Weekend Boxing Preview: Garcia vs Lopez

Garcia vs Lopez this weekend promises fireworks when undefeated WBO featherweight champ Mikey Garcia puts his belt on the line against Juan Manuel Lopez

By Niall Doran

Moving to Dallas Texas this weekend in a fight that is being touted by many as a potential fight of the year candidate. A clash between two big hitting pugilists will ignite the always passionate boxing rivalry between the two countries of Mexico and Puerto Rico.

On one hand you have a rising global boxing star in Mexican/American Mikey Garcia, who to date has built an impressive resume of 31-0 with 26 KO’s. On the other hand you have an equally impressive puncher but a southpaw in former two time world champion Juan Manuel Lopez of Puerto Rico who also has a massive punching record of 33-2 with 30 KOs.

For me momentum plays a big part in big time boxing and I just feel the momentum is slightly with Garcia, who is the younger and possibly more hungry of the two. Don’t get me wrong I think Lopez will be up for this one though. I think he’ll be looking to put on a devastating performance to try to establish himself again as the top dog at 126 lbs. He also comes into the fight in good form coming off the back of two impressive stoppage wins. He’s also a quality southpaw, which for any fighter, will cause problems.

Mikey Garcia for me is the fresher of the two, and a young man who seems to be very under rated in world boxing, given his achievements thus far. It’s almost as if he’s gone under the radar in becoming world champion. He is coming off a very good win in his last fight against Orlando Salido, a man we must remember that actually beat Juan Manuel Lopez by 10th round TKO back in 2010. Perhaps this might give Garcia a slight psychological edge in knowing this going into the fight, who knows?

Stylistically looking at both fighters you would have to say that although Lopez probably has a slight edge in power that he is probably the slower of the two. Garcia needs to use his speed advantage and in my own opinion superior boxing skills to his advantage, and not get drawn in to a real toe to toe (which inevitably will probably happen at some stage).

For me it’s all about skills which ‘pay the bills’ as they say in the sweet science. From what I have seen from both fighters, and taking into account recent form and opponents, I’m going with Garcia by unanimous decision in a tough grueling encounter for him that should leave everyone in attendance.

It promises to be another classic battle in the long standing tradition and boxing rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico!

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