Pedro Guevara (R) wins the WBC junior flyweight title with a 7th-round knockout of Akira Yaegashi in December 2014. Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images.

Pedro Guevara will look to make the second defense of his WBC junior flyweight title when he meets mandatory challenger Ganigan Lopez on Saturday.

The recently turned 26-year-old Mexican won the vacant championship last December when he traveled to Japan and impressively stopped former two-weight world champion Akira Yaegashi in seven rounds. He followed that win with a first-round TKO of Filipino Richard Claveras.

Guevara (25-1-1, 17 knockouts) is expecting a tougher challenge against his southpaw countryman, who has won his last five and sports a record of 25-5, with 16 KOs. They will fight in Guevara’s hometown of Mazatlan.

Prior to winning the title, Guevara had contemplated retirement but now the future looks bright and he hopes to make a name for himself.

“I want to successfully defend my title,” Guevara said from the mountains in Centro Otomi, Mexico, last week through promoter Mariano De Leon. “Maybe unify with another good champion. Then jump to flyweight and win my second world title and make history in Mexican boxing and all around the world.”

Here’s what Guevara had to say to RingTV.com on several subjects including winning the title, his thoughts on the 108-pound division and his other career as a lawyer.

RingTV.com – What are your thoughts on facing Lopez?

Pedro Guevara – My thoughts about this fight are that this fight could be my biggest challenge in my boxing life. So I’m taking this challenge with responsibility.

RTV – What strengths and areas of weakness do you see in Lopez’s game?

PG – Well, I can see in this fighter that he is quick and smart, but it doesn’t stop me because I’ve got the desire to be the junior flyweight champion for a long time. I can’t tell you any weakness of him but I think that his age could play an important part in the fight (Lopez is 33 years old).

RTV – You made your first title defense at home in Mazatlan and return for this fight. What does it mean to you to fight in front of your home fans?

PG – I feel very happy to come back to my hometown and show to my fans that they have a great champion. Three years ago I fought against a Filipino [world] champion (Johnriel Casimero) and I lost that fight. I felt very sad for the result but now I again have the opportunity to prove to my Mazatlan people that I can be the idol that they want.

Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images

RTV – You won the WBC title in late December last year – tell us about winning the world title on the road in Japan against Yaegashi?

PG – It was awesome because to travel to another country to fight for the world championship for anyone could be a problem but for me it was exciting. More so when the referee, Vic Drakulich, stopped the fight, giving me the win and the WBC world title.

RTV – You weren’t home with your family for New Years. It must have been quite an experience being thousands of miles away and winning your first world title?

PG – Yes, I missed a lot my family because I left them for two months to prepare for that fight. But that gave to me the motivation to go for the victory.

RTV – How did winning the world title change your life?

PG – In many ways. First because before this opportunity I was thinking to retire from boxing, but when I received this chance I told to myself it is now or never. Now being a champion my life has changed – my home, my parents and thinking of a better future.

RTV – You retained your title for the first time stopping Richard Claveras in one round.

PG – I was waiting for a hard fight because Claveras can really punch hard. I threw a left hook and I took the opportunity for another hook [to the body] and finished the bout.

RTV – What are your thoughts on your weight class and the other champions: Ryoichi Taguchi (WBA), Javier Mendoza (IBF) and Donnie Nietes (RING and WBO)?

PG – In this weight class the competition is difficult and hard. The others champions are equally as good as me but I think Donnie Nietes is the hardest opponent at 108 pounds.

RTV – How do you see Nietes vs. Francisco Rodriguez Jr. going on July 11?

PG – The fight is very hard for “Chihuas” because Nietes has a lot of experience, but I don’t doubt that the fight is gonna be exciting.

RTV – You’re a qualified lawyer – you don’t get too many boxers who can say that.

PG – For the moment I only spend my time in boxing because this sport needs [my full] attention, to prepare physically and mentally. In the future I want to practice my career as a lawyer or work for the university that gave me the opportunity to become a lawyer.

RTV – In closing, do you have a message for Lopez?

PG – Good luck, and I hope that he is preparing for this war.

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