Felix Trinidad Sr. speaks out on Juan Manuel Lopez
Following a tremendous win on the weekend over Rafael Marquez, Juan Manuel Lopez, or “Juanma,” is a step closer to extending the legacy of his Puerto Rican idol Felix Trinidad.
Trinidad’s own trainer, Trinidad Sr. and former fighter Jose Bonilla, recently weighed in on “Juanma” and said the time has come for him to accept the big fights and make his mark.
"Juanma is a fighter who is now in his moment,” Bonilla said. “Juanma is at that stage when he begins to face the big names. At the level he is at now, there will be no easy fights. The networks like HBO and Showtime, they are looking for big money fights
and this is what he has to take now," Bonilla confirmed.
Lopez is promoted by Top Rank. The promotional company has already started hyping and preparing for a mega-bout between him and WBA featherweight super champion Yuriorkis Gamboa, who is also promoted by the company. Trinidad Sr. commented on the outcome
of that bout, and suggested that Lopez would have nothing to worry about against the formidable Gamboa.
“I like Gamboa for Juanma because he always comes forward, he is aggressive and very open,” Trinidad Sr. said. “He gets hit. Like Marquez, I think he's a fighter made to order for Juanma. I see good future for him [Lopez] and his corner because they look
good against opponents and they prepared very well against Marquez, who for me was more dangerous than Gamboa himself."
Another variable in the Lopez equation is Celestino Caballero, the featherweight WBA interim champion. He has been actively pursuing Lopez for over a year now in a prospective fight, and many believe Lopez and his management have been steering him clear.
Caballero appeared unexpectedly at Lopez’s weigh-in with Marquez and created a scene in which one of Lopez’s bodyguards attempted to attack Caballero.
Many insiders believe Caballero would defeat both Lopez and Gamboa if he were given the opportunity to face them.
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