Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[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}
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~ '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.
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~ '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.