Orlando Salido retains WBO featherweight title against Juan Manuel Lopez – Boxing News
Orlando Salido defeated Juan Manuel Lopez on Saturday night in their rematch to retain his WBO featherweight title. This was the second time Mexican Orlando Salido defeated Puerto Rican Juan in a year. Juan Manuel Lopez was stopped in the 10th
round of the bout through a technical knockout at Roberto Clemente Coliseum.
As of now, Salido stands with 38 wins, 11 losses, 2 ties and 26 knockouts, whereas Lopez has come down to 31 wins, 2 losses and 28 knockouts. Lopez suffered his career’s first knockouts against Salido in their last bout. Before the bout, Lopez promised his
fans that he would win the rematch and make Puerto Ricans proud. Unfortunately, Lopez, 28, could not do it and he once again was beaten at the hands of Salido.
In the post bout conference, Salido commented on knocking out Lopez, “I was analyzing him. ... He was already tired. It is a great victory.”
Lopez did give his best and there is no doubt about it. In the fifth round, Lopez had put Salido down on the canvas with a strong right hand shot. Probably, this was when Salido realised he has to keep Lopez under pressure in order to defeat him. Moreover,
Lopez even had convinced two of the three judges to score him higher than Salido. The only way for Salido to win was a knockout and he was lucky to get it.
After the bout, Peter Rivera, Vice President of PR Best Boxing Promotions iterated, “It was no doubt a difficult fight. It could have ended for either fighter. Both were tired. We lost this fight, but it won't be the end."
After the fight was stopped, Juan Manuel Lopez blamed the judge for being involved in unethical practices. He said that the fight was stopped due to gambling issues. However, later on Lopez apologized for accusing the referee and accepted his defeat. For
now, Salido is the only fighter to defeat Lopez, and that too twice.
Since this was the second time Lopez suffered a defeat against Salido, possibilities of a rematch are rare. No announcements have been made over rematch plans to date.
Tags: