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Lora Back & Better Than Ever
With health problems behind him and his first comeback win
now in the books (a TKO 2 over Mexico's Joel Juarez),
welterweight contender Orlando "Olímpico" Lora (27-1-1, 19
KOs) can resume his promising career.
The former Mexican Olympian had been cruising through the
professional ranks as a red-hot undefeated prospect, even
picking up the WBC Continental Americas welterweight and IBA
Jr. Middleweight titles, when in 2009, he began experiencing
persistent stomach pain and noticed his strength beginning
to slip.
First came a surprisingly lethargic performance against then
7-7 Octavio Narvaez in which some felt Lora was fortunate to
get the unanimous decision.
And then, in Lora's next appearance, disaster struck.
Facing tough veteran David Estrada at the Agua Caliente
Casino in Rancho Mirage, California, and live on ESPN last
April, Lora was battered mercilessly for eight savage rounds
before mercifully being stopped by the ringside physician.
"Something was wrong. That wasn't the Orlando Lora we knew
in there. Orlando fights with smart aggression and doesn't
let up. The one that fought Estrada was a sitting duck,"
admitted Lora's promoter, Gary Shaw of Gary Shaw
Productions. "The kid would never say anything, that's how
he is, so we made him go to a doctor and find out what was
going on with his stomach and his strength."
Lora was immediately diagnosed with a serious liver
infection and put on intensive treatments that lasted nearly
eight months.
"How he kept fighting in that kind of pain is amazing to
me," continued Shaw. "His body was fighting so hard against
the infection he had nothing left to use for boxing."
While Lora says being away from the gym and undergoing the
treatments was rough, he gradually noticed his power
returning and over time, strength and conditioning work led
to gym workouts and then a full return to training.
"He really looked sensational against Juarez," said a
relieved Shaw. "The old Orlando is back and because of all
the strength training he did in the time he was off, he says
he feels stronger than ever. We're looking forward to
putting him right back in the mix at 154 where he belongs.
At full power, Orlando is a handful for anyone in the world
to try and face."
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