By Giancarlo "Mr. Boxing" Oquendo / @MRBOXING1

Hard-hitting former world champion Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lopez is super motivated during this second wind in his career, which is being guided by PR Best Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions. Lopez will face undefeated Francisco Vargas (19-0-1-13 KO's) on July 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The fight will be part of the undercard to the clash between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Erislandy Lara.

 

"Great things are happening in my career,  great opportunities. I've seen some of him. He is a boxer who is strong, takes a good punch, a little slow but strong with his left hand. This week [my trainer] Freddy Trinidad will look at him and see how we'll plan for this fight. It's a great deal and a good opportunity to get a win [to obtain] another world title,” Juanma said.

 

"It was a good [offer] economically and a big fight on a big card. I'm number four in the world and he is number 2, so definitely if we win we would get to number one. The champion is Mikey Garcia, but he may not stick around and has problems with Top Rank. I want major fights and to go for a world title and this is a major fight."

Juanma also said that his plans included a potential fight with former world champion Jorge "Travieso" Arce in September in Puerto Rico, but Arce has many items on his mind and Juanma decided not to wait on him.

 

"Arce has always been on the table but Arce is a fighter who has many things on his mind. We will not wait for this one. The idea was fight here with Arce in September, but everything was up in the air. Thank God we have great options. If we get Arce it would be excellent or maybe a third fight with Salido..who knows," Juanma said.