Juanma Lopez vs Rafael Marquez - Let's weigh-in fight fans!!

[merce77]

They boast a combined 61 knockout victories with only seven of their wins having taken them the distance. They have lost a total of five fights out of 68, with one of the fighters being undefeated over the course of 29 of them.

On Saturday night, they will be matched in a Showtime televised bout as 35-year-old former world champion, Rafael Marquez of Mexico City challenges 27-year-old, Puerto Rican southpaw WBO featherweight (126 pounds) king Juan Manuel Lopez in a Top Rank Promotions clash of hard-hitting Latino fighters at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Lopez is making the second defense of his crown against Marquez, whose promoter is Gary Shaw, in yet another battle in the long-running rivalry between Mexican boxers and those from Puerto Rico.

FanHouse sought the opinions of 10 boxing experts, only one of whom believes that their clash will last the 12-round distance.


Bob Canobbio, CompuBox, Inc.

Juan Manuel Lopez W 12 Rafael Marquez: Juan Manuel Lopez should win. He's younger, stronger and quicker. Rafael Marquez has a puncher's chance though, as opponents have landed 37 percent of their power shots against Lopez.

My pick is Lopez by decision, but Marquez will have his moments.


Steve Farhood, Showtime boxing analyst

Juan Manuel Lopez by KO over Rafael Marquez: It's tough not to pick Juan Manuel Lopez, even though this is the sternest test of his career.

Rafael Marquez is relatively new to 126 pounds, and while he looked good in his fourth fight with Israel Vazquez, that series had to take something out of him.

With that said, Lopez has shown signs of vulnerability, particularly against Rogers Mtagwa and Bernabe Concepcion. Look for a shootout, with Lopez wearing down Marquez and winning by stoppage.


Norm Frauenheim, 15rounds.com

Juan Manuel Lopez by late-round stoppage over Rafael Marquez: Fight of the Year potential is there because a convincing case can be made for and against both Rafael Marquez and Juan Manuel Lopez. There is Juanma's youth and offensive arsenal.

There is Marquez' tactical skill, complemented by a counter-punch that can make a young star look old. But those evident strengths are offset by reasons to wonder about them and their chances.

In a surprising struggle that proved to be Juanma's toughest fight thus far, the 27-year-old Puerto Rican featherweight often appeared baffled and unable to adjust against Rogers Mtagwa, who possesses only a fraction of Marquez' skill and instinct.

Then, there is time, wear, tear and Israel Vazquez. All could have turned the 35-year-old Marquez into a shell of the pound-for-pound contender he once was. It looked as if there might be a lot left last May in Marquez's third-round knockout of Vazquez at Los Angeles' Staples Center.

Even that, however, is undercut by doubt about whether Vazquez already had been pushed past his peak and toward retirement. Marquez is at the crossroads. Then again, so is Juanma, whose next step up the ladder of the boxing marquee depends he can get past the veteran from Mexico City.

The pick here is that Juanma will do exactly that with some newfound smarts to go along with all that offensive dynamite for a late-round stoppage of Marquez.


Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports

Juan Manuel Lopez TKO 10 Rafael Marquez: Juan Manuel Lopez is one of the game's rising stars and will prove it in this classic young star versus veteran star fight. Lopez is an extraordinarily hard puncher and a gifted boxer.

Rafael Marquez is as tough as they come. But Marquez's win in May over a badly faded Israel Vazquez is little more than a mirage.

This time, Marquez is in with a bigger, stronger, faster guy who is a hard hitter and extremely hungry. I expect a brilliant performance by Juanma and a stoppage as they move down the stretch.


Steve Kim, MaxBoxing.com

Juan Manuel Lopez TKO 6 Rafael Marquez: I think Lopez is the younger, fresher fighter, with better legs and reflexes.

I like him to win by mid-round stoppage in an entertaining slugfest.


Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News/Long Beach Press Telegram

Juan Manuel Lopes by late-round stoppage over Rafael Marquez: I believe that Juan Manuel Lopez will stop Rafael Marquez in the second half of the fight.

Marquez is still a good fighter, but the much younger Lopez is at the top of his game and will be too much for Marquez. This should be a slugfest as both fighters are terrific knockout artists.


Kieran Mulvaney, ESPN Boxing and Reuters

Juan Manuel Lopez W 12 Rafael Marquez: There was a time when I thought Juan Manuel Lopez had real major star potential.

Then there was a period, following his fights against Gerry Penalosa, Olivier Lontchi, and Rogers Mtagwa, when I thought he was stagnating.

Moving up four pounds seems to have reinvigorated him though. Stopping Steven Luevano was very impressive, and his brief brawl with Bernabe Concepcion was the stuff that stars are made of. He's up against a sure-fire, first-ballot Hall of Famer on Saturday night, though.

Rafael Marquez also looked reinvigorated after rebounding from those tough losses to Israel Vazquez. Lopez isn't going to be able to blast through Marquez the way he did to Concepcion, and he isn't going to be able to dominate and break him down the way he did against Luevano.

I do, however, think that the bigger, younger man, with substantially less ring wear on him, will overcome a few moments when Marquez troubles him with some tricks he hasn't seen before.

Eventually, Lopez's constant pressure will see him pull ahead in the final third, possibly by late stoppage. But I think that, in the end, it's going to be a clear decision win for Lopez.


Lance Pugmire, The Los Angeles Times

Juan Manuel Lopez KO 8 Rafael Marquez: I like Juan Manuel Lopez to win by eighth-round stoppage. Rafael Marquez has proven himself to be a warrior in the four Israel Vazquez fights.

But Marquez is now stepping in against a young champion ascending to his peak, and I believe Lopez's energy and power will decide the bout despite credible opinions that Marquez retains enough skill and guile to topple his younger foe.


Joe Santoliquito, Managing Editor Ring Magazine

Rafael Marquez KO 11 Juan Manuel Lopez: I still think Rafael Marquez has something left in the tank, and that his wars with Israel Vazquez didn't completely zap him of everything.

Juan Manuel Lopez has a questionable chin, and it's certainly going to be tested here. This could be a Fight of the Year candidate.


Michael David Smith, FanHouse.com

Juan Manuel Lopez TKO 7 Rafael Marquez: Juan Manuel Lopez said last week that he actually hopes to have a long fight with Rafael Marquez rather than win with a quick knockout.

I think Marquez can last a few rounds with Lopez, but ultimately Lopez will just be too much for him. Lopez by seventh-round TKO.


The experts have spoken by a margin of 9-to-1 that Juan Manuel Lopez will defeat Rafael Marquez.


So BGOL experts, what's your take on this fight?

 

[P03t]

Lopez UD.....

I don't see him stopping Marquez....

 

[merce77]

Lopez UD.....

I don't see him stopping Marquez....

I see one of two things happening, either Lopez dominates him with speed and power, beats him up and likely stops him or....those mistakes that he makes in nearly every fight against lesser boxers become glaring holes that a hall of famer like Marquez can expose and he stops Juanma late to everyone's surprise.

 

[P03t]

I see one of two things happening, either Lopez dominates him with speed and power, beats him up and likely stops him or....those mistakes that he makes in nearly every fight against lesser boxers become glaring holes that a hall of famer like Marquez can expose and he stops Juanma late to everyone's surprise.

Lopez has the power and the size advantage....I think Marquez will take the fight inside and not let Lopez chase him and cut off the ring.....

I'm also not completely sold on Lopez....he looked terrible against Mtawga a fight that went 12 a few fights ago....

I don't see Lopez putting Marquez away....good chin...vet....and if Lopez comes to brawl it could be a long night....

I could be wrong....

 

[merce77]

Lopez has the power and the size advantage....I think Marquez will take the fight inside and not let Lopez chase him and cut off the ring.....

I'm also not completely sold on Lopez....he looked terrible against Mtawga a fight that went 12 a few fights ago....

I don't see Lopez putting Marquez away....good chin...vet....and if Lopez comes to brawl it could be a long night....

I could be wrong....

The majority of Marquez losses have come by stoppage at lower weights. Lopez has more power than any guy he's fought including Vazquez. If Lopez has him in big trouble, there's a good chance the ref will stop it. Marquez is 35 and has been through mad wars, the ref will definitely consider that. But I think Marquez is gonna surprise alot of people, not saying he'll win but the fight will be better and more competitive than people expect. I'm not sold on Juanma either.

 

[merce77]

LAS VEGAS – As good as Juan Manuel Lopez is, there has always been something missing. He’s 29-0 with 26 knockouts, has won world titles in two weight classes and is ninth in the Yahoo! Sports Top 10 poll ranking the world’s finest boxers.

He wears a dazzling gem-encrusted ring that was given to him by the World Boxing Organization and is emblematic of five successful world championship defenses.

But promoter Bob Arum still uses words like “building” and “developing” when speaking of the 2004 Puerto Rican Olympian, and it’s true that Lopez could probably walk anonymously down most streets in Las Vegas, the Fight Capital of the World.

Lopez is as accessible and charismatic as they come. He’s long been a can’t-miss attraction with the boxing lifers, but he’s still yet to connect with the casual American fan – who knows Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. and not much else about boxing.

Lopez’s anonymity has nothing to do with his talent and, besides the woeful state of boxing, everything to do with his lack of a marquee opponent. His biggest-name foe to date was probably Steven Luevano, and Luevano is likely even lesser known than Lopez.

On Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden, however, that should change in a major way. Lopez will defend his WBO featherweight title against Rafael Marquez, a future Hall of Famer and by a long shot the most recognizable opponent he’s ever met, in a bout televised nationally by Showtime. It’s the kind of platform Lopez has lacked as he has grown into one of boxing’s most entertaining fighters.

“At this point in my career, I don’t think there’s a bigger fight I could be in,” Lopez said as he sat on the ring apron prior to a recent workout at the Top Rank Gym. “This is the one that takes me to the next level. I truly believe Marquez [is going to make it to the Hall of Fame]. He’s had a lot of great fights and has beaten some great opponents. Those fights he had with Israel Vazquez, they were something – and not everyone can do that.”

Marquez split four fights with Vazquez, winning the first and the last and losing the two in between. The middle fights were chosen as the Yahoo! Sports Fight of the Year in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

Lopez is 27 and just rounding into his prime. Major matches against the likes of Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa await. The 35-year-old Marquez is 39-5 with 35 knockouts and is coming down the homestretch of a brilliant career.

“How can you not have tremendous respect for Marquez and what he’s done?” Arum said. “But this is a great fight for Juanma. It’s a fight he’s wanted and we’ve wanted for a long time. “

Beating a high-profile opponent on a major stage is all that is left for Lopez to accomplish in his bid for stardom in the States.

Lopez is as fan-friendly a fighter as there is. He’s not one who will get on his toes and circle and move when he has a bout under control, content to run out the clock and gain a unanimous decision. He’s a deadly finisher who rarely misses an opportunity to end a bout.

That occasionally puts him in jeopardy, and he’s gone down several times as a result. In a sensational second-round knockout victory over Bernabe Concepcion on July 10, Lopez went down late in the first round as he had Concepcion reeling and was going for the kill.

He commits so much to the attempt for the finish that he is vulnerable to hard counter shots. Some consider it a flaw, but the so-called flaw didn’t hurt his good buddy, former welterweight and middleweight champion Felix “Tito” Trinidad, who came off the floor several times to win. In a way, it’s an occupational hazard and one of the reasons guys such as Trinidad and Lopez are exciting to watch.

“I’d rather live without that experience of going down; I don’t want to go down,” Lopez said, beaming. “But to be honest, at least it gives you confidence that you know if something happens, you can get back up and win. Tito was a guy who got knocked down, got right up and did his thing. You have to learn that. That’s part of the experience of growing in this sport. It’s not all going to be good times. You have to learn how to deal with the hard times too.”

Lopez has had his share of scary moments – he was so exhausted that he could barely stand in the last round of a 2009 win over Rogers Mtgawa – but he’s always managed to fight his way back. And because he’s a fighter, he has a chance to cross over the way Trinidad did and become a name in the United States.

Prior to defeating Oscar De La Hoya in a fight between then-unbeaten welterweight champions in a 1999 match that was dubbed “The Fight of the Millennium,” Trinidad was in a similar position. Trinidad was a talented, charismatic world champion who had not become widely known among casual fans – partly because he had been buried on many Mike Tyson undercards and partly because his father shielded him from the media and partly because he didn’t speak English.

But after the win over De La Hoya, Trinidad became one of the brightest stars in boxing. A win over Marquez on Saturday could have the same result for Lopez, who makes it a point to try to make his fights exciting.

“To me, we’re here because of the fans,” Lopez said. “They’re the ones who can make you or break you. If you don’t give them a good show, they’re not going to come back. I’m very aware of them – and so I want to give them the best show I can.”

A knockout of the great Rafael Marquez wouldn’t be a bad way to introduce himself to the wider world.

“I’d take it,” he said, chuckling. “No doubt about it; I’d take that.”

Knocking out Marquez is a gargantuan task, but it’s definitely going to be fun to watch Lopez try. And if he gets it, it should be the missing link to complete the road to stardom.

 

[TruDat]

good shyt thanx 4 reminding me this fight should be good