The four fighters who will compete in this Saturday’s doubleheader on SHOWTIME® (10:30 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) participated in the final press conference Wednesday at the Verdanza Hotel here. In the main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, Juan Manuel Lopez (30-0, 27 KOs) will risk his unblemished record and World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title against former International Boxing Federation (IBF) 126-pound titleholder Orlando “Siri’’ Salido (34-11-2, 22 KOs), of Ciudad Obregon, Mexico. Take a look at photos and quotes from the event here.
Lopez vs. Salido Presser Photos
- Juan Manuel Lopez addresses the media at Wednesday’s final press conference in Puerto Rico. The unbeaten WBO featherweight champion defends against former IBF titlist Orlando Salido in this Saturday’s main event on Showtime
- Juanma shakes hands with Puerto Rican superstar, three-time world champion Miguel Cotto.
- In the opening bout of the telecast at Ruben Rodriguez Coliseo in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, undefeated Luis Cruz faces world-ranked Martin “El Brochas’’ Honorio in a 10-round junior lightweight match.
- The four fighters who’ll compete on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (left-to-right): Cruz, Juanma, Salido and Honorio.
- Cruz and Honorio face off.
- Juanma and Salido pose and square off.
- Juanma responds to reporters’ questions.
- Salido puts on a glove as Juanma and WBO President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel look on.
- Picturesque Puerto Rico
What the fighters had to say:
JUANMA LOPEZ
“I am very excited to be fighting at home and have worked very hard so that I can give my fans as good a fight as I can.
“Salido is a very good fighter. He is strong and will come after me all night long. I have to be smart and try to win as many rounds as I can, but if I hurt him I will go for the knockout.
“The Puerto Rico-Mexico rivalry is one full of tradition and I hope that this fight will become one of the most remembered in the history of these great confrontations between the two countries.”
ORLANDO SALIDO
“This is an opportunity for me to become a world champion away and I look forward to this fight. I expect it to be hard, but with my great preparation I feel that I can win.
“I am not intimidated to come to his home country for this fight. I know what I am capable of doing and I will be ready for war on Saturday.
“Many great fighters from both Mexico and Puerto Rico have been part of this great rivalry and I look forward to having this considered one of the best fights in the history of it.’’
LUIS CRUZ
“I am very happy to be part of this card and that I will be able to showcase my talent to a lot of people as part of the SHOWTIME telecast.
“I have a big responsibility fighting at home and will make my country proud on Saturday night.”
MIGUEL COTTO (Three-time world champion and Cruz’ promoter)
“We know that Luis Cruz is ready for this type of fight. He has trained very hard and will be ready to win.”
MARTIN HONORIO
“I am grateful for this opportunity. A win will put me on the road to another world championship fight.
“I have come all the way here to give it my best and to win this fight. It should be a good fight and I am ready for it.”
