Juanmita López De Jesús prepares to make his skilled debut on February 14 at The Theater in Madison Sq. Backyard on the undercard of Denys Berinchyk-Keyshawn Davis, however the junior bantamweight gained’t should look far for inspiration.
The son of the Puerto Rican star and heavy-punching southpaw Juan Manuel Lopez – recognized affectionately within the sport as “Juanma” – the teen has had no larger affect in his life than his father.
“I used to be born when he made his professional debut, so since then boxing is at all times in my life,” López De Jesús informed BoxingScene. “Boxing has been my favourite sport since then. My father is a two-time world champion, so I began boxing and, yeah, he’s my favourite fighter. I at all times have a look at him like a superhero.
“He says in lots of interviews that I have a look at him like he was Superman, so he’s my inspiration at all times. I at all times have a look at him so I can be taught issues. He’s my primary inspiration in life.”
López De Jesús was an Olympian in 2024 – his father was an Olympian 20 years earlier – who represented Puerto Rico. His dad was additionally promoted by High Rank and has instructed him to be prepared for a special atmosphere as he transitions from the amateurs to the professionals.
“He informed me that it’s a special sport,” López De Jesús stated. “Newbie and professional, it’s very completely different. And he informed me that I’m going to be taught, like, I’m begin[ing] boxing proper now. All the pieces goes to alter in my life after I flip professional.”
He left the amateurs glad, having boxed on the Paris Video games and, with no packing containers left to tick, López De Jesús believes the expertise will stand him in good stead. He additionally believes he’ll adapt rapidly to the completely different nuances required by the professional sport.
“Properly, within the amateurs, I boxed loads – I favored to make use of my agility, to field,” he stated. “However now within the execs, I’ve extra persistence. I could be extra calm when the spherical comes. I can hit tougher. So I feel that persons are going to see a stronger Juanmita.
“We’re going to see a stronger man; extra smarter. I feel I struggle loads. I seem like my father loads. However I like to make use of all the pieces: my angles, my agility within the ring. So the individuals will see just a little little bit of Juan Manuel and just a little little bit of Juanmita.”
López De Jesús was simply 18 on the Olympics. He has fought high fighters from everywhere in the world and credit Uzbekistan’s Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov – who defeated him in Paris – as one of the best he has shared a hoop with.
López De Jesús has aspirations of boxing in New York through the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade held within the metropolis – probably on a invoice with High Rank-promoted junior middleweight contender Xander Zayas – and he’s not merely aiming for the highest, however being impressed to take action by Puerto Rican boxing giants.
“Puerto Rico is my life – it’s all the pieces,” López De Jesús stated. “Being Puerto Rican is one of the best factor that occurred to me. Once I’m going to struggle and I see the flag of Puerto Rico, it’s one of the best factor that I’ve. Felix [Trinidad] is an idol. Tito, and [Miguel] Cotto, too. They’re idols. If I see them within the streets, it’s like, ‘Whoa, there’s the legend.’ They stroll in Puerto Rico and it’s nice for everyone. So someday I wish to be like them.”
For the longest time in his profession, Juan Manuel Lopez was on a collision course with Cuban sensation Yuriorkis Gamboa in a struggle that might have thrilled a era, nevertheless it didn’t materialize.
Lopez’s son doesn’t wish to let such huge struggle alternatives cross him by.
“Yeah, while you’re within the amateurs, you’ll be able to’t duck anyone,” he stated. “You must struggle with all people that’s within the record. So now in professional, I wish to struggle one of the best – each fighter that’s within the rankings, I wish to struggle with them. In order that factor that occurred with my father and Gamboa doesn’t occur to me; that the individuals don’t keep ready for a struggle that’s by no means going to occur.”
And whereas López De Jesús will probably be doing nicely to emulate his father’s very good profession, he’s eager to forge his personal path and decided to be not simply among the finest within the sport, however among the finest from his proud preventing nation.
“I wish to be world champion – my principal purpose is to be world champion,” he stated. “However I wish to be undisputed someday. I would like the individuals to say that I used to be among the finest Puerto Rican fighters.”
