Juanma to start training in Florida

Juan Manuel Lopez plans to start training in late May and will spend the last month and of half of his preparations in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “JuanMa” is accepting the advice of Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, president of Top Rank, who said that distractions on the island contributed to the hard-hitting Lopez losing his WBO featherweight crown against Orlando Salido on April 16.

“God willing we will begin training in late May,” said Lopez. “For now we are resting and we are almost certainly going to the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley fight on May 7. I would go on Thursday. I feel great. I’m at about 145 pounds. I’m eating cleaner. And we’ll go for the last month and a half to Fort Lauderdale. Let’s please Bob Arum. This is the first time I’m doing it and I hope to get it right.” He said that his team led by trainer Alex Caraballo and manager Orlando Piñero remains intact and the only addition is Edwin Rivera, who will help with hand speed.

He also announced that he expects to vindicate himself on August 20 in a rematch with Salido that could be staged at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.