Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ July 26, 1975

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Promoter ........ Aileen Eaton

Danny Lopez - 25-3-0 {24 KO's} ~ 126 3/4 lbs. ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ {Age; 23 years, 0 months}
vs.
Raul Cruz - 43-15-2 {30 KO's} ~ 126 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 3 1/2" ~ {Age; 28 years, 3 months}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

This bout was being billed as a Featherweight Eliminator.

Both fighters signed contracts on Wednesday ~ July 16th. So both had ample time to
prepare.

Raul Cruz {Mexico City} was a solidly-built 'fire-plug'. Raul was an experienced 10-Year
Professional, who was a hard power-puncher that carried explosive power both in his
left hook-uppercut and right-cross.

The Mexican City Bomber was billed as having records of >
* 48-11-0 {35 KO's} and 43-11-1 {30 KO's}

Raul was coming of an 'upset' 10-Round Decision win over highly-regarded Joe Medrano
3-months earlier {April 10, 1975}.

On his ledger, Raul had scored wins over '4' World Champions >
* July 26, 1969 ............. W Dec 10 .. Rafael Herrera
* October 17, 1969 ....... W Dec 12 .. Jesus 'Chucho' Castillo
* February 23, 1970 ...... KO 7 ......... Alfredo Marcano
* May 16, 1970 ..............KO 4 ......... Lionel Rose

Raul Cruz had been ranked as high as >
1969 ... #3 Bantamweight
1970 ... #4 Featherweight
1971 ... #3 Featherweight

Raul had also captured the Mexican Featherweight Championship on December 11, 1970
and held his country's National Title up through August 29, 1971.

He did challenge for the WBC Featherweight Championship on June 3, 1971 - but was blasted
out {L KO 1} to hard-punching Champion - Kuniaki Shibata.

But, since June 1971 - Raul has been on the downside as he has gone only 4-10-1 in '15-Bouts'.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny 2 ~

Olympic Promoter - Aileen Eaton has stated that she has offered 'new' WBA Featherweight Champion
Alexis Arguello - $100,000 to fight the winner of the Danny Lopez - Raul Cruz bout.

The proposed date would be set for late-November 1975.

Danny Lopez has been installed as a {3-1} Betting-Favorite over the veteran Raul Cruz.

Danny Lopez >
I'll go for the quick finish. I will come straight at him {Raul Cruz} and go for the early Knockout.
If he survives my early attack and he lasts more than 5 or 6 Rounds, I'll be surprised.

If he stands and trades with me, he will get Knocked out for sure.

Harry Kabakoff {Manager for Raul Cruz} >
Danny Lopez is the perfect opponent for my guy {Raul Cruz}. He walks straight in with that
upright stance. Raul has the best right-hand cross in the Division, and nobody can take that
punch.

I wouldn't be shocked if Raul scores an early Knockout. Lopez has no defense, and can be
hit with anything you throw.

~ Danny Lopez Fights Raul Cruz Tonight ~

[Bill Paxtom]

July 26, 1975

Olympic Auditorium

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez vs. Raul Cruz

Exciting Featherweight Battle

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...01800829,d.eXY

[Bill Paxtom]

July 26, 1975

Olympic Auditorium

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez vs. Raul Cruz

Exciting Featherweight Battle

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...01800829,d.eXY

~ A Wild 1st-Round ~

Raul Cruz nearly takes Danny's head-off with a vicious right-hand to the chin at the {0:16 Mark}.

Danny is shook up as he is driven back into the back-right Ropes.

Raul Cruz is pressing hard, but Danny is able to get off with a stream of busy 'left-right' one-two's
to hold Cruz at bay.

Danny then adds in steady amount of poking left-jabs to Raul's face take control.

But Raul comes back with a hard counter 'right-left' to the head at the {1:14 Mark}. But, Danny
continues with his steady attack, and forces Raul to give ground.

Raul smartly 'bends-and-bobs' to avoid the incoming steam of punches as he tries to press.

Danny scores with a 'solid-flurry; at the {1:40 Mark}, and Raul is stunned. But the stocky-Mexican
rides out the storm and starts plugging away at the {1:57 Mark}.

At the {2:42 Mark}, Danny catches Cruz with a hard 'jarring' right-hand to the chin, and then lands
a big sweeping left-hook to Raul's right temple area.

Raul is 'stunned', and reels back into the front-center Ropes at the {2:44 Mark}.

Danny steps forward, and unleashes with a '27-Punch' barrage. Raul is ale to fend off some of the
blows as he is pinned on the Ropes, and nearly goes through them.

But, Raul makes it to the Bell. The Mexican is 'groggy' as he walks back to his Corner, at the front-right Area.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ July 28, 1975

~ Lopez KO's Cruz At The Olympic ~

~ Danny Lopez Gets Win ~

~ 'Little Red' Wins By Kayo In 6th ~

Danny Lopez put away a 'game veteran' Raul Cruz moments into the 6th Round last night at the
Olympic Auditorium in front of 7235 fans.

As with typical fashion, the bout was filled with good exchanges with each fighter getting rocked.

The Mexican - Raul Cruz came out pressing immediately, and 'rocked' Lopez badly with a vicious
right-hand cross to the chin at the {0:18 Mark}.

But 'Little Red' withstood the early charge of the hard-punching slugger, and turned the tide in his
favor by landed with left-jabs and quick '2-Punch' combinations. Lopez then rallied back with a
'non-stop' flurry at the end of the 1st-Round that had the smaller Cruz 'groggy' at the Bell.

Lopez maintained control in Rounds 2, 3 and 4 > as he peppered Cruz with constant '3-Punch'
combinations to the head, as well as swelling up the Mexican's left cheek.

But Cruz was determined, and kept plugging away in trying to turn the bout into a slug-fest as he
connected with occasional left-hooks to the body, and solid right-hand crosses to the chin
{his bread-and-butter punch} to jar Lopez.

Each time that 'Little Red' had Cruz in trouble, the Mexican veteran would smartly 'bend-and-bob'
to avoid the incoming non-stop flurries from Lopez.

Lopez utilized his 4" Height and 5" Reach advantage to continuously out-punch his smaller opponent,
but the Mexican showed courage and heart as he fought back after taking some hard right-hands to
the chin.

In an entertaining Round 5 >

Both fighters met at Center-Ring, and they got into a 'trade-fest' with each landing good blows. Danny
started off by landing a series of 'left-right' punches to the head. But Cruz countered with a 'jarring'
right-cross to Danny's chin at the {0:24 Mark}.

The Olympic Auditorium than started to chant "May-Hee-Co".

Suddenly Danny started to slow down, and his punches lacked zip. Cruz kept pressing, and nailed Danny
with a 'wicked' left-hook to the chin at the {0:55 Mark}.

But Danny hung tough, and rallied strongly with a 'big flurry', and backed Cruz up at the {1:00 Mark}, as
he drove the sturdy Mexican into the left-side Ropes.

Danny continued with a 'steady-barrage', and then drove Cruz into the front-center Ropes, where he looked
to be in serious trouble at the {1:20 Mark} as Danny continued with relentless attack.

Raul Cruz was 'groggy' at the {1:38 Mark}, and he looked ready to go as he was pinned on the front Ropes
as Danny worked him over up to the {1:48 Mark}.

Suddenly, Cruz worked himself off the Ropes, and came back with {back-to-back} 'left-right' punches to the
chin that backed Danny up.

Cruz then caught Danny with a left hook/uppercut and right-hand to the chin at the {2:00 Mark}, and now
suddenly Danny was 'stunned' at Center-Ring.

Raul then moved in, and forced Danny to back up to the left-side Ropes where he mauled him up to the
{2:15 Mark}.

Both fighters went toe-to-toe for the next 15-Seconds, as the 'gritty' Mexican-veteran pounded away at
Lopez.

But Danny rallied back, and suddenly had Cruz on the left-side Ropes at the {2:43 Mark}. Danny then
unloaded with a barrage, and Cruz wobbled backwards into the back Ropes. Danny wailed away on
a weary Cruz until the Bell sounded ending Round 5.

At the Bell, Raul Cruz tapped Danny in acknowledgement of a good Round.

Raul walked back to his corner with a badly bruised left-cheek.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ July 28, 1975

~ Lopez KO's Cruz At The Olympic ~

~ Danny Lopez Gets Win ~

~ 'Little Red' Wins By Kayo In 6th ~

Danny Lopez put away a 'game veteran' Raul Cruz moments into the 6th Round last night at the
Olympic Auditorium in front of 7235 fans.

As with typical fashion, the bout was filled with good exchanges with each fighter getting rocked.

The Mexican - Raul Cruz came out pressing immediately, and 'rocked' Lopez badly with a vicious
right-hand cross to the chin at the {0:18 Mark}.

But 'Little Red' withstood the early charge of the hard-punching slugger, and turned the tide in his
favor by landed with left-jabs and quick '2-Punch' combinations. Lopez then rallied back with a
'non-stop' flurry at the end of the 1st-Round that had the smaller Cruz 'groggy' at the Bell.

Lopez maintained control in Rounds 2, 3 and 4 > as he peppered Cruz with constant '3-Punch'
combinations to the head, as well as swelling up the Mexican's left cheek.

But Cruz was determined, and kept plugging away in trying to turn the bout into a slug-fest as he
connected with occasional left-hooks to the body, and solid right-hand crosses to the chin
{his bread-and-butter punch} to jar Lopez.

Each time that 'Little Red' had Cruz in trouble, the Mexican veteran would smartly 'bend-and-bob'
to avoid the incoming non-stop flurries from Lopez.

Lopez utilized his 4" Height and 5" Reach advantage to continuously out-punch his smaller opponent,
but the Mexican showed courage and heart as he fought back after taking some hard right-hands to
the chin.

In an entertaining Round 5 >

Both fighters met at Center-Ring, and they got into a 'trade-fest' with each landing good blows. Danny
started off by landing a series of 'left-right' punches to the head. But Cruz countered with a 'jarring'
right-cross to Danny's chin at the {0:24 Mark}.

The Olympic Auditorium than started to chant "May-Hee-Co".

Suddenly Danny started to slow down, and his punches lacked zip. Cruz kept pressing, and nailed Danny
with a 'wicked' left-hook to the chin at the {0:55 Mark}.

But Danny hung tough, and rallied strongly with a 'big flurry', and backed Cruz up at the {1:00 Mark}, as
he drove the sturdy Mexican into the left-side Ropes.

Danny continued with a 'steady-barrage', and then drove Cruz into the front-center Ropes, where he looked
to be in serious trouble at the {1:20 Mark} as Danny continued with relentless attack.

Raul Cruz was 'groggy' at the {1:38 Mark}, and he looked ready to go as he was pinned on the front Ropes
as Danny worked him over up to the {1:48 Mark}.

Suddenly, Cruz worked himself off the Ropes, and came back with {back-to-back} 'left-right' punches to the
chin that backed Danny up.

Cruz then caught Danny with a left hook/uppercut and right-hand to the chin at the {2:00 Mark}, and now
suddenly Danny was 'stunned' at Center-Ring.

Raul then moved in, and forced Danny to back up to the left-side Ropes where he mauled him up to the
{2:15 Mark}.

Both fighters went toe-to-toe for the next 15-Seconds, as the 'gritty' Mexican-veteran pounded away at
Lopez.

But Danny rallied back, and suddenly had Cruz on the left-side Ropes at the {2:43 Mark}. Danny then
unloaded with a barrage, and Cruz wobbled backwards into the back Ropes. Danny wailed away on
a weary Cruz until the Bell sounded ending Round 5.

At the Bell, Raul Cruz tapped Danny in acknowledgement of a good Round.

Raul walked back to his corner with a badly bruised left-cheek.

Round 6

Both fighters meet at Center-Ring and exchange. Danny then sends out some measuring left-jabs
as Raul tries to move in.

At the {0:18 Mark} > Danny flings out '5' light left-jabs, as the both fighters are at the front-center
Ring area.

Raul attempts to send out a left-jab from the outside at the {0:21 Mark}. Danny then counters
with a quick left-jab, and then delivers a 'crushing' right-hand into the left-side of Raul's jaw.

Raul crashes to the canvas and 'flat-on-his-back' at the {0:23 Mark}.

Referee - John Thomas waves the bout over at the {0:30 Mark} as Raul Cruz is 'out'.



The Raul Cruz Camp and Ringside Physician - Dr. Bernhard Schwarz rush into the Ring to
revive the knocked out Mexican fighter.

Raul Cruz in on the canvas for 35-Seconds, before they can get him on a stool.

[Bill Paxtom]

August 2, 1975

~ Danny 'Little Red' Lopez In Line For WBA Title Bout With Alexis Arguello ~

Howie Steindler - Manager for Danny Lopez said that his fighter was ready for 'newly'
crowned WBA Featherweight Champion - Alexis Arguello.

Danny is now trained exclusively by Teddy Bentham, and the Alhambra Knockout Artist
is a more polished fighter now.

His last '2' wins were very impressive Knockouts, but his opponents > Jesus 'Chucho' Castillo
and Raul Cruz were not exactly notables in the Featherweight Division. They were both aged
Mexican veterans who were at one time top fighters in the Bantamweight Division.

Howie Steindler >
We're ready for the Nicaraguan now. He has a scheduled Title Defense in Japan with
Royal Kobayashi set for October 12th.

I'm sure he will win in Japan without too much difficulty. Then, we can get him to come
back here {Los Angeles} for a bout with Danny in late-November.

Aileen Eaton has put $100,000 on the table for Arguello to defend his WBA Title against
Danny. It would be a tremendous event. It is a bout that everyone wants to see.

We're even willing to accept $40,000 to get him into the Ring with Danny.

Danny Lopez >
You know, Alexis Arguello was way behind on Points when he caught Ruben Olivares in
the 13th Round. It wasn't like he dominated the bout. He was hurt and in trouble many times
in that bout.

I sparred with him at the Main Street Gym last year {November 1974} when he was preparing
for Ruben Olivares. I wasn't even in shape, and I sparred 3-Rounds with him. It was pretty even
in the Ring, and I more than held my own with him. Maybe he had the slightest edge, but not
by much.

If you back him up, he really doesn't know how to fight. He has to lead to be effective.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ September 13, 1975

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Danny Lopez - 26-3-0 {25 KO's} ~ 127 lbs. ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ {Age; 23 years, 2 months}
vs.
Antonio Nava - 21-4-1 {12 KO's} ~ 128 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 5" ~ {Age; 22 years, 1 month}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

Danny Lopez is now ranked as the #8 WBA Featherweight, as is campaigning for a Title bout
with WBA Champion - Alexis Arguello.

Danny is also is now back to the #10 WBC Featherweight.

Antonio Nava is the #3 Mexican Featherweight. The 3 1/2 year Professional has a very good
right-hand, and is a strong fighter as well.

Antonio Nava is a fast starter, and comes right at his opponents.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Danny Lopez Scores Kayo In 6th Over Antonio Nava ~