Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[beenKOed]

Damn, a lot of pressure for a young guy to be under.

[Bill Paxtom]

Tuesday ~ September 13, 1977

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Attendance ...... 5500

Promoter ......... Aileen Eaton
Matchmaker ..... Don Chargin

Televised ......... CBS-TV

WBC Featherweight Championship

* WBC - Danny 'Litte Red' Lopez - 34-3-0 {32 KO's} ~ 125 lbs. ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ {Age; 25 years, 2 months}
vs.
#10 WBC - Jose 'The Missle' Torres - 28-5-1 {25 KO's} ~ 126 lbs. ~ 5' 6" ~ {Age; 22 years, 4 months}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

Danny Lopez will be making his '1st' Title Defense since winning the Title back on November 6, 1976
{10 Months earlier}.

Danny has had '2' non-title bouts over the past 2-Months. Danny is now Managed by Benny Giorgino
and is still Trained by Teddy Bentham.

Jose Torres is a 'young' hard right-hand punching fighter from Aranda, Mexico. Jose is an upright fighter,
and has both a 'sharp' and quick right-hand counter-punch.

Back on February 1, 1976 > Jose nearly 'upset' Alexis Arguello in a 'non-title' bout in Baja California.
In that bout, Jose came on strong at the end, and 'floored' Alexis in Round 9 and nearly stopped him.
But Alexis got up and hung on, and went on to edge Jose by a 'razor-thin' 10-Round Split-Decision.

Surprisingly, Jose is coming off a loss in his previous bout {L Dec 10} to #4 WBA Featherweight -
Francisco Toro Coronado in Nicaragua back on July 16th.

Danny Lopez is listed as a 'slight' Betting-Favorite at {5-3}.

Fight Purses >
Danny Lopez ......... $75,000
Jose Torres ........... $12,000

[Bill Paxtom]

September 13, 1977

The Fight

In Round 1, Danny came out by pressing the fight as he was the aggressor. Jose Torres smarty moved to
his left while flinging out an occasional 'up-angle' left-jab {a cross between an uppercut and jab} to keep
Danny from charging in.

But, Danny was landing the sharper puncher as backed the Challenger up over the first {1:50} of the Round.
But Jose was not affected by any blows, and remained calm.

Then Jose came back with a 'hard-flurry' at the {2:00 Mark} and the Olympic Auditorium started chanting ..
"May-Hee-Co, May-Hee-Co"

Jose then put forth with a 'solid-effort' over the last 40-Seconds, as he landed several 'jarring' left-right punches
into Danny's face to edge out the Round.

Round 1 ..... Jose Torres {10-9}
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In Round 2, Danny came pressing-hard, and was more aggressive than in the Opening Round.

Jose went to backing away and circling to his left, while staying along the Ring Perimeter. Danny
fored away with good 'one-two' punches as Jose was forced along the Ropes.

Danny landed a good left-hook to the jaw at the {1:02 Mark} that rocked Jose, And Danny came
right back with a good 'left-right' to he chin that drive Jose backwards and into the left-side Ropes.

Danny continued to press and punched away as Jose circled along the Ropes.

By the {2:20 mark}, Jose had circled the Ring and was now near the back-right Ring area. Danny
came forward with a 'left-right' at the {2:30 Mark}. The Danny was 'slow' with a long-left, and
Jose came in with a fast 'right-hand counter to the jaw at the {2:34 Mark} that snapped Danny's
head and sent him to 'the canvas'.

Danny got to one-knee at the '2-Count' and rose, as Referee - Larry Rozadilla issued the 'Mandatory'
count.

Danny was 'shaken', but was clear-eyed. When action resumed at the {2:44 Mark}, Jose came in
with hard left-hook, and then caught Danny with another good right-hand.

Both fighters moved in close, and traded. Jose then caught Danny with a sharp 'right-left' to the
chin at the {2:57 Mark}.

Both moved in close until the Bell.

Round 2 ............Jose Torres {10-8}
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WBC Featherweight Champion Danny Lopez sends out a long left-jab, but Challenger - Jose Torres
counters with a 'jolting' right-hand to the jaw, which a moment later sent the Champion - Danny Lopez
to the canvas.

[Bill Paxtom]

Tuesday ~ September 13, 1977

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

~ Danny Lopez Comes Off Canvas To Score 7th Round TKO ~

~ 'Little Red' In Bloody Battle, Halts Torres At The End Of 7th ~

Danny Lopez successfully defended his WBC Featherweight Championship for the '1st-Time' by scoring
a TKO as Challenger - Jose Torres could not answer the bell for Round 8.

But the bout was a 'tough-battle' as Danny was dripping blood from his mouth at the end of the 1st-Round,
after taking a series of hard-punches to the mouth from the 'sharp-hitting' Challenger over the last
40-Seconds.

And after controlling most of Round 2, Danny found himself on the canvas near the end of the Round
after taking a 'vicious' right-hand counter from Jose Torres.

But the Champion came out both fast-and-strong at the 'opening' of Round 3. Both fighters got into
a fast-exchange near the left-side Ring area as each traded. Danny then caught the Challenger with
a hard chopping right-hand to the head, and Torres was 'dropped' at only the {0:12 Mark} of the Round.

Torres was up a the '3-Count' and looked to be hurt.

Then Danny tore into the 'stunned' Challenger with a barrage that drove him into the Ropes. But by
the {1:20 Mark}, Torres had worked himself off the Ropes, and was fighting back.

Surprisingly, Torres scored with a 'big-rally' over the last 30-Seconds of the Round, as he bloodied
Danny's nose by landing several sharp-punches to the face.

Danny was equally strong in Round 4, as he 'floored' the Mexican 'twice' with jolting-blows to the head.

But Torres would not quit, and fought back by landing left-hand jabs and right-hand counters when the
Champion let his guard down.

But Danny was unrelenting with pressure, and he battered Torres 'unmercifully' in Round 7 with heavy
punches to both the head and body.

A 'weary' Jose Torres sat in his stool at the end of Round 7, and he stayed there as he could not answer
when the Bell rang for Round 8.

It goes down as TKO 7 win for the Champion - Danny Lopez.

[Bill Paxtom]

September 13, 1977

Danny Lopez vs. Jose Torres

Round 4



Danny came out aggressively, and immediately started to pump in heavy 'one-two' punches to
the head.

Danny caught Jose with a 'jolting' left-hook to the chin at the {0:34 Mark}, and Jose wobbled
backwards and toward the front Ring area.

Danny then moved in, and slammed in a salvo of punches as Jose was 'pinned' on the front Ropes.

Danny then caught Jose with a '4-Punch' combination to the head that 'stunned' him. Then Danny
fired in a 'double' left-hook to the jaw, and came in with a 'sweeping' right-hand as Jose was falling
down on the 'seat-of-his-pants' at the {0:41 Mark}.

Jose was up at the '2-Count', and wobbled as he walked over to the right-side Ring area as he took
the Mandatory 8-Count from referee - Larry Rozadilla.

When the action resumed, Danny came 'blasting-forward' with fast-flurry as Jose moved to the
front Ropes.

Danny then caught Jose with a big 'sweeping' left-hook to the jaw, and Jose bent down and put
his hands on the canvas from preventing from going down at the {1:02 Mark}.

Jose took the 'Mandatory-Count', and was ready to go. Danny then moved forward, and battered
Jose along the front Ropes with vicious 'one-two' blows to the head, snapping Jose's head several times.

At the {1:43 Mark} Jose was 'badly' hurt from taking several right-hands 'flush-in-the-face'. But
10-Seconds later, Jose fought himself off the Ropes, and came back with an offensive-charge to
back Danny out to Center-Ring.

The bout then turned into a 'Rock-em Sock-em' slugfest as both fighters traded good punches on
each other over the last 40-Seconds of the Round

Round 4 ........... Danny Lopez {10-7}

[Bill Paxtom]

September 13, 1977

~ Danny Lopez Wins A Brawl ~

WBC Featherweight Champion - Danny Lopez sends Challenger - Jose Torres to the canvas early
in the 4th Round, after tagging his opponent with a '2' hard left-hooks to the jaw.



Round 5 >

Danny came out blazing and tore into Torres with a fierce 'two-fisted attack' over the first {1:00}.
But Danny started to slow down, as he was arm-weary after dishing out a non-stop barrage.

Suddenly the Challenger came alive at the {1:25 Mark}, and started dishing out a 'steady-flow' of solid
left-jabs and 'stiff' right-hands into Danny's head. Jose 'jolted' Danny several times, and wobbled him
'twice' with straight right-hands to the chin as the crowd cheered > "May-Hee-Co, May-Hee-Co".

Jose completely dominated the middle-session, as he kept Danny off-stride.

But Danny came back over the last 20-Seconds of the Round, and put forth a solid rally just before
the Bell.

Round 5 ....... Jose Torres {10-9}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scorecards thru 5-Rounds

Ring Announcer - Chico Vejar >
"I have Danny up by a 'whisker'. Jose Torres came back in Round 5. Now we have a fight again."

* Referee - Larry Rozadilla .... 47-45 {Danny Lopez}
* Judge - Rudy Jordan ........... 47-45 {Danny Lopez}
* Judge - Richard Steele ........ 46-45 {Danny Lopez}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Round 6 >

It was all Danny Lopez, as he pressed aggressively and drove hard-punches into the face of Jose Torres.

Danny kept moving forward, and kept Jose on the outside and along the Ropes for nearly the entire Round,
as he drove a 'non-stop' and steady flow of 'one-two' punches into the Challenger.

Jose took a vicious pounding, but he would not quit, as he did fire back with an occasional left-jab and
counter-right to the head.

Round 6 ....... Danny Lopez {10-9}

Note >
At the end of the Round, the Ringside Physician - Dr. Bernhard Schwarz did go to Jose Torres' corner to
check out on the fighter, while discussing his condition with the cornermen.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Round 7 >

Danny came out with another aggressive attack, and he hammered away at Jose Torres who was on the
complete defensive. Danny battered Jose with a series of solid '2-Punch' and '3-Punch' combinations
while keeping the 'courageous' Challenger on the Ropes.

Depsite the beating, Torres did fight back with brief spurts. But he was completely over-matched, and
could no longer back up Danny or get any distance.

At the {2:10 Mark}, the Bell was mistakenly rung {with 50-Seconds still left in the Round}. Both fighters
went back to their respective corners and sat down.

The 'Time-Keeper' alerted Referee - Larry Rozadill of the mistake, and both fighters were called back
out at the {2:26 Mark} with 34-Seconds still remaining the Round.

Danny went back to a steady attack, and fored Jose to back away on the defensive.

Round 7 ............ Danny Lopez {10-9}

Note:
After the Round was over, Ringside Physician - Dr. Bernhard Schwarz went into Jose Torres' corner and
told the corner that he was recommending that the bout be stopped.

The Jose Torres corner agreed, and Jose would not come out for Round 8.

[Bill Paxtom]

Danny Lopez

It was a real good fight. Jose Torres was a lot better than I thought he was. I saw him fight on TV a few
times, and he looked good. But, he's a lot tougher than I thought.

I went down in Round 2, but I wasn't hurt. It was good punch on the 'chops', and I went down. But I
was clear headed.

I didn't know a lot about Jose Torres, but I found out that he could punch. But he also could take one
as well. He fought hard in every round. He's one tough Cookie.

I'm lucky that they stopped the fight after the 7th Round. I was very tired during the Round, and my
right-hand swelled up. I was in pain, and I'm not sure how many more Rounds I could have fought.

Now, I'm going to take 6-Weeks off, and come back in November. I'll probably take another 10-Round
non-title bout to stay sharp.

I guess I'll be defending my Title against #1 WBC-ranked - David Kotey in early-1978.

[brocktonblockbust]

September 13, 1977

Danny Lopez vs. Jose Torres

Round 4



Danny came out aggressively, and immediately started to pump in heavy 'one-two' punches to
the head.

Danny caught Jose with a 'jolting' left-hook to the chin at the {0:34 Mark}, and Jose wobbled
backwards and toward the front Ring area.

Danny then moved in, and slammed in a salvo of punches as Jose was 'pinned' on the front Ropes.

Danny then caught Jose with a '4-Punch' combination to the head that 'stunned' him. Then Danny
fired in a 'double' left-hook to the jaw, and came in with a 'sweeping' right-hand as Jose was falling
down on the 'seat-of-his-pants' at the {0:41 Mark}.

Jose was up at the '2-Count', and wobbled as he walked over to the right-side Ring area as he took
the Mandatory 8-Count from referee - Larry Rozadilla.

When the action resumed, Danny came 'blasting-forward' with fast-flurry as Jose moved to the
front Ropes.

Danny then caught Jose with a big 'sweeping' left-hook to the jaw, and Jose bent down and put
his hands on the canvas from preventing from going down at the {1:02 Mark}.

Jose took the 'Mandatory-Count', and was ready to go. Danny then moved forward, and battered
Jose along the front Ropes with vicious 'one-two' blows to the head, snapping Jose's head several times.

At the {1:43 Mark} Jose was 'badly' hurt from taking several right-hands 'flush-in-the-face'. But
10-Seconds later, Jose fought himself off the Ropes, and came back with an offensive-charge to
back Danny out to Center-Ring.

The bout then turned into a 'Rock-em Sock-em' slugfest as both fighters traded good punches on
each other over the last 40-Seconds of the Round

Round 4 ........... Danny Lopez {10-7}

[Bill Paxtom]

November 23, 1977

~ Danny 'Little Red' Lopez To Defend Title Against David 'Poison' Kotey

WBC Featherweight Champion - Danny 'Little Red' Lopez will make his 2nd Title Defense
of his Championship on February 15, 1978 at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas.

'Little Red' will be defending his Title against the man he took it from 1-Year ago
{Ghanan - David Kotey} back on November 6, 1976 in Accra, Ghana.

The Champion said that he would take the next 6-Weeks off, before starting his Training
preparation after the new year on January 3rd.

The Challenger and former Champion - David Kotey said that he has been in 'training' in
Accra, Ghana. The African boxer/puncher said that he would be coming to the United States
in late-January 1978.

The WBC Featherweight Championship Bout will be on the 'undercard' of the World Heavyweight
Championship Bout between Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks.