Juan Manuel Lopez is planning for a huge 2010. The first step is the move in weight to challenge WBO featherweight Steven Luevano on January 23 in New York. Juanma was nearly derailed in his last outing against Rogers Mtagwa in October. He says the Mtagwa experience taught him a lot as a pro.

"2009 was the most difficult year of my career in terms that I had some tough fights. Against Mtagwa, I acknowledge that I was in a difficult situation but I learned a lot about boxing," said Lopez told Primera Hora. "Sometimes people think that someone just goes in there to look for the quick knockout, but the reality is, that you just go in to do your job. Sometimes it's a little easier than others."

He wants to continue winning big fights to make himself a major star on an international scale and eventually a pound-for-pound fighter. He may get his wish to take over the boxing torch of Puerto Rico. Miguel Cotto has called 2010 his final year in the sport. If he actually walks away, the public eye would fall even heavier on Juanma.

"My plan is to become one of the best fighters [in the world]. Not every boxer has the opportunity to try to win a second world title [in a second weight division]. Against Steven Luevano I determined to succeed. I want to be considered as one of the best pound-for-pound but I still have a long way to go," Juanma said.