April 16th was a highly anticipated date for a bout that featured Puerto Rico’s undefeated star Juan Manual Lopez vs a seemingly very ordinary Mexican tough guy in Orlando Salido.
The anticipation was centered how well JuanMa would fare against a shared opponent of his fan-induced nemesis and Caribbean cousin Yuriorkis “El Ciclon de Guantánamo” Gamboa. The two of them have been on a collision course for what seems to be ages, occasionally sharing opponents, and tonight was the biggest one of them to date. To add to the excitement, the long-standing and perpetual Mexico-vs-Puerto Rico rivalry was in full effect, generating strong emotions in both fighters and their fans.
We now go the fight.
Round 1: Both fighters looking very relaxed, showing respect for each other. At 1:09 into the bout comes a glancing overhand right from Salido. The action picks up a bit at the close of the round
Round 2: Lopez comes out pressing the action at the start, walking his opponent down. Again Salido lands another overhand right. He starts landing the right with regularity after the two-minute mark. Pretty competitive so far – some nice in-fighting. Salido comes in rather nicely, baiting the champ. With his head down and chin tucked in, he throws a looping shot. Salido appears to want to drag Lopez into a brawl.
Round 3: Pretty even fight – a few nice exchanges but neither man with a clear advantage, each finding a home for the punches with increasing regularity. JuanMa is showing signs of hubris – every time he’s hit he feels the need to return fire and exchange with Salido.
Lopez is leaving himself open for the overhand right, but a very competitive round, with the action picking up considerably.
Round 4: Lopez comes out landing a flush straight left, Salido raking Lopez with quick overhand right. The fight appears to be shifting in Salido’s favor. At 1:37 Salido comes in for a combination and while being turned around brings with him his overhand right that finds its mark right on the face of JuanMa. Boom!
Clearly stunned, JuanMa goes against conventional wisdom and jumps right into the lion’s den, chin held high. JuanMa now fighting Salido’s fight.
Round 5: JuanMa comes out boxing, keeping Salido at bay, but JuanMa doesn’t seem to be focused on defence. Salido is not rushing in but biding his time and showing good defence.
A left-right combination by Salido in the closing seconds of the bout sends JuanMa down in dramatic fashion! JuanMa gets up without his legs, Salido comes after him and JuanMa returns fire.
Round 6 sees Salido coming after JuanMa with renewed vigour. Lopez is taking punishment and banging his gloves in defiance, half-heartedly asking Salido “Come on, is that all you got?”
The crowd is now on its feet as Salido again bombs JuanMa with a left hook at the 1:14 mark. JuanMa has abandoned defence and is just swinging for the fences.
Hook to the body after a combo doubles JuanMa over, sending him stumbling forward but still throwing and he lands a left, temporarily stunning Salido, but back he comes. JuanMa showing great heart and fighting spirit. Salido lands another big right.
Everyone on their feet at the close of the round. JuanMa has a very desperate and physically spent look on his face. Crowd start chanting with an almost religious fervour “JuanMa, JuanMa, JuanMa.”
Round 7: At the opening of the round the bipartisan crowd resounds with chants as if they were at a UK football match!!
Absolutely electrifying and awe inspiring! Lopez appears to regain some composure, the crowd still engaging the TV audience with chants of “JuanMa.” Salido appears to have tired a bit and at the close of the round Lopez wakes up and turns the tables on Salido with a barrage of shots, only a couple landing but enough to seemingly pick up momentum.
Round eight sees Salido pressing the action landing uppercuts and and overhand rights. Salido again lands with the right! And another! And another! Three-punch combination lands, sending JuanMa to the ropes and Salido on the attack. JuanMa returns fire heedlessly. Salido momentarily steps back and the referee steps in and stops the bout. JuanMa is angry and complaining, but clearly out on his feet.
Exciting upset to say the least! Minutes later the camera shows JuanMa and he still appears to be very groggy.
I felt it was a good stoppage. JuanMa took massive shot from Salido and it was a surprise to me that he did not fold a round or two earlier. Dramatic fight and I was glad to watch it despite my prediction that JuanMa would win in convincing fashion.
I am sure that when they took a look at Salido they must have thought he was easy pickings. The record fooled me as I’m sure it fooled many. I know that JuanMa at times against his previous competitors was known to be the aggressor, but against a fighter like Salido things were obviously much different.
As much as I would love to make concessions for the loss and find an excuse, JuanMa did the noble thing and denied that his divorce and personal issues leading up to the fight had a negative effect on the fight, regardless of what anyone says or thinks. I on the other hand think they did.
JuanMa showed he has great character by accepting defeat and admitting he lost to the better fighter that night. He fought a valiant fight.
Despite not having two perfect records going toe-to-toe, we have a Puerto Rico-vs-Mexico grudge rematch coming to a theater near you.
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