Juan Manuel Lopez and Orlando Salido will fight again in Puerto Rico on March 10. (Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime)
A press conference tomorrow in San Juan will be held to really get things going, but it's now official: Orlando Salido and Juan Manuel Lopez will meet in a highly-anticipated rematch for Salido's WBO featherweight title, which he lifted last April from Lopez in a dramatic slugfest in Bayamon.
Salido (37-11-2, 25 KO) has made two successful defenses of the title since defeating Lopez, stopping Kenichi Yamaguchi in July and rallying to halt Weng Haya in December after a very rocky start to that fight, which saw Salido down in the third and fourth rounds.
But while those fights weren't against world class opposition and still provided a scare, the fact is that Salido has fought 19 rounds since facing Lopez last April. On the other hand, Lopez (31-1, 28 KO) has fought just once since the loss to Salido, an easy two-round win over a totally overmatched Mike Oliver on October 1. That inactivity could be a major factor in the fight, and unless Lopez has improved his defense drastically, Salido is still tremendously dangerous to someone with his style, and the fight is once again a very good one on paper, and should provide fireworks.
The rematch will once again be held in Puerto Rico, this time in San Juan.
0 recs | 3 comments
Is there a promotional theme for this event? Might I suggest “Nuts and Guts”?
bachwards - January 16, 2012
NUTS AND GUTS!
Scott Christ - January 16, 2012
JML probably has to fight out of character
AKA use his legs, flurry and BS his way to a decision.
I dunno if he can, but I bet that’s the plan. He’ll probably have the officials on his side and the crowd will go nuts every time he throws a punch, so…
If he trades with Salido, he’ll get smacked around.
I’ll take Salido again, because he’s the tougher and more complete fighter…
that, and he was responsible for putting an extra $600 in my pocket last time, so I figure I owe him. :)
Lee Payton - January 16, 2012
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