Most of the action last weekend occurred within the featherweight (126 Ibs.) division and the biggest news was the sensational performance by WBO champion Orlando Salido (38-11-2 25 KO). Salido repeated his knockout win over former titleholder Juan Manuel Lopez (31-2 28 KO) by delivering a series of frightening hooks and uppercuts to chop down Lopez in the 10th round of their rematch. Last year, Salido scored an 8th round TKO to take the title from Lopez in Puerto Rico and Salido repeated this performance adding an additional two rounds. Salido surprised everyone by fighting better in the rematch than he did the first time around. He largely dominated Lopez by steadily pressuring him and whacking him with overhand rights. He introduced new weapons to Lopez such as left hooks to the head and body and vicious uppercuts and befuddled Lopez. Lopez was able to knock Salido down at the end of the 5th round and had some success in the 8th and 9throunds. But ultimately, Salido proved to be tougher, smarter, and more accurate than Lopez. Lopez will most likely need to restart his career by fighting confidence building fights before he gets in with another world-class opponent. I think we’ll see him again though. For Salido however, the sky is the limit for him. The featherweight division is full of talented fighters and there is a demand to see Salido again because he has proven to be an exciting and tough SOB.
On the undercard, Mikey Garcia (28-0 24 KO)controlled and knocked out former title challenger Bernabe Concepcion (29-6-1 15 KO) in the 8thround. Garcia put Concepcion at the end of his jabs and finally brought him down with a straight right hand. He then unloaded on Concepcion, trapping him against the ropes and forcing a stoppage by the referee. Garcia showed patience and power in his performance. However, he didn’t attack the body as many observers would have liked to see. Garcia is being discussed as a possible opponent for Salido.
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Categories: Boxing
