But Lopez, (27-0, 24 KO’s) had his problems with Rogers Mtagwa (26-13, 3, 18KO’s) that had Top Rank promoter Bob Arum wondering, “I thought Lopez fought a stupid fight,” he said.  “He can’t fight a stupid fight against Gamboa. If he fights like that against Gamboa he’s done.”

And with those words, Arum may have been saying that Lopez has to take another fight before facing Gamboa in what could be a mega fight in the featherweight division with Lopez going up in weight .to 126. Gamboa, earlier did his job in disposing Whyber Garcia (22-7, 15KO’s) of Panama in the fourth round.

Mtagwa, ranked 15^th by the WBO, a relatively unknown fighter, took the last three rounds on two of three ringside cards of the judges, who scored it 115-111 and 116-111 for Lopez. Kevin Morgan gave Mtagwa the last six rounds though gave Lopez a 114-113 edge in the 12-round bout.

Lopez got the decision by winning the first part of the fight, but he took some punishment and was left staggering between the ropes in the 11^th round and if it weren’t for the ropes, Lopez would have went down.  In what could be classified as a fight of the year, the intensity of the fight continued in the 12^th and final round. Lopez continued to take punches and had nothing left as Mtagwa went for the knockout he didn’t get

The outcome was disappointing for Mtagwa who definitely made a name for himself. “Yeah, I won the fight,” he said.  “The first round I was really tired  He is not as strong as they say He gives good shots.. Yeah it was very close fight,” he said.  “Yeah I want a rematch.  I don’t believe I lost the fight.”

But that return bout may not occur immediately. Arum wants to put Lopez and Gamboa together, but first Lopez may have a date on HBO on January 23^rd in Puerto Rico. It will be Lopez against junior featherweight title holder Celestino Caballero or featherweight champions Steven Lueveno or Elio Rojas if purse arrangements can be made.

“Lopez has to fight a smarter fight than he fought,” claimed Arum who almost saw that eventual showdown with Gamboa go down the drain by the way his champion fought. “He let himself become vulnerable. He showed a lot of heart though.”  The stat of the night though was Mtagwa having a distinct edge in power shots landed, 62-34, in the last two rounds.

Lopez, who knocked down Mtagwa briefly in the first round realized it was going to be a tough evening after that.  “That guy was very strong,” he said through interpreter Ricardo Jimenez.  “I tried hitting him but he is a very strong guy. He added “Sometimes it is very difficult to fight guys like this. They have nothing to lose… He is a strong guy even in the last round he was coming after me.”

Lopez is in the second year of his title reign after dethroning defending champion Daniel Ponce De Leon via a first round knockout last June. He has successfully defended his title four times since, all by knockout and is billed to be the next exciting fighter out of Puerto Rico, of course next to WBO welterweight champion Cotto.  .

Gomboa remained undefeated (16-0, 14K0’S) easily dominating WBA 13^th ranked Whyber Garcia (22-7 15 KO’s) of Panama City Panama. Garcia had won four of his last five fights. The loss was for the world title against WBA super featherweight champion Jorge Linares last year.

Garcia could not match the punches of Gamboa which included a barrage of left and rights in round four.  The stoppage came at 0:58 of the round when referee Steve Smoga stepped in and stopped the bout.

“It’s one of my strategies to study the fighter and settle in,” said Gamboa who used that strategy well from the opening bell in round one. As for Garcia not coming into him, a type of fight that Gamboa likes to fight, he stated, “I definitely like when men come into me. It is better for my counter punches,”

The early stoppage showed what type of fighter Gamboa is. His punches were effective and strong which prevented Garcia from throwing anything strong at Gamboa. “At the end of the second round I knew I was going to knock him out quick,” he said.

The anticipated fight though would be for Lopez to unify the title .against Lopez, a fight that could happen early next year. “A lot of people ask me the same question I want to prove what is best for me,” responded Gamboa when asked about an opportunity to meet Lopez.

“I didn’t think Lopez is better than me,” he said. “I don’t need a warm up fight. I am ready for him. I expect to get better than this.  But winning by knockout at the Garden there is nothing like it.  I should be carrying the card over Lopez because I’m better.”

During the week Gamboa commented about making his debut at the Garden. He said winning the fight convincingly is what was needed to be done in order to accomplish the goal of meeting Lopez soon. And just being in The Garden meant he achieved his goals.

He commented about leaving his country and pursuing his goal of becoming a world champion. “It was a big risk for me to leave and take the stuff that I took, leaving not only the boxing team but my country. It goes on to prove that if I seat a goal I can accomplish it.”

On the under card John Duddy (27-1, 17KO’s) made a successful return to The Garden and got the unanimous decision over Jorge Munoz (21-4, 13KO’s) of Topeka, Kansas. Duddy at times let his opponent come at him and was able to use counter punches and scored points with the judges.

In a 10-round heavyweight bout the veteran, 38-year old Monte Barrett (34-8, 24KO’s) of Queens, New York became an easy victim of undefeated Cuban sensation Odlanier Solis (15-0, 11KO’s.)  Solis pounded Barrett early and put Barrett on the canvas with a quick left hook in the second round .and got the TKO.

And welterweight Omar Chaez, the son of former legendary champion Julio Cesar Chavez remained undefeated (18-0-1 13 KO’s) getting the six-round unanimous decision over (7-10-1) James Ventry.

E-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

Regardless, Arum has plans to unify the featherweight championship and that begins tomorrow night at the Garden WaMu Theatre. WBO champion Juan Manuel Lopez and WBA champion Yuriorkis Gamboa of Cuba defend their respective titles in separate bouts on the “Island Warriors” “Latin Fury 12” pay-per-view show.  If both prevail, Arum has plans to put both fighters in a mega unification bout, in the Garden main arena, possibly with Cotto as the headliner.

“It is in the plans,” said Arum about a June date at the Garden. “These are two fighters that bring excitement to the sport and we have every intention of putting this together,” he said. And Arum, has that good working relationship with the Garden to put the fight together in New York with hopes Cotto is available and still holding his title.

Though if Cotto does prevail, there is still talk he could oppose Floyd Mayweather Jr. sometime next year either in Las Vegas, or in New York City at the new Yankee Stadium. A Top Rank source said the Yankees are very much interested in staging a Cotto-Pacquiao return bout if Cotto wins.

Mayweather recently returned to the ring and dominated Juan Manuel Marquez. And there is no doubt that a Cotto-Mayweather bout at Yankee Stadium will sell out and draw major pay-per-view numbers.  Arum, who used to promote Mayweather, would prefer his two fighters, Cotto and Pacquiao to have a trilogy. But Maywetaher, back in the picture may spoil his plan.

In the meantime the “Island Warriors: card is expected to sell out and has a good under card to supplement the main event.  Middleweight contender “Irish” John Duddy, looking to make an impact again is on the card along with former heavyweight contender Monte Barrett facing WBC 7^th ranked heavyweight Odlanier Solis of Cuba.

“For any Puerto Rican this is  a big site, this is a big venue and this is where you want to be,” said Lopez (26-0, 24 KO’s) of Caguas Puerto Rico. He trains with Cotto and knows how important it is to be fighting on the big stage at the Garden, even though it is not in the main arena,

To that Lopez said, “This is where you want to showcase yourself like Miguel Cotto and Tito Trinidad.  I talk to Tito almost every day and he tells how exciting it is to be fighting at the Garden. It is a very special place to fight. I am on the road to gaining all the exposure that I need.”

Lopez is in the second year of his title reign after dethroning defending champion Daniel Ponce De Leon via a first round knockout last June. He has successfully defended his title four times since, all by knockout and is billed to be the next exciting fighter out of Puerto Rico, of course next to Cotto.  He opposes Rogers Mtagwa (26-12-2, 18 Ko’s) of Philadlephia, 15^th ranked by the WBO.

“I’d like to win four titles in four weight divisions,” he said, “something that no Puerto Rican has ever done. That is my goal. I fee like I will go to 126 sooner rather than later. I started at 21 years old and have been fighting for five years at 122-pounds.and now my body is ready to go up.

Lopez talks to the former champion Trinidad constantly about the pressures of being a champion and not looking ahead to the next opportunity.  Trinidad has attended most of his fights but won’t be there tomorrow because of a family commitment. “He is my idol,” says Lopez.

“He always tells me about the great experiences he had at the Garden. A lot of people are talking about Gamboa but I don’t think about that, I think about my next fight,” said the 26- year old who is 5-0 in championship fights. “Gamboa fight might happen but that is far down the road,” he said.

The undefeated Gomboa, (15-0, 13Ko’s) who won Olympic gold in 2004, one of the promising fighters in the division opposes (WBA 13^th ranked Whyber Garcia (22-6, 15 KO’s) of Panama City Panama.  An exciting and aggressive fighter, Garcia has won four of his last five fights the loss was for the world title WBA super featherweight champion Jorge Linares last year.

“I have to win the fights and convincingly to get to where I want to get,” he said. “Just being in the storied building (The Garden) means I have achieved my goals  I can feel the energy like it is on my doorstep but first I have to past this test on Saturday before I think about what happens next.”

He commented about leaving his country and pursuing his goal of becoming a world champion. “It was a big risk for me to leave and take the stuff that I took, leaving not only the boxing team but my country. It goes on to prove that if I seat a goal I can accomplish it.”.

Camacho Legacy Continues:  Hector Camach Jr. believes this is his time much like the saying that his father, the former 4-time world champion Hector Sr. said over the years.  And the native of Puerto Rico and Spanish Harlem, now residing in Orlando Florida believes he is a better fighter and belongs in the same class with Cotto, Pacquiao and Mayweather.

Camacho, (49-3-1) the WBC Caribbean light middleweight champion begins his comeback to the championship ladder when he opposes former 2-time champion “Yory Boy” Campas of Mexico on Friday October 30 from the Don Haskins Center in El Paso Texas to be seen on pay-per-view.

“Yory Boy, he’s not a walk in the park,” said Camacho last week from his training quarters down in Orlando “He has been there. He’s coming to fight the fight. It’s a perfect style as he comes straight in” Added is a motivation factor because this past May, Campas and Camacho Sr. fought to a draw.

So there may be some vindication as well. “I have a score to settle with Yory Boy. This is as important to me as it is to my father,’ said Camacho who also wants it known that he should not be compared to his father when it comes to his ring entrance and style in the ring …

E-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com