Juan Manuel Lopez survives late flurry from Mtagwa
Photo credit: AP | Juan Manuel Lopez, of Puerto Rico, left, celebrates after defeating Rogers Mtagwa during a WBO Super Bantamweight Title fight. (October 10, 2009)
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Promoter Russell Peltz wasn't kidding when he said Tanzanian Rogers Mtagwa was a true "Philadelphia fighter," meaning a warrior with a hard head and no quit in him. After having everything his way for the first half of his WBO super- bantamweight title defense, Juan Manuel Lopez found himself hanging on for dear life in the final two rounds under a barrage of Mtagwa overhand rights.
"I knew what was happening at all times, but I knew he was punching me with some good punches," Lopez said. "In the 11th round, he really hurt me, and I never was able to recuperate after the minute that I got off. It was really a tough 12th round because I was still not feeling good."
Lopez (27-0, 24 KOs) spent the 12th reeling into the ropes and grabbing onto Mtagwa (25-13-2, 18 KOs). His eyes kept rolling up toward the overhead lights, but Lopez fought to maintain a grip on his senses and waited an eternity to hear the final bell. Once it rang, he walked away with a unanimous decision and his title belt thanks to his big early lead.
Asked how he survived, Lopez said, "My heart. It's all heart. A lot of people think I'm Superman. I'm not. I get hit just like everybody else."
Judge Kevin Morgan scored it 114-113, giving the final six rounds to Mtagwa with the difference coming in a 10-8 fifth round in which Mtagwa went down from a right hand. Carlos Ortiz (116-111) gave Mtagwa four of the final five rounds, and Steve Weisfeld (115-111) gave Mtagwa the last three rounds, including a well-deserved 10-8 margin in the 12th.
According to CompuBox Inc. Lopez landed 327 punches to 216 by Mtagwa and had a 297-197 advantage in power punches. But the champion was out of gas by the end of the 10th, and Mtagwa ripped a right to the head that left Lopez staggering at the start of the 11th. He fought back that round, but Mtagwa finished with a power flurry and then opened the 12th with another right-hand bomb.
"He just punches from a lot of different angles," Lopez said of Mtagwa. "I couldn't figure him out. I couldn't see them . . . They were coming from everywhere."
Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa (16-0, 14 KOs), who successfully defended his WBA world featherweight title by stopping Panamanian Whyber Garcia (22-7, 15 KOs) at 58 seconds of the fourth round, was far more impressive than Lopez. After a dazzling display of footwork, hand speed, body movement and power, he was asked if he'd like another warm-up before a potential title match with Lopez moving up four pounds to 126.
"I don't think Juan Manuel is better than me," Gamboa said. "I don't need no warm-up fights. I think I should be carrying this card. I'm the better fighter."
When Gamboa's boast was relayed to Lopez, he put on a brave face. "If I was fighting a Gamboa, it would be a lot easier," Lopez said. "I think at 126 I'll be able to eat better and I'll be a lot stronger. Definitely, I'm ready for Gamboa."
