Juan Manuel Lopez Looks Ready!

Report from Fortune Gym as Marquez bout nears

Puerto Noman Rico was in the house at the Fortune Gym in Hollywood during Monday’s media workout in Los Angeles. Boricua superstar Juan Manuel Lopez took to the ring as a large throng gathered to watch the WBO Featherweight titlist showcase his skills in anticipation of Saturday night’s showdown against Rafael Marquez. Originally scheduled for September 18, Lopez (29-0, 26 KOs) will be facing Mexico City’s Marquez (39-5, 35 KOs) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as he defends his championship belt this weekend.

During the workout, JuanMa was scheduled to train first, before ring rival Marquez (who injured his hand in August) was to hold his own workout for the assembled press. The brick-lined “old school” style gym, named after former Australian heavyweight and current trainer Justin Fortune, has been a popular haunt for the L.A. boxing community. Just last week, it was also the chosen location for the Antonio Margarito media workout.

As I entered the airy gym, I greeted Team Fortune made up of Aussie mate Justin Fortune, former Golden Gloves fighter and current cutman Mysti Friedman, Canadian middleweight Joel Mills, and former heavyweight and “The pride of Portland, Maine” Macka Foley as their gym readied for the afternoon’s media blitz. The marquee matchup of Lopez vs. Marquez, promoted by Top Rank in association with Gary Shaw Promotions, PR Best Boxing and Zanfer Promotions, will be broadcast on in all Aussie casinos and on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing.

With the workout taking place just a day after Halloween, everyone from trainers, boxers, journalists and photographers in attendance were all in good spirits after a night of revelry. But everyone got their game faces on as the boxing workout began. The prompt and professional Lopez was right on schedule as he began stretching out on the canvas. Looking slim and trim, the former 2004 Olympian continued to stretch, limbering up as his corner stood nearby. In just black shorts and bright blue shoes, he began to shadowbox before heading into a vigorous jump rope session. As he whipped the thin ropes back and forth, he showed off his nimble footwork. The fleet-footed fighter from Caguas continued to make the ropes zing.

Then putting the jump rope aside, he began wrapping his own hands. After first wrapping his left hand, the southpaw paused for a second, scrutinized the wrap and then carefully rewrapped his left fist with the red, white and blue wraps that coincide with the colors of his native Puerto Rican flag. He then wrapped his right paw, and after he was satisfied with both hands, Lopez pounded his knuckles together signifying that he was ready to go.

This careful attention to detail also gave a heads up to those of us gathered around the apron that the unbeaten 27-year-old was aiming to give his audience a good workout, not just a photo op for the cameras. After gloving up, Juan went to work on the mitts, heavy bag, double end bag and speed bag as the wave of bodies followed, impressed by the young pug’s focus inside the ropes. As his audience relocated to each post, the fighter made good use of the entire gym floor. After observing him train, the consensus was that Lopez is looking sharp.

“He looks in shape! He looks fabulous,” veteran cutman/trainer Tony Rivera said to me as the pad work began. “You can see it in his face; and look at the way he’s sweating already without extra shirts or cream.”

As Team JuanMa continued with the thwack of the pads echoing against the walls, his camp shouted “Gancho!” (hook) and “Tiempo!” (time) to signal the beginning and end of each round. Throwing combinations and working on lateral movement, the two-time world champion connected with solid punches as he grunted with each hard shot.

“He really looks strong and quick,” cornerman Rivera said under his breath as he came back to check out the action. Tony had seen a previous Lopez workout about six months ago, but this JuanMa before him on Monday appeared leaner, faster and stronger. “He’s also got a smart team with Orlando Piñero too,” Rivera assessed.

While serious, reserved and humble in training, Lopez, who was named the Puerto Rican “Fighter of the Year” in both 2009 and 2008, also showed us his playful side as well. As a cameraman requested a close-up of the island star, the slugger suddenly opened his eyes extra wide. He became animated as he quickly punched toward the lens and playfully lunged at the camera. While mugging Ali style, he shouted “Boom!” straight into the camera as everybody chuckled.

Moving on to the heavy bag in the middle of the gym, JuanMa also flashed bits of humor while pounding the bag, putting on a special “shoe shine” demo just for the sake of the lensmen. Then after connecting with his fists time and time again, Lopez had some fun as he spun around kicking at the heavy bag with his foot, surprising everyone with his agile spinning and roundhouse skills.

Next up was the speed bag, where the undefeated featherweight looked smokin’ fast as he connected at the platform. With the “rat-a-tat” rhythm of the bag in momentum, the power puncher really had “smoke” rising up from the bag. In the bright sunlight that angled directly down at the fighter, the residue riding on the wood platform rose which each flick of the wrist, making it look like his lightning speed was literally burning up the bag.

After the bag work, Lopez climbed back into the ring for a final shadowboxing session.

He looks ready to go.

And it looks like November begins with a bang as Lopez and Marquez meet this weekend in the Mecca of boxing.

Who will prevail Saturday night?

JuanMa is certainly gaining steam as a reigning hero much like his own idol, Felix Trinidad. But first he has to get past his tough foe, former WBC and IBF champion Rafael Marquez. While the younger fighter Lopez is the favorite heading into the fight scheduled for 12 rounds, you can’t ever count out the tough Mexican warrior and fellow knockout artist Marquez. And after his four recent wars against Israel Vazquez, boxing aficionados really want to see what the fierce Rafa, now trained by former champ Daniel Zaragoza, will bring to the fight. While some are calling for a Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry and loyalty, a victory in this duel will most certainly cement Lopez’s place in the hearts of fans around the world–especially in his homeland.

Just like “Tito” Trinidad, Miguel Cotto, Hector “Macho” Camacho, Wilfredo Benitez and Wilfredo Gomez and many other popular Puerto Rican prizefighters before him, Juan Manuel Lopez hopes to bring even more pugilistic pride to his beloved island.

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com

Photos by Michele Chong