Juan “Juanma” Lopez retained his WBO S/Bantam title over tough veteran Gerry Penalosa in impressive style last noche, in a busy action affair that saw the local Puerto Rican tossing a shutout over nine rounds. 

Too big, too strong, and with the better skills, it was surprising to this writer, Penalosa would still be around as long as he was. Come the  close of stanza nine, Penalosa's corner man Freddie Roach, saw no point in letting his charge continue in a fight he had no chance winning. 

The hint that Penalosa couldn’t come out on top surfaced during a few early rounds when the Filipino would counter late in the stanza with a series of combinations that found the target - but came up empty. Without the puncher’s chance, the game age 36 Penalosa, arriving on some 60 kept appointments, the night would be a long one. 

Lopez, the latest pride and joy of Caguas, a young kid of 25, is likely the best of the rest at 122 - in this mismatch of southpaws, he showed quickness, strong combos on the inside, and a solid set of whiskers. 

Roach had no other choice to have Penalosa sit it out after stanza nine with the no-mas - his charge had his days as a past champion - the closing rap sheet will see him retiring with a brilliant track record of 54-7, 36 by knockout - not exactly chopped liver. 

With Juan “Juanma” Lopez, at a now 25-0, 23 KOs, it’s a different song - the walk in music of “We’ve only just begun” would be fitting - the kid is close to a finished product -and just maybe, by fine tuning the right jab, he’ll become the complete package.     

GEL -