Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[Bill Paxtom]

Danny Lopez vs. Shig Fukuyama

~ Aftermath ~

With the TKO 9 'loss', Danny Lopez lost out on his bid for a chance at WBC Featherweight
Champion - Bobby Chacon.

Danny had to have {3-Stitches} sewn on his right eyebrow by Dr. Bernhart Schwarz to seal
his bad gash.

Danny 'claimed' that he was accidentally blinded by his corner, as they got coagulant in
his eyes when they were working on the cut over his right-eye in the corner between
Rounds 8 and 9.

Danny Lopez >
When I got up, I took a step forward and my foot got tangled up with one of my cornermen.
I stumbled forward, and I couldn't see to get my balance. I was 'temporarily' blinded, and
my eyesight was 'blurry'.

The Referee {Larry Rozadilla} took one look at me, and then called it over. Even before the
Bell for Round 9 rang to start the Round. He didn't even give me a chance to start Round 9.

Howie Steindler {Manager for Danny Lopez} >
It was my fault. The ointment poured out of the tube, and it got all over Danny's forehead.
It then went into his eyes. He was blinded and couldn't see.

I guess because Danny had a real bad 8th Round, the Referee didn't want to take any chances.
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Shig Fukuyama required {15-Stitches} to mend the bad cut over his left-eye.

Shig Fukuyama >
It was better that they stopped it. I had Danny in a real mess at the end of the 8th Round. He
would have gotten hurt if had tried to fight me in Round 9.

David Thompson {Manager for Shig Fukuyama} >
It was smart for the Referee to stop it. Shig would have knocked out Danny in Round 9 anyway.
Danny was 'out-on-his-feet' at the end of the 8th Round. He was getting beat up, and there was
no way he was going to win.
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Bobby Chacon >
I don't care that Danny lost. I promised him that I would make my 1st-Defense against him, and I'm
keeping my word.

OK, yes he lost. But he was not counted out. He lost because of a bad-cut, and 'blurred' vision because
his corner got some medication in his eyes.

I'll still fight Danny. This is the fight that everyone wants to see.

Joe Ponce {Managed for Bobby Chacon} >
I said that Lopez taking on Fukuyama was a big risk. That guy has a slashing-slugging style, and he did
exactly what I thought. He ripped Danny's right-eye open with his left-hand.

Now, he will be out-of-action for at least 3-Months.
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[Bill Paxtom]

November 1, 1974

WBC Featherweight Rankings

*** Bobby Chacon
#1 . Alexis Arguello {WBA Champion}
#2 . David Kotey
#3 . Ruben Olivares
#4 . Alfredo Marcano
#5 . Vicente Blanco
#6 . Art Hafey
#7 . Juan Jose Jiminez
#8 . Shig Fukuyama
#9 . Danny Lopez
#10. Jose Estrada

[Bill Paxtom]

November 1, 1974

WBC Featherweight Rankings

*** Bobby Chacon
#1 . Alexis Arguello {WBA Champion}
#2 . David Kotey
#3 . Ruben Olivares
#4 . Alfredo Marcano
#5 . Vicente Blanco
#6 . Art Hafey
#7 . Juan Jose Jiminez
#8 . Shig Fukuyama
#9 . Danny Lopez
#10. Jose Estrada

November 1974

Danny Lopez was 'out-of-action', to allow his bad gash {right eye-brow} to heal.

The Olympic Auditorium Promoter - Aileen Eaton was trying to get WBC Champion - Bobby Chacon
and to defend his title on December 14th, and against Danny Lopez conqueror - Shig Fukuyama.

Aileen Eaton {Fight Promoter} >
I would like Bobby to make his 1st Title Defense right here. I think that the match-up with
Shig Fukuyama would make for a wonderful boxing event.

My plan, would be for the winner of the Championship bout to defend against fan favorite
Danny 'Little Red' Lopez in March of 1975.

Danny should come back in January 1975, and I'm sure we could get him a safe opponent to get
him back in the win column.

Howie Steindller {Manager for Danny Lopez} >
We will be back. I want Danny to take the rest of the year off. We'll get back on track after
the 1st of the year in 1975.

2 or 3 good wins, and we're right back on the door step of getting a World Championship bout.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ January 18, 1975

Convention Center ~ Anaheim, California

Promoter ............ Don Fraser
Attendance ......... 6186
Gate Receipts ..... $42,525

Danny 'Little Red; Lopez - 24-2-0 {23 KO's} ~ 5' 7 1/2' ~ 124 3/4 lbs. ~ {Age; 22 years, 6 months}
vs.
Octavio 'Famoso' Gomez - 51-8-6 {30 KO's} ~ 5' 4" ~ 125 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 28 years, 2 months}
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~ Danny Lopez On The Comeback Trail ~

Danny Lopez is coming back after suffering a devastating loss {TKO 9} to Shig Fukuyama on
September 19, 1974 {4 months earlier}.

'Little Red' is seeking a bout with WBC Featherweight Champion - Bobby Chacon.

Octavio 'Famoso' Gomez is a cagey 11-Year veteran, who is a very good counter-puncher. Octavio
is a stable-mate of Bantamweight and Featherweight Champion - Ruben Olivares.

Octavio is coming off a big upset, where he scored a 10-Round Decision over Art Hafey only 1-month
earlier {December 20, 1974}.

Danny Lopez is a solid {2-1} Betting-Favorite here.
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~ The Skinny ~

Most of the boxing pundits predict that 'Little Red' will have no trouble putting away Octavio, who is
a shop-worn over-blown Bantamweight.

The insiders have stated that Octavio's upset win over #6 WBC-ranked Art Hafey was not a big shock,
because the Canadian Fire-Plug was worn out.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ January 18, 1975

Convention Center ~ Anaheim, California

~ Danny Lopez Loses ~

~ 'Famoso' Gomez Pins Loss On 'Little Red' Lopez ~

~ 'Famoso' Gomez Too Tricky For Danny Lopez ~



Danny 'Little Red' Lopez' comeback-run hit another 'Bump-in-the-Road' as he was out-pointed by cragey
veteran Octavio 'Famoso' Gomez.

This is now the 3rd-Loss in the last 4-Bouts for the Fair-Haired Boy of Alhambra. Lopez will undoubtedly fall
out of the Top 10, and with it a chance at Bobby Chacon for the WBC Featherweight Championship.

'Famoso' Gomez came out by using smart tactics, by hitting and moving, and not standing still where Lopez
could deliver his lethal power.

In Round 2, Gomez 'staggered' Danny when he tagged him with a roundhouse-right to the chin. But late in
the Round, Lopez put together a short-burst that opened up a cut over Gomez' left-eye.

Lopez' best Round was the 3rd, when he was able to catch Gomez with a long left-hook, that shook the
28 year-old veteran. Lopez used a steady assortment of 'one-two' punches as Gomez was forced to cover
up along the Ring Perimeter.

But in Round 4, Gomez showed his experience, as he ducked and stayed low as Lopez fired away. Then
with cat-quick reflexes, Gomez would fire back with fast counters that had 'Little Red' bewildered.

Gomez also inflicted a cut inside Lopez right eye-brow when the landed several roundhouse hooks to the area.

During the middle Rounds {5, 6, and 7} 'Little Red' pressed with his upright-stance, but he was ineffective
with his attack.

'Octavio' Gomez with his free-wheeling style, repeatedly connected with round-house swings as Lopez moved
in. And when Lopez tried to counter, Gomez used 'nifty footwork' to scamper away.

Gomez scored time and again with '3 and 4' punch combinations, rocking Lopez to his toes.

A desperate Lopez tried to land one his lethal-blows in the later Rounds, but he was constantly baffled as he
pressed Gomez.

Each time that Lopez was able to score, he did have Gomez in some trouble. But each time, 'Famoso' would
rally back to out-punch Lopez in 'toe-to-toe' exchanges.

Scorecards
* Referee - John Thomas .......... 6-3 > {Octavio Gomez}
* Judge - Larry Rozadilla ........... 7-3 > {Octavio Gomez}
* Judge - George Latka ............. 7-1 > {Octavio Gomez}

[Bill Paxtom]

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez vs. Octavio 'Famoso' Gomez

Danny was baffled all night. The Boxing Writers wrote, that he was swinging at a
Ghost all night long.

'Famoso', who was labeled as a journeyman, used 'Hit-and-Run' tactics, and beat Danny
to the punch time and again.

With his upright stance, Danny was no match for the fleet-footed and cagey veteran.

And even when they traded where Danny had the clear advantage, he was out-punched.

After Danny suffered a cut inside his right eye-brow in Round 4, cut-man Teddy Bentham
had to patch him up.

Danny Lopez >
He was just too tricky for me tonight. I just couldn't trap him long enough to catch
him with a good punch.

Yea, he hit me with a lot of counter-punches. But that is the penalty I have to pay when
I come in looking to land my hard punches.

Octavio Gomez >
I wasn't going to stand there and let him get set. I kept moving, and used my footwork
to dance away from him.

He has a long reach, and you can't trade with Danny or he'll take you out. You have to move
and give him angles. It is a simple formula > Hit and Run.

[Bill Paxtom]

February 23, 1975

~ The Lopez Brothers Return To Orem, Utah ~

Ernie 'Indian Red' Lopez and younger brother Danny 'Little Red' Lopez retuned
back home to Orem, Utah where their boxing career's started.

Stan Chynoweth who runs 'Stan's Boxing Club', was the key factor in getting the
Lopez Brothers started in boxing, as Amateurs.

Danny was Stan's protégé, and he helped develop the awesome power that 'Little Red'
is famous for.

Danny Lopez >
Without Stan, I would have never reached the level of where I am today. He got me to
the Top of the Amateur Bantamweights in 1970 and 1971.

It was Stan who encouraged me to turn Pro, and to go to California. I wanted to stay
in Utah, but there was not any good sparring for me there. Stan pointed me West, and said
go to the Main Street Gym in Los Angeles.

I'm out here to relax and regroup, as I have lost '3' of my last '4-bouts'. I figured it was best
to go back to Utah, and visit with my family and friends. I want to forget about Boxing for
a few weeks, and clear the cob-webs.

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