By Luis Sandoval

When Golden Boy announced that Victor Ortiz would be Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s opponent for September 15th, Ortiz’s current opponent Josesito Lopez felt disrespected. With Ortiz still having to face him on June 23rd at the Staples Center, it was like Golden Boy saw a Lopez loss as a foregone conclusion.

Lopez appeared on the most recent edition of BoxingScene’s official audio show The Boxing Lab and talked about his reaction to the news. He was asked if Golden Boy overlooking him gave him extra motivation.

“I don’t think I can get possibly more motivated [than I already am] but if anything, yeah, it does add a little bit more. I’m here to mess all that up. I’m here to mess up the plans for September. You know, there’s a rematch clause so they might as well start planning the rematch with me and Victor Ortiz” stated the Riverside native.

“I’m a completely different person. I don’t plan an after party after my fights. All my focus up until the fight is the fight and the fight only. I don’t make any plans ahead and I find that a little disrespectful. I don’t think it’s necessarily Victor Ortiz’s fault but it’s Golden Boy Promotions that’s made this decision.”

Ortiz is one of the strongest punchers in the game and evidence of that is his knockout percentage and the fact that’s he dropped almost every fighter he’s been in the ring with.

While Josesito is moving into higher weight class for the first time, he still believes he can match Ortiz and won’t be shy to exchange.

“Man, I want to go in there and give it everything I got. I know eventually we’re going to exchange and I feel like I can bang with him. I’m not backing down. We’re going to get in there and there’s going to be fireworks” promised Lopez.

The stakes are definitely high for Lopez who had this opportunity literally fall on his lap when Berto was forced to pull out of the scheduled rematch with Ortiz and a quick replacement was needed. Beating Ortiz and winning his first world title would be a great accomplishment but spoiling Golden Boy’s plan would be the cherry on top.

You can listen to Josesito Lopez’s interview in its entirety by listening to The Boxing Lab podcast: http://tobtr.com/s/3253727

You can follow Luis Sandoval on Twitter @Truewest007. You can also tune in to The Boxing Lab, Boxingscene’s official audio show every Tuesday from 6-8PM PST with hosts Ernest Gabion, Luis Sandoval, and Ryan Burton.