A NEAR brawl broke out between former world champions Wilfredo “Papito” Vázquez, Jr. (24-6-1, 19 KOs) and Juan Manuel “JuanMa” Lopez (34-5, 31 KOs) at a press conference during the traditional face-off picture in advance of this Saturday night’s grudge showdown, airing live on pay-per-view from Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“JuanMa Lopez and many people have belittled me. They have disparaged my sacrifice, the food that I put on the table for my family, but Saturday I will hurt him. I have a Machiavelli plan to destroy him so he will respect me. I respect everybody that has had a rough time,” said Vazquez.
Lopez responded by saying: “Vasquez was interrupting at all times during the press conference. He was singing out loud and during the face-to-face picture, he tried to kiss me and I did not permit. I understand that he’s afraid and what a better moment than in front of everybody including the press to release his emotions.”
Vazquez and even his wife have a history of getting on the nerves of opponents with their behavior.
It happened prior to his title defense against Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire at the Alamadome in Texas, when his wife insulted Nonito’s wife and champion blackbelter Rachel and nearly paid the price.
Nonito took care of the issue when he whipped Vazquez to win the title, dropping him once in the process on Feb. 4, 2012 in a fight that saw Dr. Ruben Garcia in a ridiculous scorecard score the fight for the out-boxed Puerto Rican 115-112, which incurred the ire of WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, especially after the two other judges Levi Martinez and Don Trella turned in lopsided, identical 117-110 scorecards.