Lopez nemesis does it again
Mexico’s Orlando Salido retained his WBO featherweight title, in a rematch, against Puerto Rico’s Juan Manuel Lopez via tenth round technical knockout at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente Arena, San Juan in Puerto Rico.
Salido (38-11-2, 26 KOs) won the title by stopping Lopez (31-2, 28 KOs) back in April, 2011 and once again was victorious. This time, in his opponent’s home country.
The fight was a competitive affair and in the later rounds gruelling. Lopez scored a knockdown at the end of round five. He landed a right hook that felled the onrushing champion. Salido rebounded in the next round asserting effective pressure in the sixth. The fight had seen Salido as the aggressor throughout while Lopez looked to move laterally and box. Round eight saw Lopez try to assert the pressure but even when he had Salido backed in a corner he was often getting out landed.
The ninth was basically the round that finished ‘Juanma’ in the fight. A punishing round in which both men traded and landed heavy blows. Lopez looked tired as though the energy had gone from his body. The tenth finished quickly with Salido landing a powerful right hook and right uppercut in a combination of punches that dropped the former champion. Lopez got to his feet but was very wobbly and referee Roberto Ramirez Sr. waved the fight off, only 32 seconds into the round.
The judges’ scorecards at the finish were 86-84 (twice) for Lopez with the third judge scoring it a draw.
I had Salido ahead, 86-85, going into the fateful 10th round.
The Mexican champion proved once again to be the younger fighter’s nemesis and made the third successful defence of his title.
Photo Credit: Amanda Kwok/Showtime
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