Keep Your Eye on Lopez

On the sports corner

In front of the home crowd in Puerto Rico, World Boxing Organization Super-Bantamweight Champion Juan Manuel Lopez defended his title against Gerry Penalosa last weekend. Lopez entered the ring with an impressive record of 24 victories, 22 by knockout.
Lopez did not lose a single round.
Penalosa’s heart is most likely what kept him going throughout his fight with Lopez. But by the ninth round, Penalosa’s trainer Freddie Roach had seen enough and threw in the towel to stop the fight.
Harold Lederman, judge for HBO Boxing, said: “It’s hard to believe that they didn’t stop the fight a whole lot sooner; it’s Lopez’s fight from the opening bell.”
Freddie Roach said, “He was way to strong, my fighter’s face was banged up, he was too good.”
And Max Kellerman, boxing commentator, described Lopez as tough.
While Lopez’s win is definitely good news for Puerto Rico, the question now is whether he will move up in weight class. Since he’s beaten up everyone in his division, it makes sense. Can he do like the other Puerto Rican champions Wilfredo Gomez and Felix Trinidad who moved up in weight class and won more titles? Can and will Lopez move up? We’ll see, so keep your eye on Lopez. He’s definitely a fighter to watch. – Ismael Nunez


Ismael Nunez is a contributing writer to Puerto Rico Sun.

PRSUN Radio chats with Tato Torres of YERBABUENA

Tato Torres chats with PRSUN Radio at 9 p.m. Wednesday at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.

He is spending his birthday with us. Happy birthday Tato!

Torres who now lives in Puerto Rico will be chatting with PRSUN Radio on boricua roots music, YERBABUENA, his newest project ChivoLoco and more.

To read Tato's bio, check out my blog at www.blogtalkradio.com.

Jacobo and Denise

Photo op



Puerto Rican filmmaker (el maestro) Jacobo Morales and actress and former Miss Universe Denise Quinones pose for a photo after an event at Hunter College April 21. Morales was among the panelists on a talk focusing on Puerto Rican cinema and the challenges of rising cinema as part of the Havana Film Festival in New York City. Morales' movie "Dios Los Crio II" (2004) had its NY premiere at this year's festival. (photo by Clarisel Gonzalez)

For more of my photos, go to www.flickr.com/photos/clarisel. Click on my Puerto Rican in NYC events photo set.