By Rafael Soto

Puerto Rican former world champion, Juan Manuel Lopez, arrived in Ciudad Obregon to watch the battle between the featherweight champion of the WBO, Orlando Salido, and Japanese challenger Kenichi Yamaguchi, which takes place this Saturday at the Multipurpose Center in Sonora.

"I've definitely come to support Orlando Salido in his fight against [Yamaguchi]," he said upon on his arrival with co-promoter Peter Rivera, and Top Rank rep Ricardo Jimenez. "I want him to win. I don't want to fight the Japanese boxer. My interest is for Salido to win, so I've come to cheer him on."

Currently, the Puerto Rican is running, and doing some weights to keep fit, but plans to hit camp hard for a rematch with Salido.

"I do not know the Japanese boxer. I have seen a fight of him and he gets hit a lot, so Salido must strike hard and possibly he'll win by knockout."

In a war which took place in April, Orlando Salido beat Juanma for the title with an eight round stoppage. 

"That night I was not there, my mind was elsewhere, I think the strategy against Salido was wrong. I want to fight him again and why not think of a trilogy."

Juanma has a record of 30-1 and 27 knockouts. Salido (35-11-2, 23 knockouts) is very focused for Yamaguchi (17-1-2, 4 knockouts).