In what was a back and forth war, Juan Manuel Lopez successfully defended his WBO featherweight title scoring against former two-division world champion Rafael Marquez on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas via TKO in round 8. Marquez was unable to continue in between rounds due to a sustained shoulder injury. The fight itself displayed a exciting ebb and flow with Lopez sending an off balance Marquez staggering across the ring with a left hook in round three. Marquez showed his vintage counter punching catching Lopez flush in round four, almost finishing the Puerto Rican fighter. The two would go back and forth in round five, but Marquez seemed to tire in round six. Juanma stepped up the pressure, connecting to the head and body of Marquez in the pocket. Marquez would answer back occasionally but Lopez’s punch had more impact. At the beginning of round nine the fight was finally called due to Marquez’s corner citing his shoulder injury.
Glen Johnson proved once more that age is just a number as he scored a eight round TKO win over Alan Green to advance to the semi-final of SHOWTIME’s super middleweight tournament. Johnson continuously landed straight right hands on the younger and quicker green. Green attempted to set the pace with a working jab and had a few good rounds before finally getting clobbered with a straight right that staggered him and tagged with another that put him away. The official stoppage time was (0:36) in round 8.
Undercard results:
Diego Magdaleno def. Derrick Campos via TKO in R4 (1:15)
Mickey Bey def. Erick Cruz via unanimous decision (60-53,59-53,59-53)
Daniel Attah def. Marvin Quintero via KO in R2 (1:55)
Anthony Lenk def. Danny Escobar via unanimous decision
McWilliams Arroyo def. Cesar Grajeda via TKO in R1 (2:55)
Jesse Magdaleno def. Matthew Salazar via TKO in R1 (1:38)
