By Ryan Arguelles
Bob Arum, the 78-year-old boss of Top Rank caused big laughter from press and media men present today at the Madison Square Garden Theatre for the Lopez-Luevano fight press conference.
Arum was introducing the representative of the New York Boxing Comission when he unknowingly uttered, “Nevada Boxing Comission,” many times in his introduction at the podium until one of mediamen present shouted, “You are in New York, Bob.” Another reminded Arum, “The fight is in New York.”
It was an honest mistake from the Hall of Fame icon of boxing which caused a lighter tone to the proceedings. Arum was sharp on all his introductions later after that verbal miscue.
WBA Featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa of Cuba (resides in Miami, FL), was not present at the press conference but will be flying later on tonight fron Miami, Florida. He is expected to be on the scales for tomorrow weigh-in.
The challenger Rogers Mtagwa of Tanzania (resides in Philadelphia, Pa) promised to give the same determined, aggressive fighting on Saturday night on Gamboa – equal to his last fight against Juan Manuel Lopez in October 2009 in the very same venue.
Though Mtagwa lost that fight by narrow decision, he wobbled Lopez in the 10th round and just needed one good clean punch to beat Lopez in 11th and 12th but was unable to land that decisive blow.
Juan Manual Lopez of Puerto Rico, spoke in Spanish with an interpreter, stated that he prepared very well for this match against Steven Luevano and he expects a tough 12 rounds of fighting. Lopez is moving up in weight and gunning for the 126-pound WBO title of California’s Luevano.
Luevano says that he trained three months for this fight. He is ready to go to the distance and specifically said he will use his longer reach to keep Lopez at range.
“I was taught how to box early as a boxer, I dont want to slug and I know they are underestimating me in this fight but I’ll keep the title on Saturday night.” he said.