Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[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}
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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.

[beenKOed]

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez has been terrific from the beginning, I know it has to end one of these days and I'm not looking forward to it. Really appreciate the work you put into these threads and I'm hoping we're going to see a book at some point. Excellent work!

[Bill Paxtom]

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez has been terrific from the beginning, I know it has to end one of these days and I'm not looking forward to it. Really appreciate the work you put into these threads and I'm hoping we're going to see a book at some point. Excellent work!

Thank You Sir,

Some bouts that we never got to see.

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez against >

* Ben Villaflor
* Bobby Chacon 'II'
* Alexis Arguello
* Sean O'Grady 'II'
* Eusubio Pedroza
* Carlos Zarate
* Wilfredo Gomez

[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.

[Bill Paxtom]

Wednesday ~ February 15, 1978

Hilton Hotel ~ Las Vegas, Nevada

WBC Featherweight Championship

* WBC - Danny 'Little Red'Lopez - 35-3-0- {33 KO's} ~ 125 lbs. ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ Reach; 70 1/2" ~ {Age; 25 years, 7 months}
vs
#1 WBC - David 'DK Poison' Kotey - 37-3-2 {22 KO's} ~ 126 lbs. ~ 5' 7" ~ Reach; 69" ~ {Age; 27 years, 2 months}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ 'Little Red' Skinny ~

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez is listed as a slight betting-favorite at {5-3} for his 2nd Title Defense.

Danny had last fought and defended his Title {5-Months earlier} on September 13, 1977.

Danny was supposed to take a 'non-title' bout in early-December 1977, but he pulled out
citing a 'flu'.

Danny will be receiving a Fight Purse of $125,000. His highest ever.

Danny Lopez >

I know that he will be coming out fast, to take advantage of my slow start. I'll be waiting,
and I will look to block and counter. I have spent all of my Training Camp working on
defense and blocking punches. He will not have an easy time of hitting me now. He will have
to work hard to land his overhand-right.

I won't be a sitting target like last time. I now 'roll-with-punches', and have learned to slip them
better.

I'll let him burn himself out like last time, and then take over. But, he has a lot of courage, and is a
very strong fighter. I won't predict a Round, only that I will win by Knockout.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ 'DK Poison' Skinny ~

David Kotey has been waiting 10-Monthhs {since April 1977} for this rematch, as these two were
supposed to have their rematch back then.

Both 'political' and 'financial' disagreements between the two fighter's Camps had developed.

David has last fought on December 4, 1977, when he scored an easy {KO 3} over Victor Diaz
in a tune-up bout in Ghana.

The former Champion will receive a Fight Purse of $40,000 - plus he received $5000 in 'up-front'
Training Expenses. He will also receive all Travel Expenses and other 'related' expenses while he is
here in the United States.

David Kotey >

I have been waiting for 10-Months for this. I will not let tis opportunity pass. I fought too fast last
time, because I wanted to score a 1st-Round Knockout in front of my countrymen. I fought fast,
and was completely exhausted by the 5th Round, and he still could not knock me out.

I have put in 250-Rounds of sparring waiting for this fight. I'm not about to let it all go to waste.

This time I will fight with a better-pace. I will still look for an early Round Knockout, but I won't
fight so erratic like last time. I will win, and I'm pretty sure that I will stop him this time. He is
a good fighter, and he is very strong. I just have to fight smarter this time.

[Bill Paxtom]

Wednesday ~ February 15, 1978

Hilton Hotel ~ Las Vegas, Nevada
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Danny Lopez Retains Crown ~

~ 'Little Red' Lopez Halts Kotey By TKO In 6th ~

Danny Lopez sends a 'jolting' right-hand to the head of Challenger- David Kotey during Round 6, to
drive the Ghanan into the back-right Corner.

Moments later, Referee - Ray Solis stepped in and stopped the on-slaught at the {1:18 Mark} of Round 6,
as Kotey was defenseless


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Bout ~

Round 1
The muscular David Kotey utilized his 'speed-and-quickness' to out-hit the upringht Champion. Kotey scored
with good left-hooks and whipping right-hands to Danny's head. Kotey added in a 'fast-flury' at the end of
the Round that 'shook' the Champion.

Round 2
Again the Ghanan came out both 'fast-and-sharp'. Kotely zipped in with fast left-hooks and overhand-rights
over the first-half of the sesssion.

But, by the {2:00 Mark}, his punches lacked power. Now he started to throw 'arm-punches', and was moving
away quickly to avoid any exchanges.

Round 3
Danny came out a little more aggressively, and he started to deliver 'thudding' body-blows into Kotey. The
Champion landed one 'very-hard' right-hand into Kotey's ribs at the {1:30 Mark}, and the Challenger looked
to be hurt.

Now Kotey was worried about getting hit, and he was on the defensive by the middle-point of the session
and on. Later in the Round, Danny started 'ripping' in hard right-hooks into the Challenger's head. Kotey
was 'visibly shaken' by several right-hands to the head, and Kotey looked to be fading at the Bell.

Round 4
Danny came out both steady, and moving forward. The Champion kept pumping in straight 'one-two' punches
into Kotey, who was backing away fast.

By the {1:40 Mark}, the Champion now sensed that David Kotey had nothing left in his arsenal, so Danny tore
into the Challenger with heavy-punches. At the {2:10 Mark}, Danny threw some 'savage' right-hands into Kotey.
It was all Danny Lopez, as he just had too much 'power-and-aggression' for the Ghanan.

David Kotey was 'woozy' at the end of he Round, as he dejectedly walked back to his Corner.

Round 5
The Champion came out 'briskly, and went right after the fading Challenger. Danny forced Kotey to the Ropes.
There, Danny let fly with the 'heavy-wood', and he gave Kotey a one-sided 'lathering'.

By the {1:00 Mark}, the Challenger was getting 'raked over', as Danny was sending in hard punches. Kotey
then took a 'frightful poundng' for the next minute.

Then in a 'flash' and out-of-nowhere, David Kotey let go with a desperation counter right-hand, and caught
Danny flush on his left-eye area at the {2:10 Mark}.

Danny's legs immediately 'buckled' and he backed up on 'shaky pins'. He was momentarily 'out-on-his-feet'.

David Kotey sensing his 'one-last-chance', came off the Ropes with an explosion, and rained a series of blows
into Danny's head. Danny reeled for 20-Seconds, but by the {2:40 Mark} he had cleared his head and showed
incredible recuperative-powers.

Danny then came back with a steady 'one-two' punch attack, and was back in control at the end of the Round.

At the end of the Round, Danny was sporting a 'swollen' and nearly closed left-eye.

Round 6
Both fighters slugged away early at Mid-Ring. But the Champion was just more powerful than the Challenger,
and Danny 'rocked' Kotey with a 'right-left' to the head at the {0:40 Mark}.

Danny then slugged Kotey with a left-hook to the jaw while they traded at Mid-Ring at the {0:44 Mark}, and
the Ghanan was 'staggered', and he wobbled backwards.

Danny then moved in fast, and pounded his 'dazed' opponent with a flurry, capped off by a solid right-hand
to the head. David Kotey went down hard at the {0:52 Mark}.

Kotey struggled to get up at the '7-Count' and was seriously hurt, but the Referee - Ray Solis let it continue.

The action resumed at the {1:05 Mark}, and Danny Lopez came in fast and unloaded with a continuous assault
on Kotey, who then 'wobbled' backwards and into the back-right Corner.

Danny caught Kotey with several hard punches to the head, as Kotey 'sagged-and-dipped' into the Ropes where
he was 'defenseless'.

Danny added in 'one' big right-hand to he jaw, and Kotey was nearly 'out-on-his-feet'.

Referee - Ray Solis then jumped in at the {1:18 Mark} and halted the one-sided battering.

[Bill Paxtom]

Danny Lopez vs. David Kotey 'II'

After Bout Comments

Danny Lopez

He was much better the last time we fought {November 6, 1976}. Tonight he fought good
in the 1st and 2nd Rounds only, that's all.

I started to hit him in the body in the 3rd Round, and he fell apart after that. He looked
frightened. He was afraid to get hit.

He did get lucky in the 5th Round, when he caught with me with a 'Hail-Mary' haymaker.
That right-hand to my left-eye did hurt me for a 'flash'. But I recovered, and came back to
hurt him at the end of the 5th Round.

It was a good fight for as long as it lasted. He {David Kotey} may come back again. I'm
sure we haven't seen the last of him. He's still a Top 5 Featherweight. If he gets a couple
of wins, he'll be right back to #1 in the WBC rankings.

David Kotey

I felt good tonight. But once he hit me in the body {right-hand to the ribs} in the 3rd Round,
it took a lot out of me. He {Danny Lopez} hits much harder now.

The problem is that I over-trained. Look at my body. Not an ounce of fat on it. I was too
tight in there. I was strong, but I had no flexibility. I was too tight.

But that is not an excuse, as he was the better man tonight. He won and that's all that
matters.

I had been waiting for this fight for 10-Months > since April 30, 1977 > when we were supposed
to fight in Ghana. All these postponements and delays really effected me. I'm asking the WBC
for a rematch. I'll be ready in 90-Days.