Can Orlando Salido (37-11-2, 25 KO’s) return to the scene of the crime (Puerto Rico) and defeat Juan Manuel Lopez (31-1-, 28 KO’s) again this Saturday? 
And will Matthew Macklin (28-3, 19 KO’s) upset Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez (48-2-2. 27 KO’s) when they face off next Saturday on St. Patrick’s Day in Madison Square Garden?
Of course they can! Well, a) Salido already knows how to defeat his foe (Lopez) and b) Macklin should be inspired by the fact that Martinez just recently struggled with a foe (Darren Barker) that he may be able to defeat.
But will they?
The answers are a) no and and an b) emphatic no!
Here’s why:
a) Lopez vs Salido II. Despite losing the first match, Lopez is still the faster and more powerful boxer. His chin failed him in the first bout with Salido, but I am confident that he will be able to "hide it" just enough, on his way to a comprehensive decision win or late stoppage (via TKO8).
Lopez will restore his confidence as well as renewed interest in a mega-showdown with Yoriorkis Gambo (if he defeats Brandon Rios) in the near future.
b) Martinez vs Macklin. I know what Macklin fans are thinking. Martinez looked beatable in his most recent bout against the surprisingly-tough Barker. Macklin will also have a decided crowd advantage fighting in Madison Square Garden on St. Patrick’s Day, which will have its fair share of Irish and Irish-American fans cheering him on.
These seem like factors that should land the fight in Macklin’s favor. But it will work the other way around. For starters, Martinez will be very determined to prove that his Barker misstep was just that. And he’ll also be motivated to silence what should be a partisan crowd (in favor of Macklin).
Don’t get it twisted, there will be no Cinderella Men in the ring over the next two weeks.
