Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[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.

[Bill Paxtom]

March 1978

WBC Ratings

*** Danny Lopez
#1 .. Ruben Castillo
#2 .. Cecilio Lastra ~ {WBA Champion}
#3 .. Roberto Castanon
#4 .. David Kotey
#5 .. Eduardo Prieto
#6 .. Eusebio Pedroza
#7 .. Juan Domingo Malvarez
#8 .. Jose Torres
#9 .. Jose DePaula
#10 . Spider Nemoto

#11 . Ernesto Herrera
#12 . Soon-Hyun Chung
#13 . Bok-Soo Hwang
#13 . Fel Clemente
#14 . Sean O'Grady
#15 . Natale Vezzoli

[Bill Paxtom]

March 10, 1978

~ Danny 'Little Red' Lopez To Defend Against - Chile's Eduardo 'Maravilla' Prieto

WBC Championship Bout scheduled or April 23rd at the Olympic Auditorium

The Champion - Danny Lopez {Age; 25 years, 9 months} with a record of 35-3-0 {33 KO's}
will be making the 3rd Defense of his Title.

The Challenger - Eduardo Prieto {Age; 21 years, 8 months} is ranked as the #5 WBC Featherweight.
Prieto who is from Chile, has a record of 26-0-1 {10 KO's}.

Eduardo is called 'Maravilla' {The Wonder} in his hometown of Iquique, Chile. He is also the Chile
National Champion, as well as the South American Champion {since > April 23, 1977}.

The South American fighter is a 'stylish boxer' with extremely fast-hands. Size will not be a
disadvantage for Eduardo like most opponets who face 'Little Red', as he stands at 5' 7 1/2" and
has a 69 1/2" reach, which will nearly equal that of the Champion.

Promoter - Aileen Eaton >
* The bout will be televised on NBC Sportsworld.
* Danny Lopez will receive a Fight Purse of $100,000.
* The Challenger - Eduardo Prieto will receive a Fight Purse of $25,000 > as well as Travel Expenses.