Lopez Is Focused For Ring Return

Former two time world champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez took part in a media training day today(Jan 4) prior to his return to the ring against Aldimar Silva Santos on February 2.

“I’m totally in focus for this fight because I’m going to show that I have a lot of boxing to become a world champion again”, Lopez said before training at the Jose “Cheo” Aponte Gym in Caguas.

“I’ve been training since August, training hard with my team (Alex Caraballo and Orlando Piñero) at the Cheo Aponte Gym and with Freddy Trinidad in the Caimito Gym, where we are working in something new”.

Although Lopez (31-2, 28 KOs) didn’t have to attend the pre-weigh in ceremony today, he did it in front of the media and weighed in at 139 ½ pounds a month before his bout against Silva Santos.

“I weighed here to see that I’m working hard and focus”, a relaxed Lopez said.

About the Brazilian Silva Santos (18-3, 9 KOs), who fought last December 29, 2012, winning a six round decision over fellow countryman Rodolfo Franz in Brazil, Lopez said that he doesn’t know much of him.

“I just know that he (Silva Santos) is right hander and has fast hands”, Lopez said.

The Lopez-Silva Santos bout is scheduled to 10 rounds in 128 pounds. Actually, Lopez is ranked #5 by the WBO in the featherweight division.

Meanwhile, the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission also held the 30 day weigh in for Jose “Chelo” Gonzalez, McWilliams Arroyo, McJoe Arroyo and Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez, who will fight for regional titles on the show. These fighters can‘t weigh more than 15% of the weight for their fights.

The #1 WBO ranked in the lightweights, Chelo Gonzalez (21-0, 16 KOs), who is defending his WBO Latino lightweight title against a foe to be announced, weighed 154.5 pounds of a 155.25 maximum allowed. McWilliams Arroyo (13-1, 11 KOs), the #6 WBO ranked in the flyweights, also will defend his WBO Latino flyweight belt versus a rival to be determined. McWilliams weighed 118 ½ pounds of a 128.8 limit.

McJoe Arroyo (11-0, 6 KOs), the #9 WBO ranked in the super-flyweights, will fight for the WBO super-flyweight Latino crown against a foe to be named. McJoe weighed 123 pounds of a 132.25 maximum and Bomba Gonzalez (11-0, 10 KOs), who is the #12 WBO ranked in the flyweights and will defend his WBO Youth flyweight title, weighed 130 pounds of a 128.8 maximum.