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Live Blog: Juan Manuel Lopez stops Rafael Marquez

Glen Johnson knocks out Allan Green in Super Six Tournament

Marques vs. Lopez

Julie Jacobson / AP

Puerto Rico’s Juan Manuel Lopez reacts after opponent Rafael Marquez, of Mexico, forfeited the match after the eighth round because of a shoulder injury, in a WBO featherweight title fight Saturday in Las Vegas.

Updated Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010 | 9:06 p.m.

Undercard Results

  • McWilliams Arroyo (5-1, 4 KO) vs. Cesar Grajeda (7-2, 1 KO): Arroyo wins via TKO at 2:55 of first round
  • Jesse Magdaleno (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Matthew Salazar (1-2-1, 0 KO): Magdaleno wins via TKO at 1:38 of first round
  • Daniel Attah (25-6-1, 9 KO) vs. Marvin Quintero (20-3, 16 KO): Attah wins via KO at 1:55 of second round
  • Anthony Lenk (8-1, 4 KO) vs. Danny Escobar (6-1, 5 KO): Lenk wins via unanimous decision
  • Erick Cruz (7-5-4, 7 KO) vs. Mickey Bey (16-0, 8 KO): Bey wins via unanimous decision
  • Derrick Campos (20-10, 11 KO) vs. Diego Magdaleno (17-0, 5 KO): Magdaleno wins via TKO at 1:15 of fourth round
  • Allan Green (29-3, 20 KO) vs. Glen Johnson (51-14-2, 35 KO): Johnson wins via KO at :36 of eighth round

Juan Manuel Lopez faced the toughest test of his career Saturday in the form of two-time world champion Rafael Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The defending WBO featherweight champion passed with flying colors.

Lopez (30-0, 26 KO) stopped Marquez (39-6, 35 KO) in their featherweight title fight, raising his arms in victory when Marquez didn’t answer the bell for the start of the ninth round.

Following the conclusion of the eighth round, Marquez complained of a right shoulder injury to his corner. After failing to answer the bell for the ninth, Marquez admitted his shoulder had been injured before the start of the fight.

“The shoulder hurt before the fight,” said Marquez, who had to postpone the fight once already in September after injuring his right hand. “It was injured but I couldn’t postpone the fight again.”

For his part, Lopez, who dominated most of the fight, said he couldn’t tell Marquez was injured.

“I couldn’t see that he was injured,” Lopez said. “He was so strong.”

Lopez jumped out to an early lead on the scorecards, visibly hurting Marquez in the second and third rounds.

Momentum in the fight took a huge turn, however, in the fourth round when Marquez landed a counter left that had Lopez stumbling towards the ropes. Marquez swarmed, looking for the finish, but Lopez survived.

Matters became worse for Lopez in the fourth when referee Tony Weeks deducted a point for a rabbit punch.

Despite the momentum change however, it was all Lopez after the fourth.

The win is arguably the biggest of the young Puerto Rican’s career and should set up a future date with fellow undefeated featherweight Yuriorkis Gamboa (19-0, 15 KO).

According to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who represents Lopez and Gamboa, that fight should happen in June.

Round One: Crowd begins 'Mexico' chant during the opening seconds. Marquez misses on a straight left and Lopez throws a counter. One two combination lands for Lopez. Marquez working the jab and Lopez fires off another right hook. Both guys establishing their distance with nothing significant landing yet for either. Hard straight right lands for Lopez. And another right hook for Lopez. Lopez ends the round with a beautiful counter right hook and a flurry that had Marquez in trouble.

Round Two: Hard combination of hooks from Lopez but blocked nicely by Marquez. Lopez warned for punching the back of the head. Action resumes and Lopez lands a nice left hook and now another that has Marquez wobbling. Hard body shot lands for Lopez and Marquez ties him up. Marquez complaining about getting hit in the back of the head but referee Tony Weeks ignores him. A straight left from Lopez lands.

Round Three: Marquez dives in with a straight left to the body. Marquez gets the better of an exchange with a hard left hook but Lopez comes back with a solid right hook that backs Marquez down. Marquez now with a nice left hook and Lopez smiles. Now Lopez with a vicious left hook that has Marquez reeling towards the ropes. Lopez pursues him. Now they trade punches in the center of the ring, but Marquez definitely the one in trouble here. Counter right hook lands for Lopez.

Round Four: Hard right hook lands as Lopez goes right back to work. Now a straight left and Marquez is hurt. Lopez chasing him down and pounding his own fists together with a smile on his face. Marquez regains composure for now and lands a straight right but Lopez still coming. Hard left hook from Lopez. Out of nowhere huge counter left from Marquez and now its Lopez stumbling back. He smiles as if to show he's fine but Marquez tags him again against the ropes and he's in trouble. Lopez regains now and hits Marquez with a late left hook off a break and Weeks is going to take a point away. Big change of momentum here and Lopez acknowledges it by touching gloves now with Marquez.

Round Five: Lopez lands that left hook here again early in the round. Lopez swarming with straight punches but Marquez lands a hard counter that buckles Lopez's knees. Both fighters getting their shots in here in the fifth. Now they trade right hooks in the middle of the ring. Nice straight right lands for Marquez but Lopez comes back aggressively and lands a hard left hook. Lopez being repeatedly warned for pushing on the back of Marquez's head.

Round Six: Lopez with a quick straight right that knocks Marquez's head back. Hard left hook lands for Lopez at the end of an exchange. Marquez responds with a right hook. Now another straight left hand from Lopez and Marquez backs up. Marquez definitely looks to be the more beaten up of the two at this point. More pressure from Lopez with the hooks as Marquez is against the ropes.

Round Seven: Right uppercut lands under the chin for Lopez. Marquez fires back and lands an uppercut, right hook combination. The action is just relentless in this fight so far. Two left uppercuts land for Lopez and he's throwing just a huge volume of punches at Marquez right now. Marquez lands a huge left uppercut and Lopez sticks his tongue out. Marquez gets in a few shots but Lopez weathers them, puts his back to the ropes and just continues to unload on Marquez. bad position here for Marquez as he's taking a lot of damage. Weeks steps in and rescues Marquez momentarily with a warning to Lopez for grabbing the back of the head. Bad round for Marquez ends.

Round Eight: Marquez throwing a few early flurries here to back Lopez off. Just not enough movement from Marquez right now, he's standing flat footed and Lopez is finding one opening after another. Hard left hook for Lopez. Lopez puts Marquez back in the corner and lets his hands go again. Marquez trying to counter from the position but he's taking the worst of this.

Round Nine: That's it. Marquez won't come out for the ninth. Looks like he's injured his shoulder.

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at LVSunFighting

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