Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight champion Mikey Garcia (31-0, 26 KOs) of Oxnard, Calif., former WBO junior featherweight and WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel “JuanMa” Lopez (33-2, 30 KOs), of Caguas, Puerto Rico will be squaring off in a title fight which will take place on Saturday, June 15 and will be televised live from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on HBO Boxing After Dark.
Garcia and JuanMa will be hosting a press conference this Thursday, May 9, beginning at 1:00 p.m. CT, at the American Airlines Center (2500 Victory Ave., Dallas, TX 75219) to officially announce the fight. Two-time heavyweight champion George Foreman and Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum will also be in attendance.
This will mark the first time HBO has ever broadcast a fight from the American Airlines Center. The Garcia – Lopez world championship event will be promoted by Top Rank®, in association with PR Best Boxing, Foreman Boys Promotions and Tecate.
Garcia vs. Lopez would have been a real mouth-watering fight a couple of years ago. Of course, Top Rank took its time giving Garcia his shot, and since then, we all know what’s happened to JuanMa, being knocked out twice. Garcia now holds JuanMa’s former belt, which he lost to Orlando Salido.
This almost feels as if they’re feeding their once cash-cow to their next up and coming star. But we don’t really know how Mikey will respond to the offense and power of Lopez, so there’s definitely still some intrigue and excitement here. Their two styles should mesh well to produce a fun fight, too.
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