By Dan Ambrose: Juan Manuel Lopez (31-1, 28 KO’s) had a nice three year run where he was one of the top champions in the sport but his time came up last April when Mexican Orlando Salido (37-11-2, 25 KO’s) took advantage of Lopez’s glass chin to hurt him multiple times in the process of stopping him in the 8th round. Lopez had been on the brink of losing to other fighters before this, but had somehow been able to get through those fights.

Salido was the guy that was given a chance and he showed clearly that Lopez wasn’t mean to stay on top of featherweight division for long. Lopez took a beating and was saved by the referee from really taking a much worse beating. Lopez has since beaten fringe contender Mike Oliver by a 2nd round TKO after licking his wounds from the Salido fight. It was a decent win but not a significant one because Oliver can’t punch and was tailor made for Lopez.

This Saturday night Lopez will fight Salido in a rematch at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Lopez has been exercising like mad trying to get in the best shape possible for this fight, because he wants his World Boxing Organization title back and he knows what’s at stake should he lose the fight. A loss will be a huge blow for Lopez’s career, perhaps even a finisher if Salido knocks him out especially bad. I’m sure Lopez wants the fight not to be stopped this time when he starts absorbing punishment so it could mean that Lopez is left out there a little longer than he was last time when things start looking bleak for him.

Lopez really only has one way of fighting. He’s not an outside fighter and will have problems when he tries to trade with Salido. The fight will be like resuming from the 6th round when Salido started to really pound Lopez especially bad. At best, I can see Lopez maybe crawling to the 6th round under a hail of fire from Salido but I kind of doubt it. Salido is Lopez’s Kryptonite.