Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[Bill Paxtom]

Tuesday ~ April 5, 1977

~ 'Little Red' Is Down, But Not Out ~ {Part 1}

Back on November 6, 1976 > Danny Lopez landed a series of punches into the head of
WBC Champion - David Kotey in Round 11, and then he knew he could win the Featherweight
Championship.

But, 'Little Red' also damaged his right-hand in that bout, and has had problems with the hand
ever since.

But the most important event in Danny's career {winning the WBC Featherweight Championship}
has been put on the back-burner, as Danny's father-figure/Manager > Howie Steindler was found
murdered last month {March 9, 1977}.
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Danny Lopez {Discussing his Championship winning effort} >

When I was introduced in the Ring, I did some squats and threw some punches at the canvas. The
crowd and the David Kotey Camp laughed at me, like I was some kind of joke.

Then Kotey came out to Center-Ring and 'shadow-boxed' by throwing lighting-fast combinations
towards my while I was in my corner.

His cornermen then said to me > "DK Poison is going to kill you in the 1st-Round. You will be dead."

Then David Kotey said that to me he was going to kill me in the 1st-Round.

In Round 1 > He came out fast, and really threw 'vicious' hard punches at my head. He was trying
for a 1st-Round Knockout. But I kept my hands up, as he was smashing my arms. He surprised me,
as he hit both fast and hard.

He did the same thing in Round 2, and he hurt me a couple of times. He 'staggered' me with a
right-hand to the jaw, and the place {Accra Sports Stadium} went crazy.

He was still going fast {all out} in Rounds 3 and 4. But half-way through Round 5, he started to
slow down. He was fighting at too fast of a pace.

Inside the Ring it was nearly 90* and the humidity was like a 'Steam-Bath' in there. The heat was
really getting to him at the end of the 5th Round, and I could feel his strength getting sapped.

I started to get to him at the 'tail-end' of Round 5. And I shook him up pretty good in Round 6,
and the 'tide-turned' in my favor.

I really had very good Rounds in the 7th, 8th and 9th. At the end of the 9th Round, we were pretty
much 'All Even', but he was fading fast.

But he came back 'strong' in Round 10, and took the play away from me early. He got his 'second-wind',
and he shook me up. He cut me under me left-eye, and opened up the small-cut over my left-eye.
I wasn't badly hurt, be he did 'nail me' a few times with good punches.

He may have been up {1-Point} after his good effort in Round 10.

But I came back in the next Round {11th}. I caught him with a real good right-hand, and I could see
in his eyes that he was hurt. I hit him with another right-hand to the jaw, and I could see both pain
and fear in his eyes. A few punches later he was on the canvas taking a '9-Count'. Then I knew that I
had a chance to win the Title.

Despite the knockdown in Round 11, coming out for Round 12 the bout was still close. Kotey came out
blazing, and he threw punches from every angle. But after about a minute, he was 'arm-weary' and
exhausted. He burned himself out. Then I had a 'big-rally' over the 2nd-Half of the Round, and took
control.

In my corner before Round 13, they told me to just keep pressing and to throw straight punches.
Just back him up and wear him down, but don't overwork. I did just that.

I hurt him again Round 13, and he really had the look of 'fear in his eyes'. All I had to do was keep
fighting my fight, and I knew that I would win.

If that bout was fought anywhere else, they would have it stopped it. He took a frightful beating from
me, especially over the last 5 Rounds.

The only way he survived, is because they cut the Round's short by at least 30-Seconds from the 11th
Round on. They didn't want to see their Hero get knocked out in front of 122,000 Ghanan's.

In Round 13, they cut the Round '50-Seconds' short. I had him on the Ropes and he was hanging on.
I hit him with a right-hand, and he was 'out' and sagging into the Ropes. I was 'one-punch' away
from putting him through the Ropes and 'out-of-the-Ring'. Then the Bell rang early, and saved him.

When the fight was over, it was quiet in the Ring and the Accra Sports Stadium. It was kind of strange
after a 'thrilling' Championship bout. I guess that they knew their Hero lost.

Then the Referee {Harry Gibbs} walked over to me and raised my hand. There was only some light
applause, and that was it. They handed me the WBC Championship belt and a Trophy, and we walked
out of the Ring with no cheering or fan-fare.

The only support I had there, was my Corner people {Teddy Bentham, Chickie Ferrera and David Sotello},
and some U.S. Marines who were at Ringside behind my corner.

It was a strange quiet surrounding, as compared to all the noise at The Forum and Olympic Auditorium.