Two Dice Boxing

Boxing's most highly-anticipated fight of the Fall, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title fight between two-division world champions JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ and RAFAEL MARQUEZ, scheduled for September 18, at the MGM Grand and televised live on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing, has been postponed due to a hand injury incurred by Marquez.  Top Rank and Gary Shaw Productions are working with the MGM Grand and SHOWTIME in rescheduling the world title fight within four weeks of the original date.

"I'm very disapointed but I know that these things happen in boxing. I hope the fight gets rescheduled soon and look forward to fighting Rafael Marquez," said Lopez.

“I was told that Rafael injured the thumb on his right hand when it got caught in the door of a vehicle,” said Gary Shaw, Marquez’s co-promoter. “He then tried to work through the pain in training camp but it only made the injury worse.  On his doctor’s orders, Rafael will abstain from any activity with hand for a few weeks to allow it to heal properly.”

“Naturally we’re disappointed. Fortunately Marquez’s injury isn’t too serious,” said Todd duBoef of Top Rank.  “We have already discussed the situation with the MGM Grand and Showtime and they both are working with us to find a new mutually acceptable date.  JuanMa is very happy that he'll still be able to fight one of Mexico's greatest champions as well as the toughest opponent he has ever faced.  We’re hopeful that we’ll have a new date to announce next week, along with information about ticket refunds for patrons who cannot travel on the new date.”

Fireworks will fly during Mexican Independence Day weekend in Las Vegas, Nev., when two-division world champions JUAN MANUEL “JuanMa” LOPEZ and RAFAEL MARQUEZ collide for Lopez’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title, Saturday, September 18, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.  The 12-round world title tilt will be televised live on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing.

These two warriors boast a combined record of 68-5 with an astounding 61 knockouts – a winning percentage of 93% and a victory by knockout ratio of 90%.

The fight will be promoted by Top Rank, in association with PR Best Boxing, Zanfer Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions. Tickets, priced at $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50, go on sale Monday, August 2, at 10 a.m. PT, and can be purchased at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino.)  Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.  To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster (800) 745-3000.  Tickets are also available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

"I am looking forward to showing my skills against a great champion like Rafael Marquez, one of the all-time greats and a future hall of famer,” said Lopez. “It will be the biggest fight of my career."

Steve Luevano vs Juan Manuel Lopez from Arvin Nundloll on Vimeo.

Full coverage of Steve Luevano vs Juan Manuel Lopez. www.TwoDice.tv

A hard right-left combination from the challenger knocked Luevano down and although the American made it to his feet referee Benjy Esteves stopped the contest.

"It was a tough fight. He's an intelligent fighter," said Lopez, a former WBO super-bantamweight champion making his first appearance at featherweight. "It wasn't one of the toughest, but it was a little uncomfortable, because he is difficult."

The fight began cautiously with Luevano (37-2-1) trying to dictate with his jab but Lopez (28-0) took charge from the third, landing a series of jarring left hands.