The Puerto Rican boxer Juan Manuel "Juanma" López (35-5, 32 KO) was supposed to face his fellow countryman Jayson "La Maravilla" Vélez (25-4-1, 17 KO) last September, but the fight had to be postponed due to the passage of Hurricane Maria.
But now it's official, López vs. Vélez will take place on March 3rd at the Mario "Quijote" Morales Coliseum in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. "Juanma" said he is prepared to knock out Vélez and knows that this fight is important to continue advancing his career.
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"I'm ready to knock out Vélez. This fight is very important. It's another step towards reclaiming my place in the world. Jayson is not an easy boxer and I don't underestimate him.
"I know it will be a tough fight and we're working for it. We're looking for big purses and big fights."
On the other hand, Vélez said he is aware that López's experience is a very important factor in the fight, as it is not the first time "Juanma" faces a rival who has an advantage in age.
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"It's an extremely important fight. I won't be facing just any boxer, I'll be facing a two-time champion. We will arrive well prepared because at this stage of my career I have to win."
Both fighters will be looking to get their careers back on track as they have had setbacks. López made his comeback on October 29, 2016 and defeated his compatriot Wilfredo Vázquez Jr. by technical knockout in the eleventh round.
After the fight, "Juanma" got into a physical altercation with his opponent's trainer. This incident cost him a one-year suspension and now he is hoping to reclaim all the lost time.
Meanwhile, Vélez had a very bad streak of four consecutive losses. Apparently, he was able to regain his rhythm as he has 2 impressive victories. The last one was on July 8, 2017 when he defeated Giovani Caro by knockout in the fifth round.
Now the question is, can "Juanma" break into the contenders for a world title or will Vélez fall into that position again? One more loss for either of them could mean the end of their careers.
source: boxingscene.com