA TO DEFEND UNDISPUTED CROWN AGAINST HIGHLY RANKED NEW FOE ALEXAS “IRON LADY” KUBICKI
    , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • Chino Sy Tancontian is Sports Hero of the Year 2025
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • Two (or Three) Lefts Make a Right: Francisco Guilledo to Luisito Espinosa
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Yoseline Perez Advances to 2025 World Boxing Championships Semifinals
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • UNIFIED WORLD CHAMPION OSCAR COLLAZO HOSTS MEDIA WORKOUT
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Jerwin Ancajas Set for IBF Mandatory Eliminator Against Former World Champ Ryosuke Nishida; Winner Fights Naoya Inoue
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • “Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Local Favorite Bryce Mills Tops First Boxing Card At del Lago Resort & Casino
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: It´s Fightweek Fight: Canelo vs. Crawford
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.