Juan Manuel Lopez Wins With An Assertive First Round KO

Image details: Juan Manuel Lopez v Juan Brea served by picapp.com

If you stayed with the end of Showtime’s Sergio Mora victory over Vernon Forrest then you probably missed HBO’s opening bout. Heck, if you blinked you might have missed Juan Manual Lopez’ declarative first round TKO and WBO super bantamweight-grabbing win over Daniel Ponce de Leon.

The 24-year-old Puerto Rican destroyed the 27-year-old Mexican first dropping him with a straight left halfway through round one. Ponce de Leon got up but was out on feet an Lopez pounced. He stalked Ponce de Leon around the ring finally cornering him at the 50 second mark. At this point he wailed hook after hook flattening his opponent again. The Mexican was unable to gather and the ref mercifully stepped in and ended the beating.

HBO announcer Max Kellerman asserted that “a star is born.” It’s hard to argue with that statement especially after Lopez’ confident and personality-filled post-match interview. Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez now have an exciting prospective Puerto Rican dancing partner. Kellerman asked him if he’s ready for those two luminaries to which Lopez smilingly responded, “If the fight today didn’t demonstrate it, then what do I have to do?”