Philippines, 17 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


TALE OF TWO JUAN MANUELS


PhilBoxing.com




Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Manuel Lopez are now on the boxing headlines when they face separate rivals on different dates. The two great boxers are namesakes and both are deadly fighters. Marquez of Mexico is the number two pound-for-pound fighter of the world second to Manny Pacquiao. Lopez is the undefeated Puerto Rican champion who holds one of the highest knockout rates in professional boxing.

Marquez will next face former WBA IBF and WBO champion Juan Diaz on February 28, 2009 in Houston, Texas. ?Dinamita? at present is The Ring lightweight world champion. He has also held the IBF, WBA, and WBO featherweight titles and the WBC super featherweight title.

In a bout featuring champion vs. champion, WBO junior featherweight titlist ?Juanma? Lopez will face WBO bantamweight king Gerry Pe?alosa on April 25, 2009 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Lopez simply wants to be the first fighter to knockout Pe?alosa. The ?Fearless? has never been knocked out in his far-reaching career.

Marquez earned his first shot at a world title on September 11, 1999, but lost a controversial decision to then-unbeaten WBA featherweight champion Freddie Norwood. He received his second shot at a world title on January 2, 2003, when he defeated Manuel Medina and captured the vacant IBF featherweight title. He then defeated Derrick Gainer later in the year to win the WBA featherweight title.

On May 8, 2004, Marquez fought Pacquiao in a drawn bout where he was knocked down three times in the first round. On March 15, 2008, Marquez lost his superfeatherweight championship to Pacquiao in a rematch via a highly disputed split decision. Compubox scoring had Marquez ahead but he suffered a knockdown in the third round by the vaunted left of Pacquiao.

On March 17, 2007, Marquez became the WBC superfeatherweight champion by outpointing Marco Antonio Barrera in Las Vegas by unanimous decision. On September 13, 2008, he defeated Joel Casamayor by stopping him in the 11th round after two knockdowns and captured his sixth world title in three different weight classes.

Puerto Rico has a rich tradition of great fighters, like Sixto Escobar Jose Chegui Torres, Wilfred Benitez, Wilfredo Gomez, Alfredo Escalera, Wilfredo Vazquez, Esteban DeJesus, Carlos DeLeon, Carlos Ortiz, Edwin Rosario, Hector Camacho, Felix Trinidad, and now Miguel Cotto. And now here comes "Juanma" Lopez, 24-0-0 with 22 KOs and a KO percentage of 91.67%.

On June 7, 2008, Lopez fought in his first world championship match when he challenged Daniel Ponce de Leon for the World Boxing Organization super bantamweight title and won by technical knockout in the first round. Lopez's first defense was against Cesar Figueroa and the fight lasted only 47 seconds, the fifth fastest knockout victory in a title fight, faster than Mike Tyson's win over Michael Spinks.

Medina, who was ranked fourth by the WBO, was his foe in "The Dream Match" card. The fight lasted only 1:38, being stopped by the referee in the first round, when Medina suffered three consecutive knockdowns.

From several boxing experts? point-of-view, the two Juan Manuels have the upper hand against their respective opponents.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • 12-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rising Young Star Yoenis Tellez Takes on Top Contender Brian Mendoza in New Co-Main Event of PBC Pay-per-View Event Available on Prime Video Saturday, March 28
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Five USA Boxers Qualify for Medal Rounds on Day Six of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit off to hot start in her WPBA debut
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Nicaraguan Boxing Commission hold Annual Awards to 2025 winners
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • BARBOZA JR. VS. SIMS JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Skye Nicolson Headlines Huge Matchroom Boxing Homecoming in Melbourne as New Kayo Sports TV Era Begins on April 29
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Five Boxers Advance on Day Five of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    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
    © 2026 philboxing.com.