Gamboa / Lopez Set Up Summer Clash!!!
Duddy and Wolak Win for Complete Results
January 23rd, Madison Square Garden, New York: After watching rising star Yuriorkis Gamboa, 17-0, 15Ko’s score a a sensational second-round knockout of rugged challenger Rogers “Tiger” Mtagwa, 26-14-2, 18Ko’s the WBO Jr. World Featherweight Champion Juan “Juanamma” Manuel Lopez went on to grab his second title in a second weight division taking his time and effectively scoring with his radar sharp right hook giving Steven Luevano only his second loss stopping him in the seventh round of their twelve round WBO World Featherweight title fight.
Juan Manuel Lopez, 28-0, 25Ko’s stopped Steven Luevano. 37-2-1, 15Ko's for the first time in his forty fight career in the seventh round using a brutal right hook to claim the WBO title in the main event of a featherweight doubleheader.
Earlier, rising star Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa defended his WBA belt with a sensational second-round knockout of rugged challenger Rogers Mtagwa who never got started.
Lopez who was forced to go the distance by Mtagwa in his last fight this past October having to hold on in a rough twelfth round proved 126lbs is a where he should be at least for the mean time.
Lopez taking his time in the first two rounds against the defensively sound champion methodically worked his way in landing a variety of punches from all angles making his right hook the money punch in the battle of southpaws.
Lopez wobbled Luevano several times usually with the hook finally opening up with uppercuts from both sides forcing referee Benji Esteves Jr. to call it at 0:44 of round seven.
Fighting in front of Puerto Rico’s best Felix Trinidad and Miguel Cotto who flew to New York to support their friend, Lopez turned in an educated well executed fight that was a battle of styles. With both fighters battling out of the southpaw stance and Luevano a defensive counter puncher Lopez was forced to take his time applying relentless pressure eventually braking the once beaten champion.
Lopez and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Gamboa seemed to be on a collision course especially after Gamboa’s second round dismantling of Mtagwa in which Gamboa appeared much too quick and hit too hard rocking Mtwaga with the very first shot never allowing the Tanzmanian “Tiger” a chance to get on a roll. A roll, that took Lopez the distance.
Most in boxing know that styles make fights but I believe that this not only is a comparison of styles but will again come down to weight. Lopez moved up to 126lbs partially in search of a title in a second title in a second weight division but mostly as the result of a struggle to make weight. Lopez met Mtawga in October for the WBO super bantamweight title with Lopez and “The Tiger” weighing in at 121lbs.
Gamboa weighed in for the fight at a division max 126lbs while Mtawga tipped the scales at 122 and a half. The talented Cuban star went on to out class and put the sturdy chinned Mtwaga on the canvas three times forcing referee Steve Smoger to call the bout at 2:35 of round two.
With the rumors of a Miguel Cotto fight with Yuri Foreman on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade ringing true Lopez Gamboa would pack the house.
On the undercard:
New York’s favorite son John Duddy, 28-1, 18Ko’s blew out Missouri patsy Juan Astorga, 14-4-1 9Ko’s dropping him twice the latter with a ripping left hook to the body. Astorga appearing to be caught up in the bright lights of New York never had a chance.
Polish light middleweight sensation and crowd pleaser Pawel “Raging Bull” Wolak, 26-1 17Ko’s outworked Ishmail Arvin, 15-2-4, 7Ko’s over eight winning a one sided unanimous decision 80-72 and 79-73 times two.
Undefeated Jr. Featherweight Jorge Diaz, 12-0 hammered Denver, Colorado’s Tommy Atencio, 4-4 2Ko’s with a driving right to the chin dropping him to the deck then finished him immediately after getting upright with a viscious left hook to the body forcing referee to stop the action at 1:27 of round one.
Greenlawn’s undefeated Jr. welterweight Chris Algieri, 10-0 5Ko’s battled South Carolina’s tough James Hope, 4-4 4Ko’s toe to toe taking the advantage in the closing seconds of round five with a solid left hook stalling Hope earning Algieri 59-55, 58-56 times two unanimous decision.
Nationally ranked as an amateur winning four sets of New York Daily News Gold Gloves light heavyweight Will “Will Power” Rosinsky, 10-0, 6Ko’s recorded a slanted four round decision decisively beating Mission, Kansas Markus Gonzales, 7-3 4Ko’s. The scores were announced 40-35 and 40-36 times two.
San Juan, Puerto Rico cruiserweight Carlos Negron, 7-0 5Ko’s remained unbeaten shutting out Philadelphia tough guy Garrett Wilson, 7-3, 2Ko’s 60-54 times three.
Plainview, New York welterweight Tommy “The Razor” Rainone, 13-3 4Ko’s dropped and battered Provo, Utah’s light punching Gerardo Prieto, 6-8, 0Ko’s earning a 40-36, 39-35 times two unanimous decision.
