Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[Bill Paxtom]

Wednesday ~ February 25, 1976

The Forum ~ Inglewood, California

Promoter .............. Don Fraser
Attendance ........... 7894
Gate Receipts ....... $98,000

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 28-3-0 {27 KO's} ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ 126 lbs. ~ Reach; 70" ~ {Age; 23 years, 7 months}
vs.
Sean O'Grady 'The Green Machine' - 29-0-0 {25 KO's} ~ 5' 9 1/4" ~ 123 lbs. ~ Reach; 70" ~ {Age; 18 years, 0 months}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

Danny Lopez had opened up as a {10-7} Betting-Favorite when this bout was announced back on
January 11th.

Danny was now listed as an overwhelming {8-1} Betting-Favorite.

Sean O'Grady, who had been sparring at the Main Street Gym for 8-Days, had displayed fine hand-speed
and good boxing skills. But at {5' 9 1/4"}, he looked frail {beyond belief} and lacked any real strength
during the sparring sessions.

The Boxing Pundits did agree that Sean O'Grady's fast-hands and quick-footwork will give Danny Lopez
some trouble for a few Rounds. But, Lopez' power will take over after a couple of Rounds.

Pat 'Papa' O'Grady >
Look, I know that we can't out-punch Danny Lopez and win. But Sean can out-box him by using fast-punches
and movement.

We'll see where we are at after the 5th Round. I told Sean that he has to take this fight into the 6th or 7th Round
to win. We can out-box Lopez down the stretch and maybe edge out a 10-Round Decision.

Fight Purses
Danny Lopez > $6500 {Up Front Guarantee} + 20% of the Gate Receipts = $26,100
Sean O'Grady > $5000 {Up Front Guarantee} + 20% of the Gate Receipts = $24,600

[Bill Paxtom]

Wednesday ~ February 25, 1976

The Forum ~ Inglewood, California

Promoter .............. Don Fraser
Attendance ........... 7894
Gate Receipts ....... $98,000

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 28-3-0 {27 KO's} ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ 126 lbs. ~ Reach; 70" ~ {Age; 23 years, 7 months}
vs.
Sean O'Grady 'The Green Machine' - 29-0-0 {25 KO's} ~ 5' 9 1/4" ~ 123 lbs. ~ Reach; 70" ~ {Age; 18 years, 0 months}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

Danny Lopez had opened up as a {10-7} Betting-Favorite when this bout was announced back on
January 11th.

Danny was now listed as an overwhelming {8-1} Betting-Favorite.

Sean O'Grady, who had been sparring at the Main Street Gym for 8-Days, had displayed fine hand-speed
and good boxing skills. But at {5' 9 1/4"}, he looked frail {beyond belief} and lacked any real strength
during the sparring sessions.

Fight Purses
Danny Lopez > $6500 {Up Front Guarantee} + 20% of the Gate Receipts = $26,100
Sean O'Grady > $5000 {Up Front Guarantee} + 20% of the Gate Receipts = $24,600

~ 'Little Red' Logs Kayo, But It Didn't Come Easy ~



In Round 1, Sean O'Grady displayed a smart 'hit-and-run' tactic, by firing in fast left-jabs and an occasional
right-hand lead to keep Danny off-balance by using quick movement.

In Round 2, Sean continued to employ the same strategy, as he completely 'baffled' Danny with good movement
and fast hands. Danny was caught 'flat-footed' and was ineffective with any of his counters. By the {2:00 Mark}
Sean was putting in a good 'spirited-effort', as he was willing to move in and take punches from Danny.

Sean also opened up a 'small-cut' over Danny's right-eye, when he caught him with a fast right-hand lead.

But late in the Round, Sean got a little too 'brazen', and he tried to take Danny out after 'tagging him' with a jarring
right-hand the jaw. But Danny 'cleared out', and came back with a strong-rally over the last 15-Seconds of Round 2
to put Sean back out-side and moving.

In Round 3, Danny started to work the body as he moved in close. Then Sean made the 'foolish' mistake of trying
to trade with Danny, and he got 'ruffled up' pretty good during the middle-session of the Round.

By the end of Round 3, it was obvious that Sean didn't have the strength to keep Danny off of him. And his punches
now lacked steam.

In Round 4 it was all Danny Lopez, as nearly chased Sean 'out-of-the-ring'. Danny came in by firing a series of
'lefts-and-rights' to both the head and body. By the {2:00 Mark}, Sean had run out room and was getting beaten
up pretty good along the Ring perimeter.

Then Danny poured it on, and had Sean 'reeling' along the Ropes as he was pummeling him with hard 'left-right'
combinations to the head.

At the {2:45 Mark}, Danny drove Sean into his own corner and thumped in a 'salvo-of-punches' to the head as
Sean looked defenseless.

At the {2:58 Mark} > Pat 'Papa' O'Grady threw a towel in the Ring from his Corner, and it landed over Danny Lopez'
head.

Referee - John Thomas called the bout over as the Bell rang ending Round 4.

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Lopez Is Step Closer ~

~ Danny Lopez Scores 4th Round TKO Over Teenager - Sean O'Grady ~



~ After Bout Comments ~

Danny Lopez >
Give that kid {Sean O'Grady} 5-Years, and he is going to be an excellent fighter. He has great natural skills.
He took the fight to me for 2 1/2 Rounds, and he really gave me trouble.

Pat 'Papa' O'Grady >
I told you my kid could fight. That was '4' of most exciting Rounds I ever saw from a young fighter.

Sean O'Grady >
I was doing so well for the first 2-Rounds. Then I lost my head in the 3rd Round. I thought that I could
have taken him out. I should have stayed with my fight-plan, and boxed him for a few more Rounds.

Don Fraser {Fight Promoter} >
The kid put up one Hell-of-a-Fight. I told him that we would bring him back here in the Summer. He needs
a little more experience. But 'WOW', for an 18 year-old Teenager he can sure fight.

Pat 'Papa' O'Grady >
Sean lost his head in the 3rd-Round. He wanted to score a Knockout, instead of going for the distance win.
Chalk it up to experience. 'Little Red' was just too strong for Sean.

Sean O'Grady >
I got too eager in there. He was so easy to hit, that I thought I could get him in trouble in Round 3. But he
'baited-me-in', and he really hit hard to my body. Still, I never went down. Nobody has ever floored me yet.

Pat 'Papa' O'Grady >
All I have been hearing is that I never put Sean in the Ring with anybody good. I kept hearing over and over
that everyone of his '29' previous opponents were 'nobodies'. Well, I had to put him in the Ring with a 'monster'
like Danny Lopez. I had to show the 'experts' that my kid could fight. Now they will shut up, because my kid
fought a great fight. Despite losing, he gained a lot of respect from everybody.

Don Fraser {Fight Promoter} >
I want Sean to come back here and fight as a Bantamweight in the Summer {1976}. He's good, but he's not
ready for the Featherweight Division just yet. We'll get him a fight at 122 lbs., if he can't get down to 118 lbs.

[Bill Paxtom]

Wednesday ~ April 28, 1976

The Forum ~ Inglewood, California

Danny Lopez - 29-3-0 {28 KO's} ~ 126 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ {Age; 23 years, 9 months}
vs.
Octavio 'Famoso' Gomez - 58-9-6 {31 KO's} ~ 127 lbs. ~ 5' 4" ~ {Age; 29 years, 5 months}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

Another bout billed as a WBC Eliminator. Promoter - Don Fraser has stated that he will bring
WBC Champion - David 'Poison' Kotey here in the Summer to defend his Title against the
winner of this bout.

The fighters signed for this bout on March 18, 1976.

Danny Lopez, who last fought 2-months earlier {February 25th}. In that bout, Danny showed
an awesome display of power, and stopped 'undefeated' teenager Sean O'Grady by a {TKO 4}.

'Little Red' says that he is ready for the cagey veteran, who had beaten him easily by a 10-Round
Decision 14-Months earlier.

Octavio 'Famoso' Gomez has moved up to the #1 WBC Featherweight.

'Famoso' had 'upset' Danny Lopez back on January 18, 1975. The cagey veteran has gone 8-1-0 {1 KO}
in his last 9-Bouts, which have included wins over the following Top 10 Featherweights.
* Danny Lopez
* Art Hafey
* Bert Nabalatan
* Rafael Herrera
* Fel Clemente
* Jose Torres

In his last bout, 'Famoso' stopped {TKO 7} highly-touted Thai-fighter - Sak Lempthong on March 19th.

[Bill Paxtom]

Wednesday ~ April 28, 1976

The Forum ~ Inglewood, California

Danny Lopez - 29-3-0 {28 KO's} ~ 126 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ {Age; 23 years, 9 months}
vs.
Octavio 'Famoso' Gomez - 58-9-6 {31 KO's} ~ 127 lbs. ~ 5' 4" ~ {Age; 29 years, 5 months}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

Another bout billed as a WBC Eliminator. Promoter - Don Fraser has stated that he will bring
WBC Champion - David 'Poison' Kotey here in the Summer to defend his Title against the
winner of this bout.

The fighters signed for this bout on March 18, 1976.

Danny Lopez, who last fought 2-months earlier {February 25th}. In that bout, Danny showed
an awesome display of power, and stopped 'undefeated' teenager Sean O'Grady by a {TKO 4}.

'Little Red' says that he is ready for the cagey veteran, who had beaten him easily by a 10-Round
Decision 14-Months earlier.

Octavio 'Famoso' Gomez has moved up to the #1 WBC Featherweight.

'Famoso' had 'upset' Danny Lopez back on January 18, 1975. The cagey veteran has gone 8-1-0 {1 KO}
in his last 9-Bouts, which have included wins over the following Top 10 Featherweights.
* Danny Lopez
* Art Hafey
* Bert Nabalatan
* Rafael Herrera
* Fel Clemente
* Jose Torres

In his last bout, 'Famoso' stopped {TKO 7} highly-touted Thai-fighter - Sak Lempthong on March 19th.

~ Lopez Eyes Vengeance, Seeks Title Shot ~

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez seeks vengeance over Octavio 'Famoso' Gomez who handily defeated him by a
lopsided 10-Rond Decision 14-Months earlier.

'Little Red', who is ranked below 'Gomez, has been listed as a slight Betting-Favorite at {7-5}.

Both fighters are guaranteed $20,000 or 25% of the Gate Receipts for Wednesday Night's bout.

Danny Lopez is ranked as the #6 WBC Featherweight.

Octavio 'Famoso' Gomez is ranked as the #1 WBC and #2 WBA Featherweight.

Benny Giorgino {Fight Manager and Odds-Maker} >
It is a 'Pick-Em' fight. The Odds are 'Even' here. If Octavio can get by the 4th Round, he'll do a
number on Danny, just like the last time they fought.

Danny Lopez >
The last time we fought, I was going through some bad times, and I wasn't at all focused. I was
just going through the motions. I guess I just wasn't experienced enough.

I plan to go fast and right at him. I won't let him get away this time.

Octavio 'Famoso' Gomez >
They have this bout as an WBC Elimination bout, but it is scheduled for 10-Rounds. I would have
preferred it to be 12-Rounds, as I am a boxer and not a puncher. The more Rounds, the better
for me.

I beat him easily before, and I'll do it again. I just want a Title bout, and soon. I'm not sure why
I have to fight in an Eliminator Bout when I'm the Top-Ranked Featherweight. But the $20,000
Fight Purse guarantee was too much to pass up.

[Bill Paxtom]

Wednesday ~ April 28, 1976

The Forum ~ Inglewood, California

Attendance .......... 7600
Gate Receipts ...... $78,000

~ 'Little Red' Kayo's Octavio Gomez In 3 ~

~ Lopez Rips Foe In Coast Bout ~

[Bill Paxtom]

Wednesday ~ April 28, 1976

The Forum ~ Inglewood, California

Attendance .......... 7600
Gate Receipts ...... $78,000

~ 'Little Red' Kayo's Octavio Gomez In 3 ~

~ Lopez Rips Foe In Coast Bout ~

~ Lopez Scores 3rd Round Kayo Over Gomez ~

~ 'Little Red' Avenges Defeat To Gomez 15-Months Earlier ~

This bout was a 'Pick-Em' bout when first announced on March 18th. One-Week before the bout,
Danny Lopez was a 'slight-favorite' at {7-5}. But by fight night, the Lopez supporters had put
'Little Red' as a {2-1} Betting-Favorite.

'Favored' Danny Lopez took command from the out-set and put heavy-pressure on the cagey
29 year-old veteran Octavio 'Famoso' Gomez. From the 'get-go', Lopez had the 'nifty-veteran'
figured out this time.

Gomez did use his clever skills and unorthodox-style to avoid the early attack by Danny Lopez.
But by the {2:00 Mark} the Mexican was starting to wilt.

Danny used his pulverizing right-hand to stun the over-matched Gomez, when he delivered a
punch to the veterans 'heart' at the {2:15 Mark}. Danny then battered Gomez to the right-side
Ropes by catching him with '2' hard right-hand leads to the head, that drove the veteran Mexican
scampering backwards.

In Round 2, 'Little Red' continued with pressure, and delivered a series of 'left-and-right' hands to
the upper-body, that had Gomez in trouble throughout.

By the {1:30 Mark}, Gomez had slowed down noticeably and was now flat-footed. Danny continued
with his relentless pursuit of his 'older foe'. After receiving a hard combination to the body late in
the Round, Gomez dropped his hands and turned away in pain, then after a few-seconds he put
up his guard and backed away.

In Round 3, it was all Lopez as he hammered the over-matched Mexican with hard-punches.

Danny caught Gomez with a 'jarring' right-hand to the head, followed by a flurry of lefts-and-rights
that sent the Mexican reeling. Then Danny stepped in a delivered a solid left-hook to the head,
and came back with a 'sizzling' right-cross to the jaw.

Gomez then collapsed to the canvas and rolled on his stomach. He lay there as he was counted out
by Referee - Dick Young at {1:15} of Round 3.

Each fighter received a Fight Purse of $20,000.

Danny Lopez >
This was kind of a revenge bout for me, as Octavio really 'embarrassed' me last time we fought.
But now, I'm a much better fighter.

Now it's time for David 'Poison' Kotey. We're hoping to get him here in June or July. He has 'one'
more Title Defense lined up against {Shig Fukuyama}. He should win that bout, then I'm next.

I think I can 'Knockout' David Kotey, and win the Title. I've seen him fight, and I think that I
can knock him out early. I have to put a lot of pressure on him early, and not let him get into
his rhythm.

My best chance to win the Title is by an early knockout. He is a very good athlete who has
tremendous physical abilities, and that will be the hurdle to overcome. He gets better as
the fight goes on, and he would be really tough over the 2nd-Half of a bout.