Orlando Salido shocked Puerto Ricans in attendance and the boxing world by upsetting former IBF Featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Puerto Rico. Salido claimed his new belt via a controversial TKO stoppage of Lopez at 1:39 of the eight round.
The first four rounds were competitive as Lopez and Salido were both landing shots. Lopez seemed to be the aggressor but as his past fights have proven, the Puerto Rican leaves himself open and he paid the price in the fifth round. Salido slipped on hard right hook that floored Lopez towards the end of the round. Salido failed to finish him off as Lopez looked out on his feet. He would survive the round but Lopez was not the same after.
Lopez would attempt to get his feet behind him in the sixth but Salido would continue the pressure, teetering on the edge of winning the fight via TKO. Lopez somehow survived onto the eighth until the controversial stoppage would occur as the Mexican fighter kept coming with a variety of punches many of which landed that had Lopez walking in quick sand. The two fighters ended up brawling it out on the corner with Lopez throwing punches out of instinct before the referee had seen enough. Though the stoppage may have been a few seconds early, you could clearly tell Lopez was on his way out and was saved of anymore damage.
Other Results:
Luis Cruz def. Martin “El Brochas” Honorio via UD (100-90, 96-94, 98-92)
Jose Gonzalez def. Miguel Angel Munguia via TKO in R3 (0:40)
Víctor Bisbal def. Willie Herring via UD (78-73, 77-74, 77-74)
Carlos Negrón def. Emerson Chasing Bear in R4(1:23)
Yordenis Ugas def. Carlos García via TKO (1:05)
Sullivan Barrera def. Epifanio Mendoza via UD (40-36,40-36,40-36)
Israel Vázquez & Luis Díaz go to a majority draw
Jonathan Gonzalez def. Elvin Caldero in R1
