Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[greynotsoold]

I was 7 watching those fights. Little Red Lopez was my hero and I thought he had to be the best fighter ever.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ January 20, 1972

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Television ....... Channel 13 {KCOP-TV}
Attendance ..... 5877

Co-Main Event ........ Ernie 'Red' Lopez vs. Sal 'The Animal' Martinez

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 8-0-0 {8 KO's} ~ 5' 7" ~ 120 lbs. ~ {Age; 19 years, 6 months}
vs.
Jose Manuel 'Toluco' Orantes - 22-7-4 {4 KO's} ~ 5' 2" ~ 117 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 21 years, 9 months}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This was Danny Lopez' {1st} Co-Main Event and 10-Rounder.

Jose Manuel Orantes was a tough-kid from Mexico, who was now based out of Stockton.
The 3-Year Professional was a 'stockily-built' good inside-slugger. Though Orantes did not have
a big punch, he was an aggressive slugger who was willing to trade with anybody.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Harry Kabakoff {Manager for Jose Manuel Orantes}

"My guy is as tough as they come. He's built like a little Tank. He'll walk thru Danny Lopez'
punches, and wear him down."

"Danny has never had to go past 5-Rounds before. He's had too many early Round Knockouts.
Let's see what he's made of in the later Rounds, when he has to dig down and fight it out."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Danny Lopez Scores KO In Impressive Win ~

Danny Lopez showing lethal power, demolished the Jose Manuel Orantes by a Knockout
at {2:01} of Round 2.

Round 1 was action-packed, as both fighters threw out the 'feeling-out-process' and traded
away with heavy blows.

Orantes was able to get inside, and tagged the 'no-defense' Lopez with sharp right-hands to
the mid-section, that had Danny backing away during the middle-session the 1st-Round.

But Lopez kept moving and jabbing, and late in the Round he staggered Orantes with a solid
'counter' right-hand to the forehead. Orantes showed good ring-smarts, as he moved in close
on Danny, and grabbed and held to prevent Danny from landing any follow ups.

In Round 2, Lopez charged forward and kept unleashing with his heavy hands. By the middle
of the session Orantes was looking for a place to hide, as he was taking a one-sided thrashing.

Lopez continued with his attack, and scored with a heavy-bombardment, dropping Orantes
along the back Ropes with a 3-Punch combination to the head.

Referee - Abe Cohen counted out Jose Manuel Orantes @ 2:01 of Round 2.

Danny Lopez >
"Jose came to fight, and he gave me some problems in the 1st Round. I knew that he would
be tough. I'm glad I got him out of there in Round 2, as I was getting arm-weary."

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ February 18, 1972

Sports Arena ~ Los Angeles, California

Attendance ...... 15,165

Main Event > 'vacant' WBC Lightweight Championship > Mando Ramos vs. Pedro Carrasco

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 9-0-0 {9 KO's} ~ 5' 7" ~ 120 lbs. ~ {Age; 19 years, 7 months}
vs.
Rafael 'Polo' Lopez - 9-3-1 {4 KO's} ~ 5' 5" ~ 117 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 20 years, 11 months}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Danny Lopez will be fighting on the big stage for the 1st time, as the Main Supporting bout.

Danny will be taking on Mexicali's - Rafael 'Polo' Perez in a rematch of their previous bout 5 months
earlier {September 16, 1971}. In that bout, Perez was coming on strong, before he got cut over
the left-eye early in Round 5, and the bout was stopped by a TKO in Round 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Danny Lopez Wins 10th In A Row, Stops 'Polo' Lopez In 2 ~

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez displayed his uncanny-power within his thin frame, as he Knocked Out
tricky Rafael 'Polo' Lopez at 1:43 of Round 2 with one 'sizzling' left-hook.

Danny came out firing with both hands at the Opening Bell, and tore into 'Polo' Lopez with hard
punches to both the head and body. The Mexicali boxer did all he could to stay on his feet, as he
was rocked badly during the 1st-Round onslaught.

In Round 2, Danny came out blazing again, and drove 'Polo' Lopez backwards after every exchange.

At the {1:10 Mark} > Danny shook up his opponent with a hard '4-Punch' combination, and the
Mexicali fighter wobbled backwards into a Neutral-Corner.

Danny then moved in, and raked over his opponent with a series of combinations, that left Rafael in
a bad way.

Then just at the mid-way point in the Round, Danny landed a 'sizzling' left-hook to the head, and
'Polo' Lopez collapsed in a Neutral-Corner where he was counted out by the Referee at the {1:43 Mark}.

Rafael 'Polo' Lopez was left in a daze for 5-Minutes, as he was unaware of where he was.

Danny Lopez >
"Rafael had given me a tough test the last time we fought. He took my best punches, and came back
hard at me. But this time, I really sat down on my punches, and I was putting everything into them."

Rafael 'Polo' Lopez >
"Danny hit me a lot harder tonight than the last time we fought. He's a much better fighter now. He's
going to be a Champion. But, I don't think he will be able to get down to Bantamweight anymore. He's
tall and rangy, and will grow into a Featherweight."

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ February 19, 1972

Boxing Matchmaker - Don Chargin has signed 'two' of the hottest West Coast fighters
to a boxing match.

Both fighters scored impressive Knockout wins the night before at the Sports Arena.
> Danny Lopez {KO 2} Rafael Lopez
> Arturo Pineda {KO 3} Juan Prata

Don has signed both Arturo 'Tury the Fury' Pineda and Danny 'Little Red' Lopez to face
each other in a 10-Round bout for March 9, 1972 > and to be held at the Olympic Auditorium.

Both 'undefeated' fighters will receive a fight purse of $20,000 each.

Arturo Pineda {Age; 19 years, 9 months} has posted a record of 13-0-0 {11 KO's} has just
been ranked as the #9 WBC Featherweight.

Danny Lopez {Age; 19 years, 8 months} with a record of 10-0-0 {10 KO's} is not ranked in
the Top 10, but is ranked as the #16 WBC Bantamweight.

This will Lopez' first true bout as a Featherweight.

Don Chargin said the bout will be billed as >

~ The Battle of the Teeny-Boppers ~

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ March 9, 1972

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Promoter ........ Aileen Eaton
Matchmaker ... Don Chargin
Attendance .... 10,438 {Sell Out}
Ticket Prices .. $15 / $10 / $7 {2000 General Admission Seats}

~ The Battle of the Teeny-Boppers ~

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 10-0-0 {10 KO's} ~ 5' 7" ~ 121 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 19 years, 8 months}
vs.
Arturo 'Tury the Fury' Pineda - 13-0-0 {11 KO's} ~ 5' 5 1/2" ~ 124 3/4 lbs. ~ {Age; 19 years, 9 months}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Danny Lopez is ranked as the #16 WBC Bantamweight.

Arturo Pineda is rankled as the #9 WBC Featherweight.

Both fighters will each receive a $20,000 fight purse.

Danny Lopez has had 9 of his 10 bouts here at The Olympic.

Arturo Pineda has had 11 of 13 bouts here at The Olympic.

Howie Steindler {Manager for Danny Lopez}
"We expect Pineda to come out fast and try to slug it out. But that will be his downfall.
He can't stand and trade with Danny, as my guy hits very hard."

Harry Kabakoff {Manager for Arturo Pineda}
"This an important fight for 'Tury'. He knows it and is well prepared. 'Tury' is much faster
than Lopez, and 'Tury' will hit him many times over. I look for a TKO win somewhere in
the middle Rounds."

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ March 9, 1972

~ The Battle of the Teeny-Boppers ~

Round 1 >

Both fighters met at Center-Ring, and measured each other for the first 40-Seconds. Then,
all Hell Broke Loose.

Danny started to fire away as he got within range of the shorter Pineda. Danny, with a 2" Height
and 3" Reach advantage started to throw bombs, and moved Pineda backwards.

'Tury' tried to move away, but he got caught by a 'jarring' left-hook to the head at the {1:15 Mark}
and was seriously stunned.

Danny moved in and unloaded with a blistering two-fisted attack, and drove Pineda backwards
to the Ropes, where he was on 'shaky-pins'.

Danny moved in, and worked over Pineda with a steady flow of 'one-two' punches.

'Tury' was able to clear his head, and came back with a good 'left-right' to Danny's chin at the
{2:00 Mark}, that stopped Danny in his tracks.

Pineda came in close, and slammed in a good 3-Punch combination to the head. But Danny
withstood the charge, and came back with his own barrage that drove Pineda backwards again
at the {2:20 Mark}.

Danny had his way for the next 25-Seconds, right up to the {2:45 Mark}. There, 'Tury' came
back with a fast-barrage, and caught Danny with a good 'right-hook' to the chin that stiffened
his legs momentarily, just before the Bell.

Round 1 ........ Danny Lopez {1-Point}
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Round 2 >

Arturo Pineda came out for Round 2 like he had ended Round 1, with an aggressive and fast 'two-fisted' attack.

'Tury' started to catch Danny with right-hands to the chin, and sent Danny skidding backwards at the {0:35 Mark}.

Danny tried to counter, but his defense was porous. 'Tury' blitzed Danny with a barrage, and drove him across
the Ring and into the back-right Corner. Danny tried to fight out of the Corner, but 'Tury' staggered him with a hard
right-hand to the chin at the {1:17 Mark}.

Danny backed away and across the Ring to the left-side Ropes as 'Tury' was firing away. 'Tury' caught Danny with
another hard right-hand at the {1:43 Mark}., and Danny was sent reeling to the front-left Corner.

'Tury' kept up the pressure, and was beating Danny to the punch. He then drove Danny across the Ring to the
right-side Ropes after landing a barrage at the {2:02 Mark}.

Danny held on, and took the best punches that 'Tury' could offer. 'Tury' then shook Danny one more time at the
{2:35 Mark}, when he landed a short left-hook and fast right-hand to the head.

Danny skidded to the back-right Corner, and held on until the Bell.

Round 2 ......... Arturo Pineda {2 Points}

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ March 9, 1972

~ The Battle of the Teeny-Boppers ~

Round 1 >

Both fighters met at Center-Ring, and measured each other for the first 40-Seconds. Then,
all Hell Broke Loose.

Danny started to fire away as he got within range of the shorter Pineda. Danny, with a 2" Height
and 3" Reach advantage started to throw bombs, and moved Pineda backwards.

'Tury' tried to move away, but he got caught by a 'jarring' left-hook to the head at the {1:15 Mark}
and was seriously stunned.

Danny moved in and unloaded with a blistering two-fisted attack, and drove Pineda backwards
to the Ropes, where he was on 'shaky-pins'.

Danny moved in, and worked over Pineda with a steady flow of 'one-two' punches.

'Tury' was able to clear his head, and came back with a good 'left-right' to Danny's chin at the
{2:00 Mark}, that stopped Danny in his tracks.

Pineda came in close, and slammed in a good 3-Punch combination to the head. But Danny
withstood the charge, and came back with his own barrage that drove Pineda backwards again
at the {2:20 Mark}.

Danny had his way for the next 25-Seconds, right up to the {2:45 Mark}. There, 'Tury' came
back with a fast-barrage, and caught Danny with a good 'right-hook' to the chin that stiffened
his legs momentarily, just before the Bell.

Round 1 ........ Danny Lopez {1-Point}
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Round 2 >

Arturo Pineda came out for Round 2 like he had ended Round 1, with an aggressive and fast 'two-fisted' attack.

'Tury' started to catch Danny with right-hands to the chin, and sent Danny skidding backwards at the {0:35 Mark}.

Danny tried to counter, but his defense was porous. 'Tury' blitzed Danny with a barrage, and drove him across
the Ring and into the back-right Corner. Danny tried to fight out of the Corner, but 'Tury' staggered him with a hard
right-hand to the chin at the {1:17 Mark}.

Danny backed away and across the Ring to the left-side Ropes as 'Tury' was firing away. 'Tury' caught Danny with
another hard right-hand at the {1:43 Mark}., and Danny was sent reeling to the front-left Corner.

'Tury' kept up the pressure, and was beating Danny to the punch. He then drove Danny across the Ring to the
right-side Ropes after landing a barrage at the {2:02 Mark}.

Danny held on, and took the best punches that 'Tury' could offer. 'Tury' then shook Danny one more time at the
{2:35 Mark}, when he landed a short left-hook and fast right-hand to the head.

Danny skidded to the back-right Corner, and held on until the Bell.

Round 2 ......... Arturo Pineda {2 Points}

Round 3 >

Despite being battered all over the Ring in Round 2, Danny was up to the task in Round 3 and came out aggressively.

Both fighters met at Center-Ring, and the slug-fest started. Both went at it toe-to-toe in a 'slinging' slam-bang affair.

'Tury' kept popping Danny with sold right-hands, but Danny would not cave. Each time that Danny took a solid punch,
he came back with a good 'left-right' of his own.

Each fighter gave as good as they took.

Danny stayed aggressive, and was setting down on his punches, looking to put everything he had in his arsenal, and
to take advantage of his size {height and reach}.

But, despite having a shorter reach and being 2" shorter, 'Tury' repeatedly beat Danny to the punch, as he was quicker.

By the {2:00 Mark}, 'Tury' had the edge in Round 3.

But then a slight turning-point, as Danny caught 'Tury' with a good right-hand lead and 'slashing' left hook that opened
up a cut over Tury's left-eye at the {2:12 Mark}.

But the 'cut' did not detour 'Tury' from continuing to stay aggressive, as he came back with a flurry to force Danny to
back off.

Both fighters exchanged good left-jabs and counters over the last 20-Seconds of the session.

Round 3 ......... 'Even'

[beenKOed]

More familiar names I didn't realize I'd forgotten! Lol
Referee George Latka, Judges Lee Grossman and Chuck Hassett.

[Bill Paxtom]

More familiar names I didn't realize I'd forgotten! Lol
Referee George Latka, Judges Lee Grossman and Chuck Hassett.

Good Officials those '3' ^

Not sure what Referee - George Latka was looking at here, to score all '3' Rounds for
Danny Lopez.

'Tury' Pineda pummeled Danny from 'pillar-to-post' in Round 2, enough to warrant
'2-Points'.

Round 1 was Danny's.
Round 3 was 'Even'.

Did Don Chargin know how to match fighters or what.

[Bill Paxtom]

More familiar names I didn't realize I'd forgotten! Lol
Referee George Latka, Judges Lee Grossman and Chuck Hassett.

Good Officials those '3' ^

Not sure what Referee - George Latka was looking at here, to score all '3' Rounds for
Danny Lopez.

'Tury' Pineda pummeled Danny from 'pillar-to-post' in Round 2, enough to warrant
'2-Points'.

Round 1 was Danny's.
Round 3 was 'Even'.

Did Don Chargin know how to match fighters or what.

Next Bout

[mrbig1]

Little Red was as tough as they come. Has TNT in that long right hand. The fight with Mike Ayala had me on the edge of my seat. Great fighter based on toughness and power alone.

[beenKOed]

More familiar names I didn't realize I'd forgotten! Lol
Referee George Latka, Judges Lee Grossman and Chuck Hassett.

Good Officials those '3' ^

Not sure what Referee - George Latka was looking at here, to score all '3' Rounds for
Danny Lopez.

'Tury' Pineda pummeled Danny from 'pillar-to-post' in Round 2, enough to warrant
'2-Points'.

Round 1 was Danny's.
Round 3 was 'Even'.

Did Don Chargin know how to match fighters or what.

Eaton and Chargin, a great team! I really admired that lady!

[Bill Paxtom]

Aileen Eaton ~ '5 Star Lady'

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ May 11, 1972

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 11-0-0 {11 KO's} ~ 5' 7" ~ 122 lbs. ~ {Age; 19 years, 10 months}
vs.
Jose Luis 'Baby Bandit' Valdovinos - 39-3-1 {16 KO's} ~ 5' 5" ~ 122 lbs. ~ {Age; 24 years, 4 months}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Danny Lopez is now ranked as the #8 WBC and #9 WBA Bantamweight, following his {KO 4} win
over Arturo 'Tury' Pineda 2 months earlier on {March 9th}.

The newspapers are playing this one up good.

~ Danny Lopez In Toughest Test Yet ~

~ 'Baby Bandit' Valdovinos To Test 'Little Red' Lopez ~

Jose Luis Valdovinos is an experienced boxer, who has campaigned 7-Years as a Professional {since; May 1965}.

The 'Baby Bandit' is a fast-handed boxer with great Ring Generalship. Valdovinos entered the Top 10 in
the Bantamweight Division in late-1968. He also won the California State Bantamweight Championship on
Aoril 30, 1970 > and successfully defended his Crown 3-Times.

In late-1970 he moved all the way up to the #3 Bantamweight. But, he suffered back-to-back losses
in early 1971, and dropped out of the Top 10, and abruptly retired.

But the 'Baby Bandit' returned in October 1971 as a Featherweight and has won '8-Straight' over the
past 7-Months.

Harry Kabakoff {Manager for Jose Luis Valdovinos} >

"Danny Lopez doesn't have 'half' the talent that Jose has. He has never faced a boxer with the
talent and skills of my guy. Jose will box circles around Lopez, then slice him and cut him up. He'll
make sure that Lopez is 'red' for sure, and will stop him on cuts in the 7th or 8th Round."

"Look, Danny is a good young fighter, but he has very little experience. He has no defense and walks
into punches. That KO win over 'Tury' Pineda 2-Months ago was nothing more than a 'lucky punch'
that 'Tury' walked in to."

"You can't hit what you can't find. Jose is a great boxer who moves and strikes quick like a 'Bandit'."

Danny Lopez >

"I know Jose was ranked as high as the #3 Bantamweight at one time. He wants to get his old rating
spot back, and the easiest way for him to get it back is to beat me."

[Bill Paxtom]

~ 'Little Red' Lopez 7-5 Pick To Beat Jose Luis Valdovinos

~ 'Little Red' Pick Over Valdovinos

Rich Roberts {Independent Press ~ Long Beach}

The longer the bout goes, the better chance for the 'smart boxing' Jose Luis Valdovinos. If the 'Baby Bandit'
can stay away or least {survive} the early assault from the rangy Danny Lopez, he may be able to out-box
'Little Red' in the middle Rounds when Lopez' punching power starts to diminish.

Valdovinos' best bet to stop 'Little Red', will be if he can slice or cut Lopez with his fast slashing-hands and
pin-point counters.

Pick Here > Is that Jose Luis Valdovinos will get dropped early, but will rally over the 2nd-Half of the bout to take
a close 10-Round Decision over 'Little Red' Lopez.

Experience over youth and power.