Juan Manuel Lopez (28-0, 25 KOs) made a successful debut in the featherweight division, stopping former champion Steven Luevano (37-2-1, 15 KOs) in the 7th round to capture the WBO featherweight title. Both men fought stategically early on, but eventually, the stronger, faster, more athletic Lopez took over, using his speed and better combinations en route to the stoppage.
ROUND 1
Both men come out firing their jab, Luevano moreso than Lopez. They trade stiff jabs. Again. Quick right lands for Luevano. Lopez lands a left over the top. Luevano lands another jab. They trade jabs. Nice left hand over the top lands for Lopez. Luevano lands a counter. Tit for tat so far. Quick 1-2 from Lopez just grazes Luevano. Right hook from Lopez lands upstairs. Close round, but you gotta give it to Lopez for landing the bigger shots.
Lopez 10 Luevano 9
ROUND 2
Both men trade jabs again. Nice left hand over the top lands for Lopez again. They trade right hands. Luevano lands a nice left upstairs. Quick jab from Luevano snaps the head back of Lopez. Another. Lopez digs a 1-2 to the body. They trade jabs. Right hook upstairs lands for Lopez. Luevano digs a right to the body and a right upstairs. Both men trade on the inside. Short right hand from Luevano pops Lopez upstairs. Another short left lands for Luevano. Lopez lands a nice three-punch combo to end the round. Another close round, but I give it to Luevano.
Lopez 19 Luevano 19
ROUND 3
Luevano digs a left to the body. Lopez lands a right. BIG left hand lands for Lopez and Luevano backs up. Uppercut lands for Lopez. Left and a right lands for Luevano. Both men trade quick combos. Nice body shots land for Luevano. Lopez lands a right hook upstairs. Uppercut lands for Lopez. Luevano backs up. Another uppercut and a right hand lands for Lopez. They trade jabs. Luevano lands some body shots. Leaping right hook lands upstairs for Lopez. Left hand lands for Lopez. Round to Lopez.
Lopez 29 Luevano 28
ROUND 4
1-2 to the body lands for Lopez. Luevano lands a jab. Another. HARD 1-2 lands upstairs for Lopez. Luevano lands a right, but he eats a left in return. Lopez walking him down. Another HARD right hook and an uppercut lands for Lopez, who's starting to outmuscle Luevano. Hard body shot followed by a left upstairs lands for Lopez. Uppercut lands for Lopez. Luevano tries to keep him at bay with his jab. Another uppercut lands for Lopez. Right hook lands for Lopez. Round to Lopez. Luevano has no answer for those uppercuts. If a knockout comes, it'll likely be started by one of those uppercuts.
Lopez 39 Luevano 37
ROUND 5
Luevano lands a jab. Lopez lands a right hook. Luevano lands a jab. STIFF jab from Lopez lands upstairs.
Right hook lands for Lopez. HARD 1-2 lands for Lopez. Luevano lands a right hook. Lopez letting his hands go. Uppercut and a left lands for Lopez. WOOOOOOO...BIG uppercut lands for Lopez again. Luevano on the retreat. Luevano tries to work the body. Both men trade on the inside. Luevano lands a left upstairs. Left to the body and a right upstairs lands for Luevano. Round to Lopez, but it could get interesting as Lopez started to get a little lazy at the end of the round as Luevano picked it up and applied more pressure.
Lopez 49 Luevano 46
ROUND 6
Luevano lands a jab to the body. Lopez lands a right hook. Luevano answers with one of his own. Both men trade on the inside again. Stiff jab lands for Lopez. Right to the body lands for Lopez. Some roughhousing on the inside. Left hand down the middle lands for Lopez. Luevano backs up. 1-2 lands for Lopez. Luevano lands a left hook upstairs, but not much on it. They trade at the bell. Round to Lopez.
Lopez 59 Luevano 55
ROUND 7
Jab lands for Luevano. HUGE uppercut lands for Lopez and Luevano is rocked. Another HUGE left hook lands for Lopez and Luevano is down. He's up, but he looks done. That's it. The ref calls a halt to the action.
Lopez TKO7
THE WINNER BY WAY OF TKO AT :44 OF ROUND 7...AND NEW WBO FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION...JUAN MANUL LOPEZ
COMPUBOX
Lopez total punches: 138/381
Luevano total punches: 98/390
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