Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[Bill Paxtom]

Danny Lopez Scores KO 3 Over Octavio 'Famoso' Gomez ~

[Bill Paxtom]

June 29, 1976

~ Art Hafey and Danny Lopez Sign For WBC Eliminator ~

~ Hafey and Lopez, Both Predict Knockouts ~

~ Bout Set for August 6th, Winner Gets Title Bout ~

[Bill Paxtom]

Danny Lopez vs. Art Hafey

Set for Friday ~ August 6, 1976

The Forum ~ Inglewood, California

Promoter ..... Don Fraser

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 30-3-0 {29 KO's} ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ 126 lbs. ~ Reach; 70" ~ Age; 24 years, 1 month}
vs.
Art 'Toy Tiger' Hafey - 53-7-4 {36 KO's} ~ 5' 3" ~ 126 lbs. ~ Reach; 63" ~ Age; 25 years, 7 months}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

This bout is scheduled for 12-Rounds, and is billed as a WBC Elimination Bout.

The winner will get to Challenge WBC Featherweight Champion - David Kotey in the Fall.

The bout is also billed as a 'Sudden Death Bout'. Meaning that if the bout is 'All Even' after 12-Rounds,
and additional Round will be added.

Both fighters will receive a Fight Purse Guarantee of $25,000 or 30% of the Gate Receipts {whichever is larger}.

Both fighters received $4000 in up-front Training Expenses on June 29, 1976.

Art Hafey is ranked as the #1 WBC and #3 WBA Featherweight.

Danny Lopez is ranked as the #2 WBC and #4 WBA Featherweight.

[Bill Paxtom]

July 28, 1976

~ Danny Lopez vs. Art Hafey ~

Don Fraser {Fight Promoter} >
We're expecting 9500 in attendance, and with a Gate of $110,000. Both of these boys will
receive $30,000 and some, just from the {the house} alone.

With the Closed Circuit Broadcast, they could each net another $20,000. They deserve it, as
both are the Top Featherweights in the Division.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benny Giorgino {Los Angles Boxing Odds-Maker} >
When these guys first signed up for this bout back on June 21st, I had the bout as 'Even'. It was
a Pick-Em bout. But now, Danny has edged ahead as a {10-7} Betting-Favorite.

I'm seeing more money on Danny now. It will probably drop to {10-6} in another day or so.
By fight night, Danny may have moved even further up as the favorite.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jose Sulaiman {WBC President} >
This is an Elimination bout. WBC Champion - David Kotey must fight the winner of the bout. He must
'sign' a fight contract within 30-Days, and defend his Title within the appropriate time frame.

We are hoping for a WBC Championship Bout to be set for November 1976.

[Bill Paxtom]

July 28, 1976

~ Danny Lopez vs. Art Hafey ~

Don Fraser {Fight Promoter} >
We expect a Gate of $110,000. Both of these boys will receive $30,000 and some, just from
the {the house} alone.

With the Closed Circuit Broadcast, they could each net another $20,000. They deserve it, as
both are the Top Featherweights in the Division.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benny Giorgino {Los Angles Boxing Odds-Maker} >
When these guys first signed up for this bout back on June 29th, I had the bout as 'Even'. It was
a Pick-Em bout. But now, Danny has edged ahead as a {10-7} Betting-Favorite.

I'm seeing more money on Danny now. It will probably drop to {10-6} in another day or so.
By fight night, Danny may have moved even further up as the favorite.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jose Sulaiman {WBC President} >
This is an Elimination bout. WBC Champion - David Kotey must fight the winner of the bout. He must
'sign' a fight contract within 30-Days, and defend his Title within the appropriate time frame.

We are hoping for a WBC Championship Bout to be set for November 1976.

~ More Skinny ~

Joe Olmos {Chairman if the California State Boxing Commission >
Both fighters have waived the 12-Round contract, and have agreed to fight a 'Sudden Death' 13th Round.
If the bout is 'even' on the Scorecards after 12-Rounds, they will go more '1' more Round.

We must have a winner. If the bout is still 'Even' after the 13th Round, Art Hafey will retain
his #1 WBC Ranking and will be the next fighter to challenge WBC Featherweight Champion - David Kotey.

Rich Roberts {Sportswriter} >
This bout is a real toss-up. But I think that Art Hafey will edge it out. Probably by 1-Point over 12-Rounds.

Danny Lopez >
I expect a real war in there. This will be my 'toughest' fight of my career. I will win by Knockout, but
I won't predict a Round.

Howie Steindler {Manager for Danny Lopez} >
There is no denying, Danny Lopez is the most exciting fighter out there. Nobody can take his right-hand
now. He has developed into a complete and devastating 'offensive machine'.

Burke Emery {Manager for Art Hafey} >
I'm not worried about this 'Sudden Death Round'. It will never happen. This bout will be over by the
5th Round, with my guy winning.

Art Hafey >
We are the 'two' hardest hitting guys in the Featherweight Division {outside of Alexis Arguello}. I find it
hard to think that the bout will go the distance. Nobody wants it to go to the Scorecards. Both us will
be looking for the Knockout. But I'm the one who will win. I'll knock him out in the 7th Round.

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Bobby Chacon Leans Toward Danny Lopez Over Art Hafey ~

Former Featherweight Champion - Bobby Chacon said that he wasn't picking a winner, but he
had to lean towards Danny Lopez in his bout with Art Hafey of Nova Scotia.

Bobby had offered up his services as a sparring-partner for Art Hafey in his preparation for his
bot with Danny Lopez.

Bobby Chacon >
I sparred with Art Hafey for 8-Days straight. 3-Rounds per Session. He was a little sluggish on the
1st-Day, but he got better with each sparring-session.

He {Art Hafey} is a good-hitter, but he is going to have a real problem with Danny's height and
reach. This is a real contrast in styles. A tall power-puncher {Lopez} against a short slugger {Hafey}.

The problem, is that Art will have to take a lot of punches to get in close. He's tough, but he may
take punches 'flush' as he is coming in.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

Two-days before the bout, Danny Lopez was listed as a {10-6} Betting-Favorite.

[beenKOed]

July 28, 1976

~ Danny Lopez vs. Art Hafey ~

Don Fraser {Fight Promoter} >
We expect a Gate of $110,000. Both of these boys will receive $30,000 and some, just from
the {the house} alone.

With the Closed Circuit Broadcast, they could each net another $20,000. They deserve it, as
both are the Top Featherweights in the Division.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benny Giorgino {Los Angles Boxing Odds-Maker} >
When these guys first signed up for this bout back on June 29th, I had the bout as 'Even'. It was
a Pick-Em bout. But now, Danny has edged ahead as a {10-7} Betting-Favorite.

I'm seeing more money on Danny now. It will probably drop to {10-6} in another day or so.
By fight night, Danny may have moved even further up as the favorite.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jose Sulaiman {WBC President} >
This is an Elimination bout. WBC Champion - David Kotey must fight the winner of the bout. He must
'sign' a fight contract within 30-Days, and defend his Title within the appropriate time frame.

We are hoping for a WBC Championship Bout to be set for November 1976.

~ More Skinny ~

Joe Olmos {Chairman if the California State Boxing Commission >
Both fighters have waived the 12-Round contract, and have agreed to fight a 'Sudden Death' 13th Round.
If the bout is 'even' on the Scorecards after 12-Rounds, they will go more '1' more Round.

We must have a winner. If the bout is still 'Even' after the 13th Round, Art Hafey will retain
his #1 WBC Ranking and will be the next fighter to challenge WBC Featherweight Champion - David Kotey.

Rich Roberts {Sportswriter} >
This bout is a real toss-up. But I think that Art Hafey will edge it out. Probably by 1-Point over 12-Rounds.

Danny Lopez >
I expect a real war in there. This will be my 'toughest' fight of my career. I will win by Knockout, but
I won't predict a Round.

Howie Steindler {Manager for Danny Lopez} >
There is no denying, Danny Lopez is the most exciting fighter out there. Nobody can take his right-hand
now. He has developed into a complete and devastating 'offensive machine'.

Burke Emery {Manager for Art Hafey} >
I'm not worried about this 'Sudden Death Round'. It will never happen. This bout will be over by the
5th Round, with my guy winning.

Art Hafey >
We are the 'two' hardest hitting guys in the Featherweight Division {outside of Alexis Arguello}. I find it
hard to think that the bout will go the distance. Nobody wants it to go to the Scorecards. Both us will
be looking for the Knockout. But I'm the one who will win. I'll knock him out in the 7th Round.

I completely missed out on the 13th Sudden Death round. This is the first time I've heard about it. Thanks!

[Bill Paxtom]

On July 28, 1976

Art Hafey vs. 'Little Red' Lopez ~

Sudden-Death Bout, Maybe ?


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