Juan Manuel Lopez Vs. The World

Michael Nelson takes a look at how Juan Manuel Lopez stacks up head to head against a few of the world's best featherweights.

After a fantastic bout with Rafael Marquez, the intrigue in how Juan Manuel Lopez would do against other elite featherweights exploded. Nothing much was learned last Saturday - his strengths and weaknesses both resonated loudly during the eight round slugfest. What was made violently clear is that we need to see more of him against the best of his peers - ones with a bit less ring wear than the Mexican icon he defeated.

Lopez may have iffy whiskers, but he's clearly a difficult man to knock out. He made that known a year ago when he stayed upright on wobbly legs for nearly three minutes during the hellacious final round against Roger Mtagwa. And he reaffirmed his steely resiliency by surviving some scary moments against Marquez. It's relatively easy for good punchers to hurt him, but taking him from hurt to unconscious is another feat altogether.

That resiliency will (hopefully) be put to the test in the near future, as prime punchers who present stylistic challenges are standing in the path of his ascent towards stardom. Let's take a look at how he matches up with some of his featherweight adversaries.

Lopez vs Daniel Ponce De Leon

Lopez, of course, blasted Ponce De Leon in one round back in 2008, and many assumed that would be the last we'd see of PDL on the world class stage.

But he's won six straight since, including the impressive third round destruction of fan favorite Antonio Escalante last month. Escalante found hitting the oft-described "caveman" surprisingly difficult. And while De Leon's money punch was supposed to be his left hand, it was a short right hook that put Antonio to sleep.

He's still crude, but he's more patient and aware in the ring, developments that were helped by recent corner addition Don Huntly. His impoved tactical approach should serve him better in a second clash with Juanma.

How much better is the question. The speed and technique deficiency remain, and while he possesses the punch to separate Lopez from his senses, it's hard to imagine he'd be the more accurate practionioner in the ring.

A rematch would be an intriguing fight, but Ponce De Leon would only have the proverbial puncher's chance.

Lopez TKO8 De Leon

Lopez vs Celestino Caballero

Caballero's been yapping about Lopez for a few years now, and Lopez' responses have ranged from silence, to "sure thing (if you accept short money)", to "you're not worthy". Cumulatively, it doesn't appear that he's very eager to step inside the ring with the 34 year old Panamanian.

It's not a mystery as to why; Caballero's probably a difficult fight. He's awkward, he's tall, and he has a chin. He's not unlike a lanky, more skilled version of Mtagwa, the man who took Lopez through a tour of hell last year.

Caballero's fight with Jason Litzau next month - his second excursion into featherweight - should shed some more light on how this matchup could play out. The feeling is that Celestino has the reach advantage and active hands to make consistent contact with Lopez, to go along with the durability to take the incoming. But similar to Juanma's bout with Mtagwa, his more compact punches may persuade the judges in a war.

Here's hoping that one or two more wins will make Caballero's barks loud enough for the hearing impaired among Lopez' camp.

Lopez SD12 Caballero

Lopez vs Yuriorkis Gamboa

The sensational Cuban demolished Mtagwa in two rounds, three months after Mtagwa's brutal clash with Lopez. That was enough to favor Gamboa over Lopez in a prospective bout in the eyes of most, but Yuriorkis has since had his troubles against Jonathan Victor Barros and Orlando Salido. And that's OK. Hardnosed guys like Barros and Salido aren't the type to be steamrolled, regardless of what the oddsmakers think.

Adding appeal to the matchup are the numerous trips to the canvas Gamboa has timeshared throughout his career. Clearly, that's a concern against Juanma's right hook, but like Lopez, Gamboa is quick to recover, and quick to seek retribution.

Lopez hasn't seen the type of speed and jolting power that Gamboa possesses, and he still leaves his chin out to dry when he smells blood. And while Gamboa has his own defensive liabilities, he's far more elusive than the stationary Puerto Rican.

Doubts about whether this fight would ever take place are omnipresent in the forestalling world of boxing. If it ever did, Gamboa's left hook would likely find a home on Lopez' chin. The bout would have drama, but that speed is overwhelming.

Gamboa KO6 Lopez

Juan Manuel Lopez' scinintillating victory over Marquez was a good first step towards Pound For Pound celebrity. Work still needs to be done though; let's hope he continues to prove his mettle against fighters closer to their prime.

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