By Dan Ambrose: #4 WBO super featherweight contender Juan Manuel Lopez (34-3, 31 KO’s) will be fighting #2 Francisco Vargas (19-0-1, 13 KO’s) in a WBO 130lb title eliminator bout on July 12th on the undercard of the Erislandy Lara vs. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The winner of the Lopez-Vargas fight will become the mandatory challenger for WBO super featherweight champion Mikey Garcia.
Lopez, 30, was destroyed by Mikey Garcia in 4 rounds last year in June in a fight that was a little more than a massacre. After that loss, Lopez was considered to be washed up and ready for the junk heap by a lot of boxing fans of the sport. However, Lopez was able to get in excellent shape and come and destroy Danel Ponce De Leon in two rounds last March in an impressive performance by Lopez in Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez, Bayamon, Puerto Rico.