Josesito_Lopez

Josesito Lopez is a like a real life Rocky, says promoter Oscar De La Hoya.

Lopez, 28, challenges rising superstar and WBC light-middleweight kingpin Saul "Canelo" Alvarez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Less than 12 months ago the prospect of such a match up would have been laughed at by the majority of boxing experts, but Lopez's rise up the pecking order has been little short of mesmeric.

In September last year he dropped an unanimous 12 round decision to Jessie Vargas, but his career received a shock shot in the arm this June when against the odds he defeated Victor Ortiz.

"Josesito Lopez is one person that we all could admire, a fighter who we should all respect," De La Hoya said.

"He truly is the American dream. He truly is a fighter who a lot of people, I have to admit including myself, didn't believe he could beat Victor Ortiz and he did it in spectacular fashion. 

"And that's why he's here now, because he feels and he thinks that he can do it once again in spectacular fashion.

"Just like Rocky went up against Apollo Creed or just like Rocky went up against fighters like Drago, Josesito Lopez is one person who believes in himself, one fighter who never gives up and he's going to fight to the end".

11/09/2012 20:03:00