Round Up: Juanma Loses By TKO to Salido

FIGHT: Champion JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ, 30-0, 27 KOs, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico vs. ORLANDO SALIDO, 34-11-2, 22 KOs, Mexico

DIVISION: WBO Featherweight Championship – 12 Rounds

RESULT: Salido Wins by TKO

DETAIL: After seven rounds of furious action, the rugged, heavy-handed Salido unseated Juanma in a controversial eighth round stoppage. It was the first loss of the Puerto Rican’s career.

In the early going, Juanma had the upper hand, working the inside and using his right to good effect and firing at least one strong combination. The fearless Salido, however, kept coming; and, in the fifth, he stunned Juanma with a left, which set up a devastating overhand right. Juanma went down, hard.

Luckily, there were only seconds left in the round, and Juanma was able to survive. Though still wobbly, he came back strong in the sixth, only to get staggered again by another thunderous overhand right from Salido.

But, ever the warrior, Juanma again powered back and loosed a series of shots, which had the Puerto Rican crowd cheering on its feet. In the seventh, Juanma continued battling, and he eventually had his revenge, sending Salido into the ropes with a straight left.

Then came the eighth. Once again, the determined Salido came right at Juanma, catching him with a barrage of blistering punches. Though hurt, Juanma was still on his feet and throwing punches.

But referee Roberto Ramirez Jr., who’d been watching the exchange closely, saw something he didn’t like, and stopped the fight at the 1:39 mark. Juanma protested, and the crowd erupted in a chorus of boos.

Even more heartbreaking: Despite the knock down, all three judges had it 66-66 through seven.