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Juan Carlos Carrillo Ready To Bring The Fight
To Najee Lopez In Battle Of Unbeatens Aug. 29
Undefeated Colombian light heavyweight Juan Carlos Carrillo
(15-0, 11 KOs), who is promoted by Sampson Boxing, isn't
paying much attention to the odds ahead of the biggest fight
of his professional career.
What matters to him is what happens when the bell rings.
Carrillo, a native of Barranquilla, Colombia, will face
fellow unbeaten contender Najee Lopez (16-0, 13 KOs), of
Atlanta, Georgia, in a highly anticipated 10-round showdown
for the WBO Latino Light Heavyweight title on August 29,
2026, at the USC Galen Center in Los Angeles. The event will
be broadcast live on ProBox TV.
The battle of unbeaten light heavyweights will serve as the
co-main event to a 12-round championship clash featuring WBC
interim super middleweight champion Lester Martinez (20-0-1,
16 KOs) defending his title against unbeaten Luka Plantic
(13-0, 10 KOs).
For Carrillo, the assignment is simple, even if the fight
itself promises to be anything but.
Two undefeated fighters are stepping into the ring. One of
those perfect records has to go. Carrillo plans on making
sure it isn't his.
Carrillo has spent his training camp in Las Vegas working
under the guidance of respected trainer Bob Santos. Away
from the comforts of home and the distractions that can come
with them, Carrillo says camp has been about discipline,
repetition and preparing himself for the kind of grueling
fight he expects against Lopez.
The work hasn't always been comfortable. Carrillo wouldn't
have it any other way.
"This has been one of the hardest and best camps of my
career," Carrillo said. "Working with Bob in Las Vegas has
pushed me to another level. There are days when you're tired
and your body is telling you that you've had enough, but
those are the days that matter. Bob demands discipline, and
I've given him everything he's asked of me. I know the kind
of fight I'm walking into, so there was no room to cut
corners."
Carrillo believes the weeks spent in Las Vegas have
sharpened him both physically and mentally.
"I feel strong, I feel sharp, and most importantly, my mind
is right," Carrillo continued. "I've sacrificed a lot for
this opportunity. When I get to Los Angeles, I want people
to see the work we put in when nobody was watching."
Despite entering the bout unbeaten with 11 knockouts in 15
victories, Carrillo understands that some observers view
Lopez as the favorite.
He's noticed. And he's using it as motivation.
Carrillo isn't interested in complaining about being
overlooked. He would rather answer those doubts with his
fists.
"I know I'm the underdog, and that's fine with me," Carrillo
said. "Actually, I like it. It puts a chip on my shoulder.
People can make their predictions and talk about who they
think is supposed to win. I don't need to argue with
anybody. My job is to get in that ring and show them."
That mindset has followed Carrillo throughout camp. He
respects what Lopez has accomplished, but he doesn't believe
an undefeated record makes any fighter untouchable.
"Najee is a great fighter with a lot of talent," Carrillo
added. "He's dangerous and he's earned his position. But I'm
undefeated too. I didn't come from Barranquilla, go through
this camp in Las Vegas and make all these sacrifices just to
be happy about being in the co-main event. I'm coming to
win. I'm coming for that belt. Being the underdog just gives
me a little more fire."
Respect will be there before the fight and after the fight.
For 10 rounds, or however long the bout lasts, Carrillo
plans to make Lopez uncomfortable.
Carrillo expects Lopez to have his moments, but he has
prepared himself for a physical fight and says he intends to
test his opponent in ways he hasn't experienced during his
first 16 professional bouts.
"I'm going to bring pain," Carrillo said. "I don't say that
because I disrespect Najee. That's just the mentality I have
to bring into this fight. I want to make him uncomfortable.
I want him to feel my punches, feel my pressure and
understand from the first round that he's in a real fight."
Carrillo isn't necessarily predicting a knockout. He is,
however, promising that Lopez will have to earn everything
he gets.
"If the knockout comes, I'm going to take it, but I'm
prepared for 10 hard rounds," Carrillo continued. "I want to
break him down mentally and physically. I want to keep
coming, keep working and make every round difficult for him.
He has never lost, so he believes he's going to win. I
believe the same thing about myself. That's what makes this
fight so exciting."
The WBO Latino Light Heavyweight title represents more than
another belt to Carrillo.
A victory over an undefeated opponent with Lopez's record,
on a major stage in Los Angeles, could push Carrillo into a
new position in the light heavyweight division and bring him
closer to the fights he has imagined since beginning his
professional journey.
Carrillo isn't shy about wanting those opportunities. At the
same time, he understands he has to earn them.
"This is the fight that can change everything for me,"
Carrillo said. "A win over an undefeated fighter like Najee
Lopez, with the WBO Latino title on the line, can put my
name in a different conversation. I want to move up the
rankings. I want to thank my promoter Sampson Lewkowicz for
getting me this fight, and Pro Box for the oppertunity. I
want the big fights. Eventually, I want to fight for a world
championship. That's the dream."
Those ambitions haven't distracted Carrillo from the
immediate task.
"I can't think about a world title if I don't take care of
August 29," Carrillo added. "Najee has my full attention.
I'm hungry, but I'm also humble enough to know that nothing
in boxing is given to you. I have to go earn it. If I want
people to consider me one of the best light heavyweights in
the world, then this is the type of fight I have to win."
After overseeing Carrillo's camp in Las Vegas, Bob Santos
believes fans could be in for something special when the two
undefeated light heavyweights finally meet.
With both men carrying power, confidence and perfect
professional records into the ring, Santos sees all the
ingredients for a memorable fight.
"I really believe this has the potential to be a Fight of
the Year type of fight," Santos said. "You've got two
undefeated light heavyweights who can punch, both guys
believe they're going to win, and neither one wants to give
up that zero. Those are the fights where you find out a lot
about a fighter. Najee Lopez is a very good fighter, and we
have a tremendous amount of respect for what he brings, but
Juan Carlos has had an outstanding camp. He's been
disciplined from day one. He showed up, did the work,
listened and never looked for the easy way out. As a
trainer, that's all you can ask for. He's physically and
mentally prepared, and I expect people are going to see the
best Juan Carlos Carrillo they've seen yet."
For Carrillo, there isn't much left to say.
The weeks of roadwork, sparring, sacrifice and long days
inside the Las Vegas gym are nearly behind him. Now comes
the part he has been waiting for.
On August 29, Carrillo plans to walk into the USC Galen
Center as an underdog.
He intends to walk out as a champion.
"I'm ready," Carrillo concluded. "I respect Najee and I know
he's coming to fight, but I'm coming with everything I have.
This is my opportunity, and I'm not letting it pass me by.
On August 29, people are going to know my name."
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