Juanmita López de Jesús to fight at six rounds instead of eight
The Puerto Rican prospect will face Mexican Jesús Rómulo Ramírez on Saturday in Caguas after failing to secure an opponent for an eight-round bout.
File photoThe short version
- Metro Puerto Rico reported that Juanmita López de Jesús will fight at a maximum of six rounds this Saturday at the Roger Mendoza Coliseum in Caguas against Mexican Jesús Rómulo Ramírez
- Metro Puerto Rico reported that more than eight opponents rejected the eight-round offer forcing the fight back to six rounds
- The fight will be his fourth of 2026 and is possibly his last this year according to Metro Puerto Rico
- El Vocero reported that López has been training since Aug. 15 and plans to pursue regional titles including the WBO youth championship starting in 2027
Eight-round debut postponed
Puerto Rican boxing prospect Juan Manuel “Juanmita” López De Jesús will have to wait for his first eight-round fight. Metro Puerto Rico reported that the bout scheduled for this Saturday will instead be held at a maximum of six rounds against Mexican opponent Jesús Rómulo Ramírez at the Coliseo Roger Mendoza in Caguas. Metro Puerto Rico reported
Both Metro Puerto Rico and El Vocero reported that López had hoped to make his eight-round debut in order to begin competing for regional titles. According to Metro Puerto Rico more than eight local and international opponents rejected the offer. El Vocero reported that the fighter’s team approached more experienced undefeated boxers with over ten wins but none accepted the proposed conditions. El Vocero reported
Also on PuertoRico.com: Caguas travel guide
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Es un poquito frustrante, en el sentido de que cuando uno entra a los ocho asaltos comienza a competir por los títulos regionales.
Our translation: It is a little frustrating, in the sense that when one enters the eight rounds one begins to compete for the regional titles.
The source's own statement, as quoted by Metro Puerto Rico. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Other bouts canceled
Metro Puerto Rico reported that several other fights on the card were canceled for different reasons. Elise Soto, ranked number two among WBO prospects, announced on social media that her opponent could not reach the island. Another fighter, Belisa López, will not compete after her opponent withdrew due to a health issue.
The card will be broadcast live on the Miguel Cotto Promotions YouTube channel starting at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, Metro Puerto Rico reported.
Where the sources differ
Metro Puerto Rico and El Vocero agree that Juanmita López de Jesús will fight Jesús Rómulo Ramírez this Saturday at six rounds instead of the hoped-for eight rounds in Caguas, that multiple opponents declined the longer distance, and that the boxer expressed frustration. Metro Puerto Rico states that more than eight opponents rejected the offer and that this could be his last fight of 2026 while El Vocero does not specify the number of rejections beyond “many” and makes no mention of it being his final bout of the year. Only Metro Puerto Rico reports on the canceled women’s bouts and the YouTube broadcast.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state the exact number of opponents contacted beyond Metro Puerto Rico’s figure of more than eight rejections, the current professional record of Ramírez beyond what El Vocero provided, whether López will fight again before the end of 2026, or any details on the health situation that caused one opponent to withdraw. They also do not indicate when the next eight-round opportunity might be scheduled.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Debut de Juanmita en combate a ocho asaltos tendrá que esperar
- Reporting "Es frustrante": Juanmita López de Jesús tendrá que esperar para dar el salto a ocho asaltos
How we checked this
Metro Puerto Rico and El Vocero both covered the change in fight distance and López’s comments on the difficulty of securing an opponent. Metro Puerto Rico is the sole source for the possible last fight of the year, the specific number of rejections, the broadcast details and the information on the canceled bouts involving Elise Soto and Belisa López.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.