By Dan Ambrose: Welterweight Josesito Lopez (30-6, 18 KO’s) will be trying to stop his 2-fight losing streak next month in a scheduled 10-round fight against 34-year-old journeyman Mike Arnaoutis at the Fantasy Springs Casino, in Indio, California, USA.
Both fighters are coming off of losses, but Lopez has lost to the much better opposition in stoppage defeats against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Marcos Maidana. In contrast, Arnaoutis has lost his last two fights against Chris Algieri and Issouf Kinda.
Lopez can’t fall apart and lose this fight if he wants to remain as a viable trial horse for the top fighters, which is kind of what Lopez’s career has turned into since he moved up to 147. He doesn’t have the power or the speed to beat the top welterweights, and he probably should move back down to 140 if he wants to have any chance at winning a world title.