After thirty fights of stunning crowds with his ability to neglect defense and always come back to score the victory, Juan Manuel Lopez’ streak ended. Orlando Salido captured the WBO Featherweight Championship via eighth-round technical knockout (referee stoppage) after connecting with countless right hands including one that landed “JuanMa” on the canvas in the fifth round. In the co-featured bout, Luis Cruz claimed a unanimous decision over Martin Honorio with the scores of 100-90, 98-92 and 96-94 from Ruben Rodriguez Coliseo in Bayamon, Puerto Rico on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.
At first it seemed like nothing new for the 27-year-old, charismatic Puerto Rican.
After Lopez (30-1, 27 KOs) won the first several rounds, Salido (35-11-2, 23 KOs), of Ciudad Obregon, Mexico, roared back by coming forward, bringing pressure and landing his right hand to the hard head of Lopez. In a flurry of punches between both fighters in the fifth, Salido landed a solid left hook followed by a hellacious right that sent JuanMa to the ground. Visibly staggered, Lopez called upon his warrior determination to return to his feet before the ten count and endure the dwindling seconds of the round.
Admitting to the severity of the knockdown, Lopez simply stated after the fight, “The punch in the fifth round hurt.”
The lingering effects of Salido’s monstrous right hand pushed JuanMa into survival mode throughout the sixth as Salido looked to end the night, but Lopez was able to miraculously hang on. By the seventh, the 10,115 loyal fans in attendance were on their feet and screaming at the top of their lungs as they witnessed their champion come back to life with a another signature gutsy performance.
But then the storyline changed.
Instead of Lopez springing from his corner in the eighth to knockout his opponent, it was Salido who charged into the round with a renewed sense of urgency to end the fight. Although Lopez was able to sporadically retaliate, Salido was landing the much cleaner, harder shots and Lopez was once again wobbling around the ring. The wobbling and lack of punching efficiency proved to be too much for referee Roberto Ramirez Jr. as he stopped the slugfest at 1:39 of round eight.
The stoppage surprised – and angered – many in attendance, as the boos were following by flying beer and water bottles from the pro-Lopez crowd. Lopez echoed the crowd’s displeasure with the ref’s ruling. “[Salido] was hitting me but [Ramirez Jr.] shouldn’t have stopped the fight,” said Lopez. “I was still conscious.”
For safety purposes, Rodriguez was walked out of the arena by a team of police escorts.
Proudly hoisting up his belt after the fight, the new champion said, “I came very prepared to fight the No. 1 featherweight in the world. I think the fight was going pretty evenly through the first five rounds but I knew I had to pressure [Lopez] because we were in his hometown.”
After considering the bout’s thrilling nature and competitive spirit, promoter Bob Arum informed the media at the post-fight press conference that he fully planned to schedule a rematch between Lopez and Salido in the fall.
Take that Bob Arum!
it was a great fight but early stoppage. as for him having a suspect chin u need to know what that means…. this fight was stopped and he wasnt k’o.. a suspect chin is him being knocked down alot.. i dont see that with juanma. he has taken great punches from tough fighters and only been down twice in his career…. so i dont see a suspect chin. i still think it was a great fight the rematch will be better
JuanMa is know for a suspect chin. Salido exposed it again. Great win. Great upset.
Great performance by salido. Juanma just couldny recover from that first knockdown. I disagree with the judges on the indercard.
100/90???? U gotta be kidding me that was at least a draw.
I was astonished by Salido’s accuracy and timing .What an enthralling and meritorious performance by Salido .He made Lopez look like an effete tenderfeet .Salido was composed during the fight and he was so confident .Round of applause to Salido and I wish him the same victory against Gamboa if they ever fight again .
A little bit early in my opinion but I didn’t see much of a different outcome at that point but we all Lopez can always turn things around so I can definitely can see the fans being pissed off. JuanMa better start learning some defense if he expects to salvage a fight with Gamboa he has the power and descent speed he just got’s to realize his punches aren’t always going to be enough. Congratulations to Salido came to win and thats what he did glad he was able to grab a championship one more time. I swear they need to start putting better refs. in big fights like this one and Ortiz/Berto that ref. pissed me.
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