This Saturday, Gennady Golovkin will enter the ring and have thousands of eyes on him as he defends his titles and attempts to continue to conquer the middleweight division. In Denver, another boxer will have thousands of eyes on him for a different reason, but for a title as well.
Manuel “Manny Lo” Lopez, a professional boxer, full-time college student and father will walk across the stage Saturday to receive his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology.
Lopez (8-1, 5 KOs) had an impressive amateur career, which led him to receive a full ride boxing scholarship to Northern Michigan University back in 2008. NMU was the only college in the country to receive funding for a boxing program, until the funding was cut in 2010. After his first semester Lopez had to figure out his options for school, and decided to transfer back home to Metropolitan State University of Denver. After learning his credits from NMU wouldn’t transfer, Lopez thought about boxing full time, but something from Michigan stuck with him.
“My team captain out in Michigan, DeRae Crane, told me to always finish what I started. In boxing, life, my education, that’s always something that will stick in my head. I knew a college degree would be a huge accomplishment for me and one day it will benefit. So I stuck through it, no matter how hard it got.”
While Lopez has been on a long road for a degree, boxing and life certainly made the road a little longer. Lopez trained alongside Mike Alvarado for years, and at one point put his education in jeopardy to spend a fight camp in Los Angeles with Alvarado. Lopez at the time was also training for a bout against Cameron Kreal on the undercard to Alvarado vs. Juan Manuel Marquez.
“I failed two of my classes for that fight camp. It’s been a constant struggle to balance both my boxing career and my education. But it’s taught me a lot about myself and what I want for my future.”
Lopez admits his heart is with boxing and to one day be a world champion. But realistically, until a big promoter signs him on, a career is what’s most important for him and his son, Josiah.
“My son is my motivation to have both. Every step I take after I graduate involves what’s best for him. I’ve often thought about being a police officer, or working as a juvenile school counselor, but recently I’ve been looking into being a firefighter. Being a firefighter will give my son and myself financial stability, and still allow me to go after my dream of being a world champ.”
Lopez has an exciting few weeks ahead of him. Besides his graduation this Saturday, Lopez is in training for his next fight, the main event, June 6 in Denver and also plans to send his application in for the firefighter program.
Since his boxing debut, Lopez has juggled the life of student, boxer and father, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Through all this I truly believe there is nothing I can’t face and be successful in. A lot of support from my family has been a tremendous help, but also my faith. Putting all this in God’s hands and his guidance through this chapter in my life is what got me through.”
