Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[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 ~

[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 ~

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez scored a Kayo in the 6th Round over Mexican - Antonio Nava at the
Olympic Auditorium, but it was not as easy as expected.

The Mexican who has a power in in his right-hand, 'rocked' Lopez repeatedly during an
action-filled first 2-Rounds, as he landed jarring right-hand counters to the chin of 'Little Red'.

Lopez was able to re-group in Round 3, and started to score on his 'little-known' opponent,
as he peppered away on the shorter Mexican with 'poking' left-jabs and non-stop 'right-left'
punches to the face.

But early in Round 4, the 'power-swinging' Nava caught Lopez with a 'short' right-hook to the
chin at the {0:30 Mark}, sending Lopez 'reeling' backwards and into the Ropes.

The Mexican then moved in, and raked over a 'stunned' Lopez with a series of short and solid
power-punches, while keeping him pinned on the Ropes for a good 40-Seconds.

But in typical 'Little Red' fashion, he weathered the storm, and Lopez was able to clear his head
and worked his way off the Ropes by the {1:30 Mark}. Lopez then used his longer reach to get
some distance and avoid the hard-hitting Mexican's attacks over the 2nd-Half of the Round.

At the end of 4-Rounds, Lopez was trailing on all Scorecards, by scores of {3-1 ~ 3-1 ~ 3-1}

In Round 5, Lopez came out by using a steady attack of left-jabs, and straight right-hands to
the face of the pressing Mexican.

By the middle of the session Nava started to visibly tire. Lopez then stepped up the pace, as Nava
was forced into a defensive-mode and offered up little over the last-minute of the Round.

Lopez landed a series of combinations at the end of Round 5, as Nava looked spent at the Bell.

In Round 6, Lopez came out fast and scored 'heavily' on his tired opponent. 'Little Red' sent in
a series of 'right-left' combinations to the chin, and 'staggered' Nava several times throughout
the early-portion of the Round.

By the middle of the Round, Nava was reeling and in serious trouble. Then 'Little Red' delivered
a hard 'right-left' to the chin of Nava, and dropped the Mexican along the right-side Ropes.

Referee - George Latka counted out the Mexico City Featherweight at {2:09} of Round 6.

[Bill Paxtom]

October 24, 1975

~ Ruben Olivares To Meet Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~

~ Winner to get WBC Champion - David Kotey in 1976 ~

Boxing Matchmaker- Don Fraser signs up Ruben Olivares and Danny Lopez to face
each other on November 22, 1975.

Ruben Olivares is now the former 2-Time World Bantamweight Champion, and former
2-Time WBC and WBA Featherweight Champion.

Ruben lost his WBC Featherweight Championship on September 20, 1975 to African -
David Kotey. In that bout, Olivares was not in the best condition and looked lethargic
throughout a good portion of the bout.

Meanwhile, Danny Lopez has rebounded with '3' straight Knockout wins in 1975 after
losing 3 of 4.

Ruben Olivares to receive a fight purse guarantee of $40,000 against 40% of the
Gate Receipts.

Danny Lopez will receive a fight purse guarantee of $25,000 against 25% of the
gate receipts.

The Boxing Pundits have listed Ruben Olivares as a {10-8} Betting-Favorite.

Ring Magazine Ratings

*** Alexis Arguello ............. {WBA Champion}
#1 . Art Hafey
#2 . David 'Poison' Kotey .... {WBC Champion}
#3 . Elio Cotena
#4 . Danny Lopez
#5 . Leonel Hernandez
#6 . Ruben Olivares
#7 . Shig Fukuyama
#8 . Royal Kobayashi
#9 . Octavio 'Famoso' Gomez
#10. Arnold Taylor

[Bill Paxtom]

October 28, 1975

~ Ruben Olivares Asks For 13-Day Extension ~

Arturo 'Cuyo' Hernandez, manager for Ruben Olivares has asked for the bout between
his fighter and Danny Lopez to be pushed back 13-Days, from November 22nd to December 4th.

Arturo 'Cuyo' Hernandez >
Ruben last fought a very tough fight on September 20th {losing a 15-Round Decision} to
David Kotey.

He has been resting and recuperating in Mexico City for the past 30-Days. He's up to 135 lbs.,
and to get ready for Danny Lopez in only {25-Days} is not enough time.

We're going to need at least 5-Weeks of Training Camp. As we must be in the best condition,
as another loss may end Ruben's career.

We would also like the Fight Contract Weight to be set at 128 lbs.

Ruben Olivares >
I can't take any chances with a hard-puncher like Danny Lopez. This will be a grueling fight, and
the fighter who is in the best condition will win this bout. I expect this fight to go down to the
last 2 Rounds.

I was not in good condition when I fought the African {David 'Poison' Kotey}. For this bout, I will
be better prepared. I will put in 100-Rounds in Training Camp.

Howie Steindler {Manager for Danny Lopez} >
I will agree to the postponement. But it will not make any difference. Ruben Olivares knows that
he will be in for a 'rough-night', and he wants to be ready.

I still think that Danny will take him out in 5-Rounds. Ruben is no longer a devastating-puncher.
He is an 'arm-puncher' who has slowed down a lot. He's just an average-puncher as a Featherweight.