It is safe to say that the devastating fourth round knockout loss Puerto Rican boxing superstar Juan Manuel (popularly known as “Juan­ma”) Lopez recently suffered against Ame­rican Miguel Angel Garcia in their showdown for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title (126 pounds) was an accident waiting to happen.

Truth be told, Lopez did not really deserve the title shot he received from Garcia. In two previous fights for the WBO’s featherweight title, Lopez was manhandled by Mexican Orlando Salido. In April 2011, Salido ended Lopez’s title reign with a brutal eighth round stoppage. The two squared off again in March 2012 with Salido again stopping Lopez in 10 rounds. Instead of graciously accepting defeat, Lopez accused referee Roberto Ramirez Sr. of having a gambling problem and stopping the fight prematurely. Lopez was suspended by the WBO for the unsubstantiated rant and the sanction resulted in a hiatus that lasted almost a year.

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