SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO- Focused on their fights, Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez and Jonathan “Polvo” Oquendo showed today how they are training to face Francisco Vargas and Abner Mares. Rounding out the four-fight pay-per-view event, Puerto Rican star and former world champion Juan Manuel “JuanMa” Lopez battles Mexico’s Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas in a 10-round bout. View the profiles of people named Vargas Juanma. Join Facebook to connect with Vargas Juanma and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to.

By Mark Whicker

A moving pile of hangers-on obscured Erislandy Lara after he left his public workout in the MGM Grand lobby Wednesday.

Juanma Vs Vargas Live

Didn't that used to be Juan Manuel 'Juanma' Lopez?

Instead, yesterday's next-great-fighter did his run-throughto minimal applause, as the crowd chanted Lara's name and waited for the arrival of Canelo Alvarez, who meets Lara in the main event Saturday.

Lopez will be fighting Francisco Vargas for two secondary lightweight belts on the undercard.

The 31-year-old Lopez was Top Rank's shining light until he lost twice to Orlando Salido. Then he was taken apart by Mikey Garcia last June.

The Puerto Rican admitted Wednesday that he thought about retiring. But in March he knocked out Daniel Ponce de Leon in the second round.

Is it a comeback or a last stand?

'I know I can't lose any fights,' said Lopez. 'But I'm too experienced to feel a lot of pressure. In my country we talk about bringing two bags to every fight. You know you're either going to win or lose. I think I'm more of a mature person now.'

Lopez's restart should be more comfortable at 130 pounds. He strained to make 126 for the Garcia fight, and then Garcia failed to make weight, which Lopez called 'unprofessional.'

'I just think that when you're young and a lot is expected of you, you don't always know how to handle it,' said Pete Rivera, Lopez's promoter. 'Sometimes you go to another level and you forget your roots. He's definitely working harder than he did earlier in his career. '

If Lopez gets past Vargas, who is 19-0-1 with 13 knockouts, Rivera sees a way his man can come full circle.

He foresees Lopez winning Saturday and then waiting on WBO champion Garcia does. Garcia has nothing scheduled at the moment as he files suit against Top Rank. Even when he comes back he is likely to move up in weight.

Juanma Vs Vargas 3

'Salido is No. 2 and JuanMa is No. 4,' Rivera said. 'So maybe they can fight for a third time.'

Juanma Vs Vargas 2

Then again, we've already seen what happens when Lopez gets ahead of himself.

Mark Whicker has been a sports columnist in Southern California for 27 years.

By Rey Colon

A serious incident occurred on April 16 in Bayamon when Juan Manuel Lopez lost his unbeaten record, and the WBO featherweight belt, by way of an eight round TKO to Mexico's Orlando Salido. The incident could lead to heavy sanctions because of a post-fight riot where several individuals showered the ring with different objects - including bottles of water - which caused injuries to Guaynabo Mayor Hector O'Neill, and the adviser to the Department of Recreation and Sport, Carlos 'Cidrita' Aponte.

The mele began after the referee Roberto Ramirez stopped the fight and the corner of Lopez angrily protested the decision along with other individuals connected to the now former champion. The official was forced to leave the arena under police protection while receiving unprintable insults and epithets.

O'Neill, who was in the VIP area along with other political leaders and athletes, allegedly received a head wound that required three stitches while Aponte was hit by a bottle at high speed in the center of his chest and it momentarily knocked the wind out of him.

'The Commission is evaluating what happened there on the 16th and what led to the riots and once we finish we will announce the results. We were out a few days because of Easter but we are working on the issue and this week we have been able to address the situation,' revealed Dommys Delgado Berty, president of the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission.

Water bottles were not only directed to the center of the ring but flew in the area of ​​the press and staff of Showtime. Many had to find shelter with tables and chairs to avoid being hit.