Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[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.

[Bill Paxtom]

April 1974

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez never went thru with his rematch with Guillermo 'Memo' Rodriguez
set for April 4th at the Olympic Auditorium.

Matchmaker - Don Fraser was trying to get a rematch for Bobby Chacon vs. Ruben Olivares ,
to fight for the NABF Featherweight Championship at 'The Forum'.

But Ruben, having just defeated Art Hafey in a rematch on March 4th, wanted to wait
for a WBC Championship bout.

Don Fraser then wanted to match up Bobby Chacon vs. Art Hafey, but contract negotiations
stalled.

But the bout that everyone waited to see, was 'The Battle Between Friends' >
Bobby Chacon vs. Danny Lopez.

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ May 24, 1974

Sports Arena ~ Los Angles, California

Promoter ....... Aileen Eaton

~ The Battle Between Friends ~

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 23-0-0 {22 KO's} ~ 123 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ {Age; 21 years, 10 months}
vs.
Bobby 'Schoolboy' Chacon - 23-1-0 {21 KO's} ~ 126 lbs. ~ 5' 5 1/2" ~ {Age; 22 years, 6 months}
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~ The Skinny ~

There was an intense rivalry between Boxing Promoters > Aileen Eaton of the Olympic Auditorium
and Don Fraser of The Forum.

Both promoters had signed contracts this bout.

Both negotiated hard for this 'blockbuster bout'. The California State Boxing Commission had to step
in as a arbitrator to comb through the '2' contracts to determine who had the rights to the bout.

On April 10, 1974 > the State Boxing Commission sided with Aileen Eaton.

As for fight purses, both Danny Lopez and Bobby Chacon were guaranteed $35,000 each, or 25% of
the Gross Gate Receipts, whichever was higher.

The early estimates had the Gate to go over $200,000 > meaning each fighter would receive over
$50,000.
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~ What They Said ~

Danny Lopez >
I will by Knockout. In the 1st Round or the 12th Round, it doesn't matter to me. I will knock Bobby out.

Look, Bobby got battered and beaten up by Ruben Olivares. And Ruben was a Bantamweight who had
been run out of the Division, and who himself had been clobbered in a few bouts. If Ruben could do that
to Bobby, then I'm sure I'll do the same.

Bobby Chacon >
Danny doesn't hit that hard. I've sparred with him both in the Amateurs and when he first got started in
1971 and 1972. If you back him up, he has no skills. And he's easy to hit, especially with the right-hand.

Look, he has to work hard just to get up to 124 lbs. He's nothing more than a 'big' Bantamweight. Look at
all of his Knockout wins, they're over a bunch of Bantamweights.

I'm a 'big' Featherweight. I'm at 134 lbs. and work down to Featherweight. He can't hurt me, and he knows
it. I'll walk through his punches and wear him down. No way can he go 12 Rounds with me.

[Bill Paxtom]

May 23, 1974

~ Bobby Chacon Wants To End Lopez' Win Streak ~

Bobby Chacon has been listed as a 'slight-favorite' over Danny Lopez for their bout
on Friday Night ~ May 25th.

The consensus is, that Bobby has fought the better competition, and has better overall
skills.

Though Danny Lopez may be regarded as the harder puncher, he has a weakness in
defense, as he is susceptible to right-hands to the chin.

Bobby Chacon >
Danny has always had gotten more publicity than me. But after Friday Night, I will be
in the Newspapers as the one standing over him.

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Featherweight Wants Knockout ~

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez wants Knockout.

Danny Lopez >
I want a Knockout. I don't want to have any questions about who the better fighter is.

I wanted this bout last year, but my Manager - Howie Steindler said that I was too light.
But now I'm ready. I've put in 100-Rounds of sparring over the last 4-Weeks.

I'm at 123 lbs. right now, I and plan to get into the Ring about 1-Pound heavier. I here
that Bobby has had trouble with his weight, and that he's walking around at 133 lbs.

If he has to sweat it off the day before the bout, he'll have little strength left.

[Bill Paxtom]

~ The Battle Between Friends ~