Take Josesito Lopez, who on June 8 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Ca, faces hard-punching Argentinean Marcos Maidana.
Lopez, 28, was last seen in the ring nine months ago getting pummeled by junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. The fight lasted five rounds. Lopez (30-5, 18 KOs) hit the canvas three times. Still, he fought like he always does, with heart and determination.
Maidana, 29, will be fighting in the welterweight division for the third time. He blew out Angel Martinez in his home country, and stopped Jesus Soto Karass in eight rounds last September. The key was his right hand. It packs dynamite. Maidana (33-3, 30 KOs) is a bonafide slugger.
Lopez, who resides in Riverside, Ca, knows this.
“When you're fighting a heavy puncher like Maidana, you have to be smart,” said Lopez during a press conference. “The move up to one hundred and fifty-four helped me now that I'm back at one forty-seven. Now I feel I'm a true welterweight. I feel great in the gym; stronger and faster.”
Henry Martinez, who trains Lopez, concurs with his strategy.
"Josesito needs to get respect and fight smart," Martinez said.
Maidana likes the way Lopez fights.
"I know Josesito is a great fighter. I know he likes to stand and trade and fight. That's what I do and that's why it's going to be such an exciting fight”.
When Lopez boxes it’s the 1970's all over again. He’s a mixture of gutsy uncrowned welterweight champion Armando Muniz (also of Riverside who fought Hall of Famer Jose Napoles twice) and rangy boxer-puncher Zoveck Barajas.
Maidana is a thrill-a-minute fighter as well. On paper his TKO victory over Soto Karass looks ordinary, but in reality the bout was a tough give-and-take war. Maidana utilized his jab in the Soto Karass victory, courtesy of new trainer Robert Garcia, but his defensive flaws were still apparent. It’s also possible that the wear and tear of so many wars is beginning to slow Maidana down.
Lopez rose to boxing prominence by stopping heavy favorite Victor Ortiz at the Staples Center in Los Angles last year. Though outworked during stretches of the fight, Lopez never gave in. He eventually broke Ortiz’s jaw, and his spirit, stopping the former champion in nine brutal rounds.
“Rocky” Lopez was a star. Maidana defeated Ortiz seven years ago and almost did the same to Amir Khan in 2010. Lopez is a few inches taller than the 5’7” Maidana. He’s not a big puncher, but can carve up an opponent up. His bodywork is excellent.
Maidana can change the outcome of a fight in a flash if his right hand connects. Lopez will employ some subtle movement to keep Maidana guessing. He’ll stop, fire, and move slightly.
Nevertheless, all indicators suggest another potential fight-of-the-year candidate.
In this writer’s opinion, Lopez looks like the fresher and hungrier boxer. His hometown fans will boost his spirits. Maidana will be the raging bull, but Lopez will use his matador-like skills to win by close decision.
John J. Raspanti responds to all his emails. Please send all questions and comments to John at: marlow_58@hotmail.com
