Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[Bill Paxtom]

Danny Lopez in Accra. Ghana

According to Danny Lopez,

When he first arrived in Accra, Ghana on Sunday ~ October 17, 1976. He drank a lot of
Ice Water during the 1st-Day, to stay hydrated.

He immediately got a stomach pains {cramps}, and had intestinal issues for several days
thereafter.

Also Danny was promised First-Rate treatment, and was supposed to have accommodations
at a 3-Star Hotel.

Danny stated, that the Hotel was 'second-rate' at best.
"They put in this tiny room, and the Hotel was poorly maintained. The food was 'awful', and I got sick."

Luckily for Danny and his 'entourage' of 3, they were able to get food {Fresh Vegetables and Steak}
and 'Bottled Water' from the American Embassy that was located close by to the Hotel.

Danny Lopez >
"The American Embassy was never informed that I would be arriving. All of these arrangements were
supposed to be taken care of by the Ghanan Promoters and Boxing Officials. The Embassy Staff didn't
even know I was there."

For morning runs, Danny was lucky enough to have access to a Private Golf Course, also
located near the Hotel.

Danny stated, that the humidity in Ghana was incredible and the temperature levels reached
106* during the Mid-Day. Danny said the 1st-Day he did his run, he wore his sweats, and
lost 6 Pounds after a 7-Mile run.
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Originally for Training Sessions >

Danny Lopez >

"They first set us up at this old Boxing Gym in a bad section of Accra It was poorly maintained,
and the Ring didn't even have Ropes. The Ghanan Military had removed them, because they needed
it for their Boxing Gym."

"We had to request access to another Gym, the same one that David Kotey was using. He had the
Gym from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM. They didn't want to give us access to the Boxing Gym at all.
They told us to go somewhere else, but there was no other decent facility nearby."

"Then they told us that they would give us 1-Hour only, and late in the day at 5:00 PM. That was
not fair, and we had to get forceful. We threatened them with leaving the country and walking
out on the Championship Bout."

"Finally > Lt. Col. Simpe-Asante of the Ghanan Military made sure that we got 2 1/2 Hours at the Gym, for
later in the day after David Kotey was done.
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Both Danny and Champion - David Kotey ended up using the same Boxing Gym in Accra for their
sparring-sessions.

Their schedule's were set, where they both would 'not' cross paths.

Danny would have access to the Gym from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM. Danny was visited by some of
the American Peace Corps and United States Military when he worked out. Usually only 15 or so
Americans, and with another 200 curious Ghanan's and boxing representatives looking in.

Danny Lopez' Routine >
* 30-Minutes of Calisthenics
* 3-Rounds > Shadow Boxing
* 3-Rounds > Mitt-Sparring with Trainer - Teddy Bentham
* 4-Rounds > Sparring with David Sotello
* 1-Round > Shadow Boxing
* Speed Bag
* Heavy Bag
* Rope-Skipping


When David Kotey arrived {10:00 AM} he was protected by an entourage of 70 people, followed
by a flock of 2000 supporters who crowded into the Gym and surrounded the street entrance area.