BOXING is off to a wobbly start in 2010. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao couldn’t agree on terms for their much-anticipated bout, and now the welterweight unification fight scheduled for Jan. 30 between Shane Mosley and Andre Berto has been canceled because of the stress Berto has been under dealing with the earthquake in his native Haiti.
It’s time for some good news. Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa are back at the MSG Theater tonight, headlining the first significant boxing card of the year in separate title bouts. Lopez, the unbeaten junior featherweight champion from Puerto Rico, is moving up to challenge Steven Luevano of California for the WBO featherweight title, and Gamboa, a Cuban Olympian, is defending his WBA featherweight title against Rogers Mtagwa of Tanzania.
Lopez (27-0, 24 KOs) and Gamboa (16-0 14 KOs) fought in a similar doubleheader at the Theater in October. And though Gamboa won easily on a fourth-round knockout, Lopez and Mtagwa waged what could have been the Fight of the Year for 2009.
Lopez and Mtagwa (26-13-2, 18 KOs) went toe-to-toe exchanging heavy punches throughout the bout, which Lopez dominated early but faded in the end from fatigue. He somehow survived the 12th round on rubbery legs, leaning on the ropes for support while Mtagwa desperately tried for the late knockout. Lopez escaped with a unanimous decision and a good scare.
“I learned in that fight that I need to follow my plan,” Lopez said. “I can’t just try for the knockout to please the fans. I need to do what my corner tells me to do. I can’t fight crazy like that.”
Lopez said moving up in weight should give him added energy.
“I feel strong; a lot better,” he said. “My body has been needing more weight. It’s really helped me a lot.”
Lopez quickly is becoming the darling of Puerto Rico. His warm smile and engaging personality has been likened to Felix “Tito” Trinidad. With Miguel Cotto coming off a tough loss to Pacquiao and facing an uncertain future, Lopez is emerging as the country’s top boxing star. Trinidad is expected to attend tonight’s bout.
“He’s a great fighter,” Lopez said of Luevano (37-1-1, 15 KOs). “I will have to fight smart and apply a lot of pressure.”
A future matchup between Lopez and Gamboa for a featherweight unification title has been discussed, but each must take care of their work tonight.
***
Antonio Margarito is trying to get a license to fight in Texas on the undercard of the March 13 welterweight title fight between Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey at Texas Stadium. Let’s hope the commission revokes that request.
Margarito’s license has been suspended since being caught with a hardened substance in his gloves before his bout last year with Mosley in Los Angeles. Margarito lost the fight.
Sitting out a year isn’t nearly a severe enough penalty for the crime. It sends the wrong message if he’s allowed to fight so soon.
***
It will be interesting to monitor the negotiations for a proposed bout between Mosley and Maywether. Mosley has admitted before a grand jury that he used performance-enhancing drugs in the past.
Will Mayweather call for Olympic-style blood testing? Will Mosley agree? And will the fight take place on March 13 and go head-to-head with Pacquiao-Clottey? Don’t be surprised if it does.