Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[Bill Paxtom]

January 1974 Featherweight Ratings

Danny Lopez - 21-0-0 {21 KO's} ~ {Age; 21 years, 6 months}


Ring Magazine ......................... WBA .......................... WBC ...........

*** 'vacant' .............................. Ernesto Marcel ............... Eder Jofre
#1 . Eder Jofre ......................... Eder Jofre ...................... Ernesto Marcel
#2 . Ernesto Marcel .................. Art Hafey ....................... Alfredo Marcano
#3 . Art Hafey ......................... Zensuke Utagawa ........... Art Hafey
#4 . Danny Lopez ................. Bobby Chacon ................. Leonel Hernandez
#5 . Leonel Hernandez ............. Ruben Olivares ............... Danny Lopez
#6 . Ruben Olivares ................. Bert Nabalatan ............... Alexis Arguello
#7 . Bobby Chacon .................. Alexis Arguello ................ Zensuke Utagawa
#8 . Jose Legra ....................... Danny Lopez................... Bobby Chacon
#9 . Santos Luis Rivera ............ Leonel Hernandez ........... Jose Antonio Jiminez
#10. Jose Antonio Jiminez ........ Jose Antonio Jiminez ....... Valentin Galeano

[Bill Paxtom]

End of 1973

Manager - Howie Steindler

Wanted Danny Lopez to rest at the end of 1973, in fear of having his fighter burn himself out.

Following the bout on September 27, 1973 > the plan was to take the rest of the year off,
and come back in early 1974,

On January 8, 1974 >
Danny signed to face Japan's #1 Bantamweight - Genzo Kurosawa in an over-the-weight
bout, set at 125 lbs. > and for January 17th at the Olympic Auditorium.

Again, Danny would be facing an over-blown Bantamweight.

The West-Coast Boxing Pundits were beginning to ask, when was Howie Steindler going to
put his fighter in the Ring with a legitimate Featherweight.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ January 17, 1974

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

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

Danny Lopez - 21-0-0 {21 KOs} ~ 124 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ {Age; 21 years, 6 months}
vs.
Genzo Kurosawa - 30-7-8 {10 KO's} ~ 125 lbs. ~ 5' 6" ~ {Age; 26 years, 5 months}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Little Red' Lopez is back in the Ring after a 3 1/2 month lay-off.

At the Morning Weigh-in, Danny came in +2 lbs., over the 125 lb. contract weight. Danny
had to do some Rope-Skipping and a Steam-Room session to make weight.

Genzo Kurosawa is ranked as the #1 Bantamweight in Japan, and is a former Japanese
Bantamweight Champion.
* November 11, 1972 -thru- February 26, 1973.

Kurosawa is moving up in weight for this bout. He said he is invading Los Angeles, and will
'upset' the undefeated Danny Lopez.

Kurosawa is an experienced 8-Year Professional, who is a tough-and-gritty boxer/counter-puncher,
who has only been stopped 'twice' in '45-Bouts'.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ January 17, 1974

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

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

Danny Lopez - 21-0-0 {21 KOs} ~ 124 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ {Age; 21 years, 6 months}
vs.
Genzo Kurosawa - 30-7-8 {10 KO's} ~ 125 lbs. ~ 5' 6" ~ {Age; 26 years, 5 months}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Little Red' Lopez is back in the Ring after a 3 1/2 month lay-off.

At the Morning Weigh-in, Danny came in +2 lbs., over the 125 lb. contract weight. Danny
had to do some Rope-Skipping and a Steam-Room session to make weight.

Genzo Kurosawa is ranked as the #1 Bantamweight in Japan, and is a former Japanese
Bantamweight Champion.
* November 11, 1972 -thru- February 26, 1973.

Kurosawa is moving up in weight for this bout. He said he is invading Los Angeles, and will
'upset' the undefeated Danny Lopez.

Kurosawa is an experienced 8-Year Professional, who is a tough-and-gritty boxer/counter-puncher,
who has only been stopped 'twice' in '45-Bouts'.

~ Lopez Wins, But Fails To Get KO ~

A 'rusty' Danny 'Little Red' Lopez was forced to go the 'full-distance' for the first time in '22-Bouts' as he scored
a 10-Round Decision win over stubborn Genzo Kurusawa of Japan.

Lopez, who had to sweat off 2 lbs. to make the fight contract weight was 'sluggish' throughout the bout. Though
he won nearly every Round, Lopez was unable to deliver any of his heavy-fists on an elusive opponent.

Lopez did score with left-jabs and an occasional straight right, but he lacked his normal power or speed tonight.
Kurosawa was never in any trouble, and did have some good moments in Rounds 4 and 7, when he tagged Lopez
coming in with good left-hooks to the head and body.

The best action of the bout was in in Round 8, when a few of Kurusawa's right-hands found there mark on Lopez'
jaw. Both fighters then into a good exchange during the end of the Round, but that was the only heated action
in the bout.

Lopez went all-out early in Round 9 to try and put Kurosawa away, but he faded by the {1:00 Mark} point in the
session, and pulled off his attack. Lopez had little left after that rally.

Scorecards
* 10-0
* 8-2
* 8-1

[Bill Paxtom]

Sunday Night ~ February 3, 1974

Mexicali de Gimnasio ~ Mexicali, Baja California

Promoter ........... Jesus Pimentel
Attendance ......... 6360
Gate Receipts ..... $28,800
Ticket Prices ...... $5.00 Ringside ~ $2.50 Balcony

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 22-0-0 {21 KO's} ~ 125 lbs. ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ {Age; 21 years, 7 months}
vs.
Guillermo 'Memo' Rodriguez - 33-6-1 {25 KO's} ~ 123 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 5" ~ {Age; 24 years, 9 months}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Danny Lopez is back in the Ring only 17-Days after going 10-Rounds with Genzo Kurusawa back on January 17th.

Jesus Pimentel is the Boxing Promoter here, and he has posted a $10,000 Fight Purse for the 'Box-Office Magnet' >
Danny 'Little Red' Lopez.

Guillermo 'Memo' Rodriguez is ranked as the #4 Featherweight in Mexico. 'Memo' is a tough-slugger that they call
'El Enrachado Jabocho'.

'Memo' is coming in 'red hot', by going 8-1-0 with {7 KO's} in his last '9-Bouts' over the past 1-Year.

Jesus Pimentel {Promoter} >
"This is going to be an exciting bout. Danny better be ready, because this guy {'Memo' Rodriguez} is tough. He likes
to slug, and keeps on coming. He can take a good punch, and he has a great left-hook."

Andres Herrera {Manager for 'Memo' Rodriguez} >
"We have the style to beat 'Little Red' Lopez. Lots of pressure, with a non-stop body attack. 'Memo' will take the
height and reach advantage away from Lopez, and pound his body."

[Bill Paxtom]

Sunday Night ~ February 3, 1974

Mexicali de Gimnasio ~ Mexicali, Baja California

Promoter ........... Jesus Pimentel
Attendance ......... 6360
Gate Receipts ..... $28,800
Ticket Prices ...... $5.00 Ringside ~ $2.50 Balcony

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 22-0-0 {21 KO's} ~ 125 lbs. ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ {Age; 21 years, 7 months}
vs.
Guillermo 'Memo' Rodriguez - 33-6-1 {25 KO's} ~ 123 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 5" ~ {Age; 24 years, 9 months}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Danny Lopez is back in the Ring only 17-Days after going 10-Rounds with Genzo Kurusawa back on January 17th.

Jesus Pimentel is the Boxing Promoter here, and he has posted a $10,000 Fight Purse for the 'Box-Office Magnet' >
Danny 'Little Red' Lopez.

Guillermo 'Memo' Rodriguez is ranked as the #4 Featherweight in Mexico. 'Memo' is a tough-slugger that they call
'El Enrachado Jabocho'.

'Memo' is coming in 'red hot', by going 8-1-0 with {7 KO's} in his last '9-Bouts' over the past 1-Year.

Jesus Pimentel {Promoter} >
"This is going to be an exciting bout. Danny better be ready, because this guy {'Memo' Rodriguez} is tough. He likes
to slug, and keeps on coming. He can take a good punch, and he has a great left-hook."

Andres Herrera {Manager for 'Memo' Rodriguez} >
"We have the style to beat 'Little Red' Lopez. Lots of pressure, with a non-stop body attack. 'Memo' will take the
height and reach advantage away from Lopez, and pound his body."

~ Danny Lopez Behind On Points, Rallies To Score TKO In Last Round ~

~ 'Little Red' Scores Miraculous TKO In 10th, Remains Unbeaten ~

~ Danny Lopez Comes Through With Clutch Rally In The Last Round ~

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez went down to Mexicali looking for an easy pay-day {$10,000} and an expected walk-over win
over an unranked opponent.

But what he found, was a 'Mexican Assault', as his opponent 'Memo' Rodriguez floored him and then battered him
throughout, before running out of gas in the 10th and Final Round.

The first 2-Rounds went as expected, as Lopez used his long reach to 'pepper' the face of the tough Mexican.

But, in Round 3 Rodriguez started to target Lopez' rail-thin body with left-hooks, forcing the undefeated Californian
to back away and protect his ribs.

In a heated Round 4, Lopez attempted to 'take-the-play' away from his opponent, and came in with fast-combinations.
But Rodriguez took the blows, and came back with a series of 'lefts-and-rights' to the head at the {1:45 Mark} that had
Lopez a bit wobbly.

Suddenly, as both fighters began trading punches, Rodriguez came in with a 'jolting' left-hook to Lopez' jaw, dropping
him on the seat of the pants at the {2:10 Mark}. Lopez got to one-knee, and took the Mandatory 8-Count before
rising.

Over the rest of the Round, the Mexican moved forward and slammed in left-hooks and short right-hands as Lopez
retreated to the Ropes.

For the next 3-Rounds {5, 6 and 7}, the Mexican continued to bore-in on Lopez, and slammed him with left-hooks
to the body and short right-hands to the head. Danny was 'rocked' in each of the Rounds. By the end of the 7th Round
Danny was sporting a red face, a small-cut over his left-eye, and a bruised rib area.

In Round 8, Lopez was able to 'hold-off' the short and stronger Mexican's charge, as he was finally able to get some
distance, as he scored with good left-jabs and short-hooks into the charging Rodriguez' face.

But in Round 9, the tough slugger from Mexico came back with solid-attack and had Lopez in trouble after landing
an '8-Punch' barrage at Center-Ring at the {0:40 Mark}. Lopez desperately held on over the next-minute of 'Hell',
and finally was able to stall Rodriguez' assault at the {1:50 Mark} when he came back with a rally-of-his-own.

In a 'wild-exchange' over the last 20-Seconds of Round 9, Lopez was able to open a cut over Rodriguez left-eye by
landing a slashing right-hand. Despite winning the Round, Rodriguez looked 'gassed' at the end of the Round.

Coming out for the 10th and Final Round., 'Memo' Rodriguez was up by a wide-margin on all '3' Scorecards.
* 87-84
* 87-84
* 88-84

Round 10 > Knowing he was behind, Danny Lopez came out with a 'two-fisted' attack, and started firing
'left-and-right' punches at the fading Mexican. Rodriguez tried to grab-and-move, but he was 'badly rocked'
by Lopez' head-punches.

Rodriguez tried to fend off Lopez' incoming barrage, but he was 'stunned' at the {1:20 Mark} and was too
tired to fight back effectively. Lopez continued to hammer away, and at the {1:58 Mark} he dropped
Rodriguez when he landed a 'vicious' straight right-hand to the jaw.

Rodriguez got up at the '9-Count' > but he was 'out-on-his-feet'. Referee - Ramon Ortega waved the bout
over at the {2:09 Mark} of Round 10.

[Bill Paxtom]

March 21, 1974

~ Danny 'Little Red' Lopez Sought For 'Schoolboy' Bobby Chacon ~

Boxing Matchmaker - Don Fraser stated that he was looking to sign up Danny Lopez
to fight Bobby Chacon in a 12-Round bout for the United States Featherweight Championship
for sometime in early May.

Fraser added, that the winner of the Chacon - Lopez bout would later face Ruben Olivares
for the 'vacant' WBA Featherweight Championship, as Champion - Ernesto Marcel from Panama
has retired.

But first, Danny Lopez has 'signed' to face Mexico's Guillermo 'Memo' Rodriguez in a
rematch. That bout is tentatively set for April 4, 1974 at the Olympic Auditorium.

In their previous bout in Mexicali {February 4th} > Danny Lopez was floored and cut, and
battered thru 9-Rounds. Badly behind on points entering the 10th and Final Round, 'Little Red'
came back with a miraculous rally and stopped Rodriguez with only 51-Seconds left in the
bout.