More on Rafael Marquez vs. JuanMa Lopez
This Saturday night two tough warriors will meet center ring as they battle for the world featherweight championship at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The southpaw slugger Juan Manuel Lopez (29-0, 26 KOs) fights out of Caguas, Puerto Rico; his foe Rafael Marquez (39-5, 35 KOs) hails from Mexico City.
Throughout the sweet science, there have been countless of historic ring rivalries between the the U.S. “Island of Enchantment” and the famed largest city in Mexico.
The two gladiators both held back-to-back workouts on Monday at the Fortune Gym in Hollywood. The mood was calm and relaxed; no trash talking or verbal fisticuffs from the pair as I watched the two interact with the crowd. But there has been a lot of talk amongst boxing fans in regards to a national rivalry brewing ahead.
What do you make of the Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry?
WBO Featherweight Champion JuanMa will be defending his title for the third 
time while former champ Rafa hopes to add a third title in three weight divisions to his list of career highlights. But the fans will be watching as the two also fight for national pride.
While the posters may be touting “Puerto Rico vs. Mexico,” the pair of combatants’ opinions differ on the emphasis placed between the two lands.
Lopez, 27, officially stated, “I think it is the biggest rivalry in boxing. We’ve had some great fights, but it’s not just the fights. We’ve also had some great fighters, some true legends. Facing a guy like Marquez makes the fight that much bigger. It does carry a lot more weight for me than a regular fight. This is much bigger than that.”
For the veteran Marquez, 35, his comments at the open workout do not emphasis a rivalry. “For me it’s not something that’s extra. All I know is we’ve had some great fighters and some of the best fights in the world.”
For the Boricuas and the Mexicans, the flags will fly as they cheer for the nation’s heroes.
Let the best man win.
See you at the fights!
Read more about Juan Manuel Lopez’s workout here.
“Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Rafael Marquez” is promoted by Top Rank in association with Gary Shaw Promotions, PR Best Boxing and Zanfer Promotions, will be broadcast on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing.
Tickets: www.mgmgrand.com and www.ticketmaster.com
Photos courtesy of DOMINIC SERNA/ www.StandNFight.com
Manny, to be quite honest, I very seriously don’t believe there will be a rematch. Juanma will fight again in either Febuary or March and then wait for projected June vs Gamboa fight, possibly on the Puerto Rican Parade weekend. Their was some talk of Wilfredo Vazquez Jr appearing on the card if he gets by Jorge “El Travieso” Arce, scheduled for sometime in Febuary.
Marquez had his chance and although a rematch would draw some interest it would be nothing compared to the HIGHLY ANTICIPATED Lopez vs Gamboa fight, which is the biggest fight of the lower weights that the fans want to see.
It’s no secret that Arum/Lopez are on a well calculated time table. The Bobfather has cooked the long awaited Lopez vs Gamboa fight to relative perfection. “Over-cooking” it will be risky and I don’t believe he’s gonna want to endanger it in any way, shape or form if he continues to delay it any longer. He’ll never forgive himself if ‘something’ went wrong, ‘something like in the Juanma/Mtagwa fight or when Gamboa nearly got himself DQ’d vs Salido. Arum got Juanma the high profile/signature win necessary to hype this potencial mega encounter with relative ease. All that’s left now is for Gamboa to win his next fight and get it FINALIZED!
Let’s c wat happens in the remach????
Juan Manuel lopez wins……
I agree with jay & ez…..viva Mexico viva puerto Rico ,,!!!!&all my Latinos …my pick for this fight… Hmmmm…. Experience + power = Marquez ..
Well said my man. I know exactly what you meen bro, some people get carried away (a little too much pride sometimes). To keep it comperetive and respectful is key.
Jay, I agree. And… I’m from Puerto Rico but I have NO problem whatsoever recognizing and giving Mexico it’s due props. I ENJOY the Great Mexico vs Puerto Rico Rivalry but I’m not blinded by it. I rather keep it real as well. I LOVE my Island and I LOVE boxing. And.. I LOVE Mexican boxing too!
I admire fighters from ALL Islands and countries. Not only the greatly talented ones. Some NON-great fighters I admire for their courage while others amaze with their defensive skills and others for their ONE PUNCH POWER that can keep you glued to the TV because they can change the course of a fight with just ONE swing! They, the great and not so great, make the sport what it is, FANTASTICO!!!
Sometimes overly-fanatical fans of ALL countries get blinded in the rivalries to the point to where they become senseless, enraged, offensive and their true lack of knowledge surfaces in some cases. Not cool. I LOVE OUR PUERTO RICO vs MEXICO RIVALRY and RESPECT IT!
QUE VIVA PUERTO RICO!! QUE VIVA MEXICO!!
Can’t wait, can’t wait !! * rubs hands together *
I hear you EZ E, And I like how you put it bro “most respected rivalry” because it truly is. We both come from strong people that show alot of pride in who they are and what they do. You cant help but admire the heart, soul, and skill that our countrymen display in that ring. Puerto Rico is small but us Boricua have big hearts. I’m sure you love your country like I love my island, Viva Puerto Rico Y que Viva Mexico.
Here is my pick! If anybody saw the juanma vs rogers mtagwa fight, juama faded badly torwards the end. He is not going to be able to knock marquez out, and at the last part of the fight, he is going to be tired as hell. Marquez can bang from round one through round twelve, and he is going to knock lopez out in or around the 11th round. He doesn’t have real battle experience like marquez does.
You said it right EZ E, 100% on the money!
There are ‘rivalries’ and then there are RIVALRIES!! In basaball it’s the Yankees vs the Red Sox, In Europe’s soccer it’s England vs Germany, basketball has it’s Lakers vs the Celtics and in boxing we have Mexico vs Puerto Rico. Where would boxing be without Mexico? And then again where would be boxing without it’s MOST RESPECTED RIVALRY?? If we consider the size 95×35 of Puerto Rico, barely visible on any average world map, and it’s 3.7 mil population, it’s amazing how they can compete with a great world boxing power like Mexico. Amazing.
As for the fight itself, man.. this is not an easy pick. How can anybody feel comfortable picking against Rafa Marquez?? It doesn’t even make sense but… in this case I’m picking against one my favorites and going with Juanma Lopez. BUT.. it wouldn’t surprise me much at all if Rafa proves me wrong.
Still on the fence of who wins this fight but if I was betting on it I say Lopez. Since i’m not betting im rooting for Marquez to win.
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