Expectations are both a blessing and a curse. It?s a sentiment that has been proliferated in a variety of forms throughout our cultural landscape. Former WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez (33-2, 30 KOs) knows that fact all too well. It?s a fact that the plucky Mexican champion Mikey Garcia (31-0, 26 KOs) now is burdened/blessed with. On Saturday night in Dallas, Texas (HBO) the two will step into the ring for a fight that is expected to be hellacious. Both men are looking to move their careers into the next level and both need each others pelt to stamp their tickets. Lopez risks being relegated to the contender scrapheap, Garcia risks all the forward momentum that Top Rank hopes will make him into a mainstream star. It?s a crossroads battle with two men that have a knack for making exciting television.
Lopez was once destined to carry the Puerto Rican legacy that had been lifted by the likes of Wilfredo Vazquez, Felix Trinidad and Miguel Cotto. His promoter, Top Rank, was convinced that he would be the next name on that prestigious mantle. Then, Mexico?s Orlando Salido knocked his clock clean over two battles that left Lopez?s legacy with a pitfall of question marks. After sitting out a lengthy suspension due to inflammatory remarks he made about the referee following the second Salido fight, Lopez seems confident that he?s prepared to resume his career at the top level. He?s notched two victories against low level opponents, but the public is still very skeptical after seeing how badly Salido broke him. Not to mention, his questionable chin and defense loom largely over any conversation that mentions his name.
?It?s going to be a great fight. You have Mikey who wants to keep his title. I want to take it away from him to get something that was once mine.? stated Lopez in a recent press conference. However, reading that quotation, one could easily make the assumption that it?s not just the title that Lopez craves but the reputation that has been absconded by Garcia. Lopez was once a name that could highlight prominent cards and earn the devotion of the executives at Top Rank. Now, it?s undoubtedly Garcia who this promotion has been centered on and most believe that Lopez is just a name being used to further enhance Garcia?s resume. Lopez must claim a strong performance to salvage a once promising career.
Garcia, on the other hand, can do no wrong at this moment. He?s a young, vibrant specimen whose technical progression is way beyond his years. The fact that he?s still growing into his body ? as evidenced by his failure to make weight for this fight, which has resulted in him being stripped of the WBO belt ? means that more lucrative fights await him in the higher weight classes. His coming out party was undoubtedly his dissection of Salido, but the fact remains that he?s not notched a name on his belt that will make the public take notice. That?s why Lopez is so critical to his success. Every great star of the last twenty years feasted on a few shopworn former champions. It?s the nature of boxing, it just so happens that Lopez is still a very live specimen whose hooks could spell trouble for Garcia.
?I know my opponent is a tough guy. He?s experienced, he?s got the power, he?s been champion twice. I can?t take him lightly. I know it?s not going to be an easy fight but once you?re champion there?s no such thing as easy fights. I believe it?s going to be a tough fight, it?s going to be a really good fight,? stated Garcia ?But I also think and truly believe that I have all the elements and all the ingredients to win and show everybody why I am the best Featherweight in the world. This is another opportunity to show everybody that I truly am the best Featherweight champion of the world.?
Ultimately, Garcia will likely have too much acumen for an older fighter whose likely had a few steps taken out of him by Salido. If Garcia can stop Lopez, he?ll have set himself up for major business in the near future. If he loses, well then Juan Manuel Lopez may still inherit that proud tradition of Puerto Rican champions.
