There's a big show tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York as WBA feather champ Yuriorkis Gamboa and WBO super bantam titlist Juan Manuel Lopez put their respective crowns on the line.

Former Cuban defector Gamboa, 15-0 (13), could be the most impressive professional to come out of the boxing-rich island but it's too early to tell yet if this is truly the case.

After only 15 pro bouts, Gamboa has displayed stunning speed and reflexes that have thus far supported his superb punch selection and aggressiveness.

But, with such an emphasis on offense, there are holes in the defense. This has resulted in the Cuban phenom getting decked a few time but "El Ciclon de Guantanamo" has always gotten back up to win.

Last time out, the 27 year old Gamboa won the Interim WBA belt by stopping Jose Rojas in the tenth in April and has since been elevated to full WBA champ. More...

Walking through the streets of Manhattan these days you might bump into a Turkish boxing promoter accompanied by two of his Cuban stars who really seem to have a good time in the “Big Appple”.

But although they are laughing a lot, Ahmet Öner, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Odlanier Solis haven’t come to New York just for fun.

This Saturday things will get very serious for Gamboa and Solis when they give their debuts at legendary Madison Square Garden. More...

Two title fights take place at New York's Madison Square Garden Saturday, October 10 as WBO junior feather champ Juan Manuel Lopez defends against Rogers Mtagwa and WBA feather titlist Yuriorkis Gamboa puts his belt at risk against Whyber Garcia on "Latin Fury 12: Island Warriors".

Juan Manuel Lopez: He’s a real tough guy and I know he can take a lot of punches. I don’t think it’s going to be an easy fight and I know it is going to be a long fight. More...

WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez, 26-0 (24), came out to DiBella Entertainment's Broadway Boxing last Wednesday night and generously took the time to speak with SaddoBoxing.

From Caguas, Puerto Rico, the 26 year old southpaw will be defending his belt the fifth time on October 10 at Madison Square Garden, meeting the challenge of Rogers Mtagwa 26-12-2 (18).

SaddoBoxing: You are approaching your fifth title defense in October. How is the preparation going?

Juan Manuel Lopez: I've been training in Puerto Rico. I run at night because the fight usually takes place later on in the evening. And I box midday through the afternoon.

SB: That's the physical aspect; how do you mentally prepare?

JML: Well, to me it is just another day in the office. Training hard keeps me focused. More...

Undefeated world champions Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa defend their titles, in separate fights, headlining “Island Warriors: Latin Fury 12,” Saturday, October 10, from the “Mecca of Boxing,” Madison Square Garden.

Lopez will be defending his WBO junior featherweight title against top contender and Tanzania native Rogers Mtagwa while Gamboa will be defending his WBA featherweight belt against Panamanian strongman Whyber Garcia. More...

The heir apparent to the Puerto Rican boxing throne was in top form last night, headlining a big show at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City as Juan Manuel Lopez kept his WBO super bantam title against opponent Olivier Lontchi.

Lopez was the definite favorite to retain going into the clash as Montreal based Cameroon native Lontchi had yet to rise above his regional status as NABA titlist and was in over his head.

A champion who can punch like Lopez, particularly a southpaw, presents a very difficult entry test onto the world stage and Lontchi wisely chose to stick and move in the early rounds, catching the oncoming champion with jabs before escaping.

But Lopez began to close distance and force the bout to the inside and along the ropes, where his strength advantage was evident. More...

Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City sees a WBO super bantam title contest between reigning champ Juan Manuel Lopez and challenger Olivier Lontchi.

Over the last three years, no one has lasted the distance against hammer-fisted Puerto Rican southpaw Lopez, 25-0 (23), who has stopped his last 13 opponents during that time.

And Lopez's resume boasts some pretty respectable names such as Gerry Penalosa, Daniel Ponce de Leon and Hugo Dianzo.

Lontchi, on the other hand, has climbed the rankings behind some good boxing skills and gotten past the likes of Cecilio Santos and Cruz Carbajal but will be at a definite experience disadvantage against Lopez. More...

Tonight, on Saturday June 27th, Star Boxing's jr. middleweight contender Andrey Tsurkan (26- 4, 17KO) takes on 23-year-old up and coming prospect, and 2004 U.S. Olympian,Vanes "The Nightmare" Martirosyan (24-0, 15KO).

The pair clash on the undercard of Latin Fury 9, headlined by WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez defending his title against Olivier Lontchi. More...

Undefeated world title contender Olivier Lontchi is "devastated" by the news of Michael Jackson's death. Lontchi (18-0-2, 8 KOs), a native of Cameroon, who fights out of Montréal, Québec, Canada, challenges undefeated WBO junior featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez, (25-0, 23 KOs), of Caguas, Puerto Rico, in the main event of “Latin Fury 9”, today, Saturday, June 27, in Atlantic City. More...

Nominees for the second edition of “Tecate Premios Deportes”, or Tecate Sports Awards, were announced today.

Nearly 60 Hispanic athletes from six sports categories are being considered for their sportsmanship, talent and character exemplified during 2008. More...

WBO Super Bantam boss Juan Manuel Lopez kept his world title belt last night at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, turning back the challenge posed by WBO Bantam beltholder Gerry Penalosa, who was pulled out by his corner in a battle of southpaws.

36 year old Penalosa of The Philippines had previously won world titles on away ground during his long and distinguished career but the active and heavy-handed Lopez made sure that wouldn't be the case in Bayamon.

The Caguas man took control of the contest from the start and the 25 year old simply outboxed and outpunched the challenger over every round of the contest. More...

WBO Super Bantam Champ Juan Manuel Lopez defends his crown tonight at Coliseo Rueben Rodriguez in Bayamon when he meets the challenge posed by WBO bantam kingpin Gerry Penalosa, who is moving up in weight.

At just 25 year of age, hammer-fisted Caguas based southpaw Lopez, 24-0 (22), will pose a big challenge to 36 year old Penalosa but the visiting Filipino legend has upset the hometown favorite before in big fights, winning the WBC Super Fly and WBO Bantam belts on the road.

Lopez is a certified big puncher but Penalosa, 54-6-2 (36), has proven repeatedly, most recently in a decision loss to Daniel Ponce De Leon in a failed bid for the very same title being fought for tonight, that he has a world class chin. More...

Click for larger image © Tom Hogan / Golden Boy Promotions

A day before their celebrated showdown tonight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Oscar De La Hoya and opponent Manny Pacquiao both made weight for their 147 pound contest.

De La Hoya shocked those in attendance by coming in at 145 pounds, the lightest he has been since January, 1997 in the final defense of his WBC Light Welterweight title.

Pacquiao tipped the scales at 142 pounds, a full eight pounds heavier than he has ever weighed for a professional contest and the five foot six inch "pac Man" was towered over during the faceoff by the five foot ten inch De La Hoya. More...

Before "The Golden Boy", Oscar de la Hoya, enters the ring for his super fight this Saturday night against Manny Pacquiao, boxing's brightest young prospect, Daniel "The Golden Child" Jacobs, will put his perfect 12-0 (11) record on the line against Victor Lares in the HBO Pay-Per-View opener at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. More...

Advancing to eight round bouts is Philadelphia's highly publicized junior welterweight prospect, Danny "Swift" Garcia, 9-0 (7). The Golden Boy Promotions rising star returns to the ring December 6, 2008 on the "Dream Match" extravaganza featuring Oscar De La Hoya vs Manny Pacquiao, set to take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. More...

Members of the Pacman Nation are invited to give five-division world champion Manny Pacquiao a world championship sendoff as he heads off to Las Vegas for his showdown with “The Golden Boy”, Oscar De La Hoya. More...

Two-time BWAA Trainer of the Year, Freddie Roach is confident that his charge Manny Pacquiao, a five-division world champion, will not only beat “The Golden Boy”, Oscar De La Hoya, but will knock him out within nine rounds.

“Oscar is 35 and a part-time fighter; it’s obvious that father time is catching up with him,” said Roach. “Look at his face after his fight against Stevie Forbes who is a light hitter. I’ve never seen Oscar’s face look like that against opponents who were bigger, stronger and better. His stamina has decreased and he’s not the fastest learner when it comes to new things. More...

Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank announced the addition of two 12-round title fights to the December 6 pay-per-view undercard of “The Dream Match,” headlined by the 12-round welterweight collision between two of boxing’s biggest attractions Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao More...

Last night at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, Kelly Pavlik extended his domination over the middleweight division as the lanky Ohio man stopped the challenge of Wales' Gary Lockett in the third round to keep possession of his WBC and WBO titles.

The come forward aggression of Pavik proved too much for his challenger from across the Atlantic to defend against as Lockett had to take a knee twice in the second round in an attempt to stave off the inevitable.

But Lockett's run ended in the third when he was canvassed and trainer Enzo Calzaghe called a halt to the one way traffic.

Pavlik improves to 34-0 (30) while Lockett loses for the first time in 14 bouts to fall to 30-2 (21).

In a battle of big punchers, WBO Super Bantamweight Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon, 34-2 (30), of Mexico was shockingly stopped in the first round by challenger Juan Manuel Lopez, 22-0 (20).

British and Commonwealth Super Featherweight Champion Kevin Mitchell, 27-0 (20), was on the bill and the Londoner stopped veteran Colombian southpaw Walter Estrada, 34-6 (23), in five rounds.