Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[Bill Paxtom]

Sunday ~ April 23, 1978

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Promoter ...... Aileen Eaton
Television ..... NBC 'Sportsworld'

WBC Featherweight Championship
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* WBC - Danny Lopez - 36-3-0 {34 KO's} ~ 126 lbs. ~ 5' 8" ~ Reach; 70 1/2" ~ {Age; 25 years, 9 months}
vs.
#9 WBC - Jose DePaula - 36-2-2 {12 KO's} ~ 125 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 6" ~ Reach; 68" ~ {Age; 29 years, 11 months}

Danny Lopez has been listed as a 'heavy' {5-1} Betting-Favorite.

[Bill Paxtom]

Sunday ~ April 23, 1978

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

~ Danny Lopez Retains WBC Featherweight Title ~

~ Lopez Scores TKO 6 Over Brazilian Challenger ~

Danny Lopez retained his WBC Featherweight Title for the '3rd' time by over-whelming #9 WBC Challenger
Jose DePaula by TKO at {1:30} of Round 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Round 1 >
The Challenger -- Jose Depaula {a 10-Day substitute} did very well in the 1st-Round, as he smartly boxed,
and landed numerous left-jabs and left-hooks into the pressing Champion's head. DePaula also whipped in an
occasional looping right-hand to the head, as Danny was upright while moving in.

The 'stylish-boxer' from Brazil circled to his left as Danny pressed forward. DePaula kept pumping in left-hands
and quick left-hooks into the face of the Champion to take the 1st-Round.

Round 2 >
Again, DePaula opened up by smartly boxing-and-circling as Danny tried to press-forward. The in a 'flash at the
{0:25} both fighters got into a slug-fest.

Surprisingly the 'light-hitting' Challenger stunned Danny with a 'jarring 'left-right' to the chin, and then continued
to score with 'sharp-punches'. Danny was pressing, but he was getting out-worked by the smart boxing and quick
hitting Brazilian.

Jose DePaula was keeping the fight at Center-Ring, and by the {2:10 Mark} he was having a solid Round.

Then as both fighters moved in close, Danny sent a hard measuring left-hand, and came over the top with a straight
right-hand to the jaw at the {2:19 Mark}. Jose Depaula was 'hurt'.

To prevent from going down, DePaula moved in to grab Danny. By the {2:29 Mark} he had grabbed the Champion's
waist. Danny continued to look for another opening. Then at the {2:41 Mark}, Danny blasted another right-hand
to the Challenger's jaw.

DePaula then went 'stiff-legged'. Danny poured it over the last 15-Seconds, but the veteran Brazilian held on until
the Bell.

[Bill Paxtom]

Danny Lopez vs. Jose DePaula

Round 3 >
Surprisingly, Jose DePaula came out quickly, and took the lead. Both fighters got into a 'heated'
exchange at Center-Ring, and the Brazilian got the better of the two.

DePaula caught Danny with a 'jolting' right-hand to the chin at the {0:28 Mark}, and drove
Danny backwards to the front-left Corner with a barrage of punches to the face.

DePaula added in a 'big' right-hand to the jaw at the {0:38 Mark}. Over the next-minute, the
Challenger took it to the Champion, and was in total command up thru the {1:30 Mark}.

But Danny moved out to Center-Ring, and started to get the range. Danny caught the
aggressive Challenger with a solid right to the face, and DePaul was now sporting a cut under
his right-eye at the {1:43 Mark}.

But DePaula came back with a 'tremendous' right-hand to the Champion's jaw at the {1:47 Mark}.

But Danny kept pumping in solid 'one-two' punches to the head, and he 'stunned' DePaula again
at the {2:04 Mark}.

But the Challenger came back again, and landed another good right-hand to the head of Danny
at the {2:12 Mark}.

The Challenger then tried to move in close, to take advantage, but Danny recovered and punched
back. He then caught DePaula with a jarring 'left-right' to the head at the {2:38 Mark}, and then
added in with a solid right-uppercut to the jaw that had the Brazilian 'groggy'.

Jose DePaula was 'reeling', but he stayed on his feet and was punching back at the Bell.


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

Round 4 >
Both fighters met at Center-Ring, and started to trade. The Challenger was able to get off with a
few good combinations, while doing good job of boxing-and-moving.

Danny continued to press over the first 30-Seconds.

DePaula scored with a good 'right-left' to the head at the {0:32 Mark}. Danny was able to counter
with a 'hard' right-hand to the head at the {0:40 Mark}.

DePaula did a good job of boxing, while mixing in with sharp-punches thru the {1:05 Mark}. Both
fighters got into a good exchange at the {1:11 Mark} while at Center-Ring.

The Challenger was not afraid to trade with the hard-hitting Champion. Danny moved in close, and
scored with a hard '4-Punch' combination to the Challenger's body at the {1:25 Mark}.

But DePaula came back with a 'hard' right-hand counter to the head. Danny pressed back and fired,
but he was missing with his punches, as the Brazilian did a great job of moving and slipping the
punches for the next 30-Seconds.

Danny caught DePaula with a 'grazing' right-hand to the head at the {2:05 Mark}. But DePaula moved
forward, and scored with a crisp 'left-right' counter at the {2:07 Mark}. The Challenger then added
a grazing right-hand to Danny's chin at the {2:17 Mark}.

Danny then 'stepped-it-up' at the {2:25 Mark}, and raked over the Challenger with a 'series-of-punches'
for the next 20-Seconds.

But DePaula weathered the 'brief storm', and held his own over the last 10-Seconds of Round 4.

[Bill Paxtom]

Danny Lopez vs. Jose DePaula

After 4-Rounds, the bout was very close.

Round 5 >

'A Great Round'

Jose Depaula came out fast, and boxed well as he moved and jabbed over the first 20-Seconds.
Depaula then scored with a 'big' right-hand to Danny's jaw at the {0:22 Mark}.

Both fighters were at Center-Ring, and traded at the {0:37 Mark}. Danny scored with a hard
'right-left' to the body at the {0:40 Mark}.

But DePaula returned back with a fast 'left-right' to the face at the {0:51 Mark}. Both fighters
then traded good punches at Center-Ring at the {1:03 Mark}.

The Challenger then switched to 'southpaw' at the {1:14 Mark}, and then went to boxing from
the outside by flicking in right-jabs as he circled. At the {1:31 Mark} the Challenger went back
to the 'orthodox stance'

DePaula landed a 'jarring' left-hook to Danny's head at the {1:33 Mark}.

The Champion stepped in and countered with a 'solid' right-hand to the head at the {1:36 Mark}.
The Challenger appeared to be wearing down some, as Danny was pressing hard.

Both fighters traded good blows at the {1:48 Mark}. DePaula was now getting a 'little wild'
with his punches at the {2:00 Mark}.

Danny continued to press hard with inside blows, and by the {2:05 Mark} DePaula was hanging
on.

At the {2:07 Mark}, Danny landed a very hard 'left-right-left' to the head.

But the Challenger fought back hard at the {2:12 Mark} and forced Danny to back up into the
left-side Ropes as he flung in a series of head punches.

At the {2:20 Mark} Danny was fighting back, and DePaula backed out to Center-Ring, and then
he started backing away.

Danny continued to press hard, and landed a 'hard' right-hand to the head at the {2:36 Mark}.
The Challenger then moved to the back-right Ring area, and looked 'shaken'.

Danny stepped in, and landed with another 'hard' 2-Punch combination to the head which sent
DePaula backing away to the front-center Ring area at the {2:40 Mark}.

The Challenger then tried to back away to the left-side Ring area, but Danny caught him with a
'grazing' right-hand the head, and then with a 'jolting' left-hook the chin at the {2:45 Mark}.

Danny then caught the back-pedaling Challenger with a left-hand and short right-uppercut
to the chin at the {2:48 Mark}.

DePaula was 'stunned' as he backed up to the back-left Ring area. Danny moved in quickly.
The Champion then fired in with a 'left-right-left' to the head at the {2:51 Mark}.

Jose DePaula bends low to try and avoid the 'barrage'.

Danny then caught the Challenger with a 'jarring' right-uppercut to the chin at the {2:53 Mark}.

Danny added in with a straight 'right-hand' to the chin, and a hard 'straight-left' to the head, and
the Challenger went 'down' on the seat of his pants at the {2:55 Mark}.

Jose DePaula was up at the '2-Count' as Referee - Dick Young gave the 'Mandatory-Count' as
the Bell rang ending the Round.

[Bill Paxtom]

Danny Lopez vs. Jose DePaula

Round 6 >

Jose DePaula was coming with a 'slice' on his right cheek, a badly swollen right-cheek, and wobbly legs.

The Challenger cam out to Center-Ring, and immediately started to circle to his left 180* to the right-side
Ring area.

Danny pressed forward, and stated to deliver 'heavy' one-two punches. By the {0:12 Mark}, the Brazilian
Challenger was dancing on 'shaky pins'.

Danny moved in and unloaded with a hard 'left-right-left' to the head at the {0:15 Mark}.

DePaula scored with a 'looping' right at the {0:19 Mark}, but the punch had no power behind it. DePaula
bobbed-and-weaved as Danny tried with 'left-right' punches, but missed.

But Danny caught DePaula with a hard 'left-right' to the head at the {0:28 Mark}, DePaula then moved
to the back-left Corner, and went back to bobbing-and-weaving as the Champion came charging in.

DePaula danced away at the {0:39 Mark}, but his legs were 'wobbly'. DePaula then circled to his left
180*, and moved to the front-center Ropes.

Danny moved in stalking, as he looked to unload his heavy-punches. Danny then scored with a 'jolting'
left-right to the head, and a follow-up right-hook.

DePaula reeled backwards into the front-right Corner at the {0:48 Mark}. The Champion moved in, and
unloaded with a solid '5-Punch' flurry.

Danny then caught the 'fading' Challenger with a big right-hand to the head at the {0:55 Mark}.

DePaula then grabbed the Champion by the wait to hold on. The Challenger then spun out 180* and
backed out to Center-Ring at the {1:00 Mark}.

Danny then caught the Challenger with a 'wicked' left-hook to the jaw at the {1:03 Mark}, and DePaula's
knee's buckled.

DePaula then back-tracked fast, as the Champion put heavy-pressure on him for the next 20-Seconds.
The Champion then drove the Challenger to the back Ropes at the {1:24 Mark}.

There, Danny fired in a hard '6-Punch' barrage to the head, and DePaula was in 'bad shape'.

Danny added in a 'vicious' right-uppercut to the chin, and DePaula's head snapped back. Danny followed
up with another right-uppercut to the jaw at the {1:29 Mark}.

Just then, Joe DePaula's corner 'threw-in-the-towel' as Referee - Dick Young moved in and called the
bout over at the {1:30 Mark} of Round 6.

[Bill Paxtom]

Danny Lopez vs. Jose DePaula

~ After Bout Comments ~

Fight Purses >
* Danny Lopez ........ $110,000
* Jose DePaula .......... $20,000

Danny Lopez >
Jose DePaula was a very good opponent. He was very 'tricky-and-cagey'. He knew how
to box for sure. He surprised me a few times with his power. He wasn't supposed to be
a hard-puncher, but he sure got my attention a few times.

They said that he had never been knocked down or stopped in a bout. You could see that
he was 'highly-skilled'. But I caught him with a good right-hand during the second-half of
Round 2, and he was hurt.

After that, I just bided my time. I knew that I would eventually get to him. I started to wear
him down during the second-half of Round 5. By then, he had little left in his punches. After
I scored the 'knockdown' at the end of Round 5, I knew that I would win.

I just put heavy-pressure on him in Round 6, and he was wobbling around the Ring on weak
legs. They stopped it at the right time, as he was hurt.

Jose DePaula >
He {Danny Lopez} is a very good fighter. He has tremendous power. I have never been hit
that hard before. He's like a 'big' Lightweight {135 lbs.}. He's just too big.

He was very strong. I held my own for the first 4-Rounds, but he started to wear me down.
He hits hard, and those punches to the body take your strength away.

I only had 8-Days to prepare for him. I wish that I had '5' weeks to get ready, then I would
have been able to give a better performance in the Ring.

[Bill Paxtom]

June 1, 1978

[B][/~ Danny Lopez To Defend Against South American Champion ~ Eduardo Prieto ~B]

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 37-3-0 {35 KO's}
vs.
Eduardo 'Maravilla' Prieto - 27-0-1 {11 KO's}

The previously cancelled bout between Danny Lopez and Eduardo Prieto {from April} has now
ben set for Sunday - June 18th at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.

The bout will be televised by ABC-TV 'Wide World of Sport'

WBC Featherweight Champion - Danny Lopez will be making the 4th Defense of the Title he
won back on November 6, 1976.

[Bill Paxtom]

June 1, 1978

~ Danny Lopez To Defend WBC Championship Against South American - Eduardo Prieto ~

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 37-3-0 {35 KO's} ~ {Age; 25 years, 11 months}
vs.
Eduardo 'Maravilla' Prieto - 27-0-1 {11 KO's} ~ {Age; 21 years, 10 months}

The previously cancelled bout between Danny Lopez and Eduardo Prieto {from April 23rd}
has now been set for Saturday Afternoon - June 24h at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.

The bout will be televised by ABC-TV - 'Wide World of Sports'

WBC Featherweight Champion - Danny Lopez will be making the 4th Defense of the Title he won on
November 6, 1976.

The Champion will receive a fight purse of $125,000.

Eduardo Prieto of Chile, is both the South American and Chile Featherweight Champion. He is currently
positioned as the Top Ranked #1 WBC Featherweight.

The tall and lanky {5' 7 1/2"} Chilean, is a slick-boxing southpaw who has great hand-speed and
excellent ring skills.

In Chile he is called 'Maravilla', which translates to 'The Boy Wonder'.

The 'unbeaten' Challenger will receive a fight purse of $25,000 plus expenses. The Chile native will also
receive ancillary fee's for the Television broadcast to South America, which should be an additional $12,000.

Eduardo is set to arrive in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday, June 13th for 10-days of training.