By Dan Ambrose: Bob Arum of Top Rank is interested in an all Puerto Rico fight between Juan Manuel Lopez (31-2, 28 KO’s) and former WBO super bantamweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (21-2-1, 18 Ko’s) for the 28-year-old Lopez’s next fight. According to examiner.com, Vazquez Jr’s promoter is interested in that match-up for his 27-year-old fighter, who is coming off of a 12 round unanimous decision loss to Nonito Donaire last month.

Lopez took a pounding in losing by a 10th round TKO to Orlando Salido in their rematch last weekend and has now lost two out of his last three fights. Vazquez Jr. also has lost two out of his last three fights, which makes a fight between Lopez and Vazquez Jr. a perfect match-up right now. It might be a risky fight for Lopez, though, because he was staggered multiple times by Salido in their fight and he might need a softer opponent than Vazquez Jr.

I would favor Lopez over Vazquez Jr if they fought, because Lopez is bigger and stronger than Donaire. Vazquez Jr. couldn’t stand and trade with Donaire and was forced to fight on the outside throwing mostly jabs. It’ll even worse for Vazquez Jr. against Lopez. Vazquez Jr. doesn’t have the chin, the power, the workrate or the stamina to fight like Salido did in his two wins over Lopez. If Vazquez Jr. tries to fight like that against Lopez, then it’ll early night for him in getting knocked out because Lopez would likely be too much for him. The only way Vazquez Jr. comes out on top in this fight is if Lopez’s punch resistance was diminished in the Salido beating to the point where he can’t even take shots from the lighter hitting Vazquez Jr.

I would be surprised if Arum makes this fight because it potentially could be dangerous for Lopez. Arum blew a big money match between Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa by waiting too long and not making the fight. Lopez’s two losses to Salido has pretty much ruined any chance of a Gamboa-Lopez fight from taking place.