| Juan Manuel Lopez (14-0, 12 KOs) of Caguas, Puerto Rico, meets Cuauhtemoc Vargas (15-1-1, 10 KOs) of Mexico City in a 10-round super bantamweight bout and Victor Ortiz (16-1, 11 KOs) of Oxnard, Calif., faces unbeaten Marvin Cordova Jr. (12-0, 8 KOs) of Pueblo, Colo., in an eight-round junior welterweight scrap Friday on “ShoBox: The New Generation.’’ |
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© Tom Casino
Showtime Boxing
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Bob Arum’s Top Rank, Inc. will promote the excellent doubleheader from the Dodge Theater in Phoenix, Ariz., on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/ PT (delayed on the west coast).
NOTE – WEIGHTS: Lopez and Vargas each weighed 123 pounds at Thursday’s weigh-in, while both Ortiz and Cordova 142.
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ
“I feel great and very comfortable. I am proud to be compared with other great Puerto Rican fighters, but I feel no pressure. I always figured if I kept winning, it (the attention) would happen anyway. Vargas is an aggressive, hard-punching, fast fighter. This definitely will be one of my toughest fights.
“People want me to step up, but I take my fights one at a time. Yes, I would like to step up at some point soon. But, now, my only focus is winning Friday on SHOWTIME.’’
CUAUHTEMOC VARGAS
“I respect Lopez, like I would any opponent, but I am not getting into the Mexico City versus Puerto Rico rivalry thing. We are both young fighters on the way up so in a way it is not surprising that we are going to meet. This is going to be a very good fight. I know I have to be at my best and fight with intelligence.
“If I do my thing, and win this fight, it will be my biggest win. Lopez is highly regarded so if I win I will be highly regarded too. This is a dangerous fight, but it is too good an opportunity to pass up.’’
VICTOR ORTIZ
“All I know is that I am going to bring it Friday night. I feel I am getting stronger and improving all the time. I also know that I am still too eager, but I am learning patience. Right now, I am just doing what I have to do but everybody knows I am more than willing to fight any of the big guys in my division. Maybe in two or three more fights I will get my shot at one of them. I am a fighter who loves to fight.
“My ultimate goals are to capture a title at 140, 147 and then 154. I have known about Cordova for a long time. I know he is undefeated and coming to fight and give his all. This should be a great fans’ fight.’’
MARVIN CORDOVA JR.
“I am confident of beating Ortiz and fighting hard for all eight rounds. I plan to get off first all night and keep throwing punches. I am going to show him a bit of everything I’ve got. I really have not been tested since turning pro. I have never been down and never lost a round. I know, though, that is a real fight.
“Knowing Ortiz is so highly thought of has only given me more motivation. I look forward to being able to show my skills and talent on such a great national stage as SHOWTIME.’’
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