by James Slater – It will be a busy night of boxing on June 27th – on both sides of the Atlantic. In the UK we have the big O2 bill in London topped by Andriy Kotelnik against Amir Khan. In Germany that same night middleweight king “King” Arthur Abraham defends his version of the 160-pound title against Mahir Oral. While on June 27th in America, we will be treated to the Chris John-Rocky Juarez rematch in L.A, and the fight that is the main subject of this article – Juan Manuel Lopez defending his WBO super-bantamweight belt against Olivier Lontchi in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It should be some great night of boxing all round..
But what can we expect from “Juanma” Vs. the little-known yet unbeaten Lontchi?
Speaking to FightNews.com, KO artist Lopez said he expects a tough night’s work in what will be his first ever Pay-per-View headline performance.
“I’m very excited to be in my first main event on par-per-view,” Lopez said. “I’ve seen a video on Lontchi and I’m expecting a very tough fight. I am coming to the fight very well conditioned and prepared. I’m ready to meet his challenge. The fans can expect to see me in another exciting fight.”
Judging by the way he has thrilled us thus far, it’s pretty much a given that the 25-0(23) possible future super star will do so again at the end of the month. A KO, and a damn fast one, at that, can never be ruled out when the 25-year-old from Puerto Rico is in the ring, and another 1st-round win is always a possibility against the 18-0-2(8) challenger from Canada. However, in speaking to the media himself recently, both Lontchi and his trainer, the experienced and knowledgeable Howard Grant, assured the people they are confident of causing the upset on June 27th. Can the Cameroon-born 26-year-old really be expected to beat the lethal southpaw though?
By his own admission, and though he says it will not bother him one bit, Lontchi has never met a southpaw opponent as a pro. Will the champion’s stance, not to mention his frightening punching power, prove to be obstacles Lontchi will struggle to deal with? Not a big puncher himself, more of a classy and smart boxer who plans to take Lopez into the later rounds and out-point him, Lontchi will not be able to make a single mistake defence-wise. If he does, and he leaves his chin exposed, it could be the end of the fight.
But then, all of Lopez’ opponents, past and future, had/will have that concern. Much like the awesome punching middleweight king of the 1990s, Julian Jackson, Lopez is a fighter who makes the idea of blinking a bad one for the viewing fans. Lontchi has tasted the canvas before – in his draw against Eduardo Garcia – but so far he has been able to avoid losing. Will this change on June 27th?
It would be foolish to write Lontchi off just like that. No young, hungry and unbeaten fighter can be dismissed so easily, and Lontchi did have a good amateur career. Lopez himself, ever the consummate pro, will not make the mistake of overlooking his challenger.
Lontchi is fast, skilled and he will definitely come to win. The problem is, Lopez is just as fast, just as hungry and he always comes to win. While another quick win for the champ is always a very real possibility, I think the fast hands and the ring savvy of Lontchi will keep him in the fight – maybe not for the full 12 rounds he envisages, but long enough for “Juanma” to have to work hard for his 26th victory.