THE World Boxing Council said that in a battle of southpaws, Filipino KO artist, 29-year-old Jonathan “Lightning” Taconing is coming to Arena Coliseo, near Mexico City to launch a terrific challenge as a no. 1 contender against the 34-year-old WBC light flyweight champion Ganigan “El Maravilla” Lopez this Saturday.
It is expected to be the very toughest Lopez could have chosen for his first title defense.
The Mexican won the title from Japan’s Yu Kimura in Kyoto last March 4 by a majority decision in a fight that appeared to be strange in terms of the scorecards.
While Cathy Leonard scored it 119-109 for Lopez and Tex Ritter also had the Mexican the winner, 118-110, Mexican judge Juan Carlos Pelayo had it even at 114-114.
At the weekly WBC press conference in Mexico City’s Zona Rosa, Lopez smiled and waved as he greeted Taconing, who was sitting across the other side of the room, accompanied by promoter Johnny Elorde of the famous Elorde family.
Also in Mexico were Johnny’s wife Liza and two sons Miguel and Martin, who are both regional boxing champions.
“There was palpable tension in the office, which was jam-packed with dozens of reporters, photographers and TV cameras,” the WBC reported.
Taconing, who has a record of 22-2-1 with 18 knockouts, thanked the WBC and its President Mauricio Sulaiman for this opportunity.
“I have been carefully studying the way Ganigan moves and fights,” said Taconing, warning that if Lopez evades and tries to box, he’ll “definitely go after him.”