Gamboa and Lopez Raise Calls For Immediate Showdown

 by Dafs117

Yuriorkis Gamboa KO 2 Rogers Mtagwa
Juan Manuel Lopez TKO 7 Steven Luevano

Rogers Mtagwa looked little more than a journeyman last night as Yuriorkis Gamboa used him as a human punchbag by landing 50% of his wild punches in their co-feature at Madison Square Garden.

Gamboa was devastating as he knocked down his Tanzanian challenger three times before referee Steve Smoger had seen enough. Gamboa has always been a blitz of entertainment, but this was by far his best performance to date. The amateur prospect showed that he can step up in class, no bother.

It’s always been tough for Rogers Mtagwa, who loses no respect for being out of Gamboa’s league. Some may argue that Mtagwa overtrained as he weighed in at 122.5 pounds in Friday’s weigh-in, but he was simply beaten to the punch by the younger, classier opponent.

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Juanma's Big Step Up

by Paul Magno

Juan Manuel Lopez is not your father's Puerto Rican boxing hero.

There is a long line of stoic, no-nonsense boricua heroes, from Jose Torres and Carlos Ortiz to Wilftredo Gomez and Wilfredo Benitez, right up to Felix Trinidad and Miguel Cotto. The Puerto Rican hero has been characterized by an old school blend of technical proficiency and pure, island-forged bravery.

Reigning WBO Super Bantamweight champ, Lopez, seems to be cut from a different cloth than the typical Puerto Rican boxing star. More at home in front of the cameras and always willing to flash his trademark toothy grin, Lopez is, personality-wise, more Hector Camacho than Wilfredo Gomez.

Of course, being a friendly, marketable character isn't a bad thing...But the question is whether the ever-smiling Juanma's ring work is slipping as his fame is on the rise.

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Magno vs. The Machine (Stage 8 Luevano-Lopez, Gamboa-Mtagwa)

We’re back. After both competitors hibernated over the Christmas period, hopefully both are in top condition; looking to erase those New Year cobwebs with two correct predictions in our first Magno vs. Machine of the decade.

WBO featherweight titleholder Steven Luevano will defend his crown against undefeated Puerto Rican sensation Juan Manuel Lopez, who survived his first gut check against tough cookie Rogers Mtagwa, who faces former amateur standout Yuriorkis Gamboa for a quarter of the WBA pie.

Is Magno beginning to tire over the stretch? Can the Machine bottle up one more shot at defeating The Boxing Tribune’s Editor-in-Chief?

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The BTBC Fight of the Week

Saturday, August 15th

Steven Luevano vs. Bernabe Concepcion

(WBO Featherweight Title)

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

The Breakdown:

Steven Luevano: 36-1-1 (15 KO), Rated #2 at Featherweight by the BTBC

Age: 28

Height: 5' 7 "

Reach: 69"

Stance: Southpaw

Career Achievements: Reigning WBO Featherweight Champ (4 Defenses)

Notable Opposition: Cristobal Cruz (Win via UD), Nicky Cook (Win via KO 11), Mario Santiago (Draw), Billy Dib (Win via UD)

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Bernabe Concepcion: 29-1-1 (16 KO), Rated #5 at Jr. Featherweight by the BTBC

Age: 21

Height: 5' 4"

Reach: 69"

Stance: Orthodox

Career Achievements: WBC International Featherweight Title

Notable Opposition: None

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Paulie the Sicilian's Prediction: There's no doubt that Luevano is the better, more accomplished pro boxer. He's not really outstanding in any one area, but he's well-schooled...and that goes a long way these days.

Concepcion is a ball of energy, but, on paper, doesn't even belong in the ring with Luevano.

However, this fight ain't just on paper...

Luevano doesn't like to be pressured; He has serious issues when fighters press him and don't give him the space and time to execute his gameplan. And, unfortunately for him, he just doesn't have the one-punch power to keep an aggressive opponent off him...

Luevano will go into the second half of the fight with a slight lead and Concepcion will be pressing the entire time. Eventually, Concepcion's pressure and the will of the pro-Filipino crowd will weigh on Luevano and he will tire.

Concepcion stops an exhausted Luevano in the 10th or 11th.

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