Ruben Olivares vs. Danny Lopez ~ 'War At The Forum'

[Bill Paxtom]

December 4, 1975

The Forum ~ Inglewood, California

Former World Bantamweight and Featherweight Champion - Ruben 'Mr. Knockout' Olivares
takes on KO Sensation - Danny 'Little Red' Lopez.

[Bill Paxtom]

October 24, 1975

Both fighters signed for this 10-Round Featherweight bout, and to take place on
November 22, 1975 at The Forum.

But 4-days later {October 28th}, Arturo 'Cuyo' Hernandez {Manager for Ruben Olivares}
asked for a 10-Day extension, as Ruben said he needed more time in Training to
get ready for this bout.

The bout was pushed back to Thursday ~ December 4, 1975

Howie Steindler {Manager for Danny Lopez} agreed.

Promoter; Don Fraser inked the fighters for Fight Purse guarantee's of;
* Ruben Olivares .... $40,000 {or 45% of the Gate Receipts}
* Danny Lopez ....... $25,000 {or 25% of the Gate Receipts}

But, there was 'one' change in the fight contract, the 10-Round bout was to include an
'Overtime Round' as requested by Manager - Howie Steindler.

In the event that the bout was 'even' on the Scorecards after 10-Rounds, and additional
Round was to be added.

So this bout was billed as a 'special' 11-Rounder.

[Bill Paxtom]

Ruben Olivares ~ 'Mr. Knockout

Ruben Olivares {Age; 28 years, 11 months}.

The 4-Time World Champion was coming in with a record of 80-6-1 with {72 KO's},
and was ranked as the #1 WBC Featherweght.

But, Ruben has been around for a long time, as he had been camaignng since Janary 1965,
and the toll of 11-years and '87-bouts' had taken a bit out of him.

Only 3-Months earlier {September 20, 1975} Ruben looked 'listless' and was not in good
condition, while losing his WBC Featherweight Championship to African - David 'Poison' Kotey.

But, Ruben {from his home in Mexico} said that he would get into the best shape of his career,
as he was not taking Danny 'Little Red' Lopez lightly.

The Boxing Pundits agreed, and made Ruben a {10-7} Betting-Favorite.

Ruben Olivares >

"I need this win to get a rematch with David Kotey. That is what I want."

"I was not in good condition when I fought Kotey {September 20, 1975}, but
I still thought I won. Now, I'm 50% better than I was 3-Months ago."

[Bill Paxtom]

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez

Danny was the exciting red-headed bomber from Alhambra, California.

Danny {Age; 23 years, 5 months} was bringing in a record of 27-3-0 with {26 KO's}.

Now ranked as the #4 WBC Featherweight, Danny was only a step-away from a
World Title bout.

Danny Lopez >

"I've had to rebuild my career over the last 8-Months. I lost 3 of 4 bouts, and I fell
out of the Top 10."

"This bout with Ruben is the turning-point of my career. He asked for a 10-Day extension,
but it won't matter. I'll stop him in Round 5. I punch too hard for him, and he now takes
punches that he never took before."

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ December 4, 1975

The Forum ~ Inglewood, California

Attendance ......... { 9084 }
Gate Receipts ...... $103,265

Ruben Olivares ~ 80-6-1 {72 KO's} ~ 127 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 5 1/2" ~ 67" Reach
vs.
Danny Lopez ~ 27-3-0 {26 KO's} ~ 125 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ 71" Reach
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The Bout"

'Round 1'

Both fighters came out aggressively, but the younger and taller Danny Lopez was able
to take advantage of his 4" longer reach, as he tagged Ruben with long-range left-jabs
and straight right-hands.

Danny forced the action early, and sent Ruben over to the left-side Ropes. Ruben started
moving and was able to and a few left-hooks to Danny's chin at the {0:18 Mark}.

Both fighters exchanged hard left-hooks at the {0:28 Mark}. The action then moved to
Center-Ring, as both fighters exchanged punches.

Danny stepped it up at the {0:37 Mark}, and drove Ruben backwards. Ruben moved back
to the left-side Ropes.

But Ruben fired back, and landed a good left-hook to the head at he {0:45 Mark} that
drove Danny back and to the right-side Ropes.

Ruben then unloaded with several left-hooks to the body as Danny was back on the Ropes.

Ruben then catches Danny with a solid left-hook and right-hand at the {0:56 Mark}.

Danny is now on the front-center Ropes, and takes another left-hook at the {1:05 Mark}.

But Danny spins off the Ropes, and catches Ruben with a left-right at the {1:08 Mark}.

Both fighters trade punches, but Ruben lands a solid 'left-right-left' to Danny's head
at the {1:16 Mark}.

Both fighters trade punches as the action is brisk around the perimeter of Center-Ring
for the next 40-Seconds.

The action moves to the back-right of Center-Ring at the {1:58 Mark}.

Ruben lands a solid right-hand to Danny's head at the {2:00 Mark}.

Then, Ruben misses a big wide left-hook, but comes back with a short right-hand to the
left-side of Danny's head.

Danny goes down on his back-side at the {2:03 Mark}.

Danny is up at the '1-Count' as Referee - Dick Young tolls off the Mandatory 8-Count, as danny walks over to the back-right Neutral-Corner.

Danny is 'not' hurt, as the fall to the canvas was more of an 'off-balance slip'.

The action resumes at the {2:13 Mark}, and both fighters meet at Center-Ring.

Ruben slams Danny with a big left-hook at the {2:18 Mark}, but Danny is not fazed by the punch.

Danny then comes back with a 'left-right-left', and Ruben backs up to the front-right Corner.

Ruben tries a wide left-hook as he steps in low, but he comes up short with the sweeping-punch and leaves himself wide-open.

Danny seizes the opportunity, and shoots a long right-hand and catches Ruben coming in, square on the left-side of his jaw.

Ruben crashes to the canvas at the {2:31 Mark}, and then rolls under the right-side lower Rope strand.

Ruben slides back in, and starts slamming the canvas with his left-glove, upset that he got caught by a 'sucker-punch'.

Ruben takes the full '8-Count' by the Referee - Dick Young, and rises and is ready to continue.

[Dark Lord Al]

December 4, 1975

The Forum ~ Inglewood, California

Former World Bantamweight and Featherweight Champion - Ruben 'Mr. Knockout' Olivares
takes on KO Sensation - Danny 'Little Red' Lopez.

Olivares also made lots of money as Mickey out of The Monkees.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ December 4, 1975

The Forum ~ Inglewood, California

Attendance ......... { 9084 }
Gate Receipts ...... $103,265

Ruben Olivares ~ 80-6-1 {72 KO's} ~ 127 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 5 1/2" ~ 67" Reach
vs.
Danny Lopez ~ 27-3-0 {26 KO's} ~ 125 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ 71" Reach
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The Bout"

'Round 1'

Both fighters came out aggressively, but the younger and taller Danny Lopez was able
to take advantage of his 4" longer reach, as he tagged Ruben with long-range left-jabs
and straight right-hands.

Danny forced the action early, and sent Ruben over to the left-side Ropes. Ruben started
moving and was able to and a few left-hooks to Danny's chin at the {0:18 Mark}.

Both fighters exchanged hard left-hooks at the {0:28 Mark}. The action then moved to
Center-Ring, as both fighters exchanged punches.

Danny stepped it up at the {0:37 Mark}, and drove Ruben backwards. Ruben moved back
to the left-side Ropes.

But Ruben fired back, and landed a good left-hook to the head at he {0:45 Mark} that
drove Danny back and to the right-side Ropes.

Ruben then unloaded with several left-hooks to the body as Danny was back on the Ropes.

Ruben then catches Danny with a solid left-hook and right-hand at the {0:56 Mark}.

Danny is now on the front-center Ropes, and takes another left-hook at the {1:05 Mark}.

But Danny spins off the Ropes, and catches Ruben with a left-right at the {1:08 Mark}.

Both fighters trade punches, but Ruben lands a solid 'left-right-left' to Danny's head
at the {1:16 Mark}.

Both fighters trade punches as the action is brisk around the perimeter of Center-Ring
for the next 40-Seconds.

The action moves to the back-right of Center-Ring at the {1:58 Mark}.

Ruben lands a solid right-hand to Danny's head at the {2:00 Mark}.

Then, Ruben misses a big wide left-hook, but comes back with a short right-hand to the
left-side of Danny's head.

Danny goes down on his back-side at the {2:03 Mark}.

Danny is up at the '1-Count' as Referee - Dick Young tolls off the Mandatory 8-Count, as danny walks over to the back-right Neutral-Corner.

Danny is 'not' hurt, as the fall to the canvas was more of an 'off-balance slip'.

The action resumes at the {2:13 Mark}, and both fighters meet at Center-Ring.

Ruben slams Danny with a big left-hook at the {2:18 Mark}, but Danny is not fazed by the punch.

Danny then comes back with a 'left-right-left', and Ruben backs up to the front-right Corner.

Ruben tries a wide left-hook as he steps in low, but he comes up short with the sweeping-punch and leaves himself wide-open.

Danny seizes the opportunity, and shoots a long right-hand and catches Ruben coming in, square on the left-side of his jaw.

Ruben crashes to the canvas at the {2:31 Mark}, and then rolls under the right-side lower Rope strand.

Ruben slides back in, and starts slamming the canvas with his left-glove, upset that he got caught by a 'sucker-punch'.

Ruben takes the full '8-Count' by the Referee - Dick Young, and rises and is ready to continue.

Dark Al Lord

Ruben was the 'stand in'.

Though he did sing back up on "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone"