Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[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.


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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.

[Bill Paxtom]

Sunday ~ June 18, 1978

~ Danny Lopez - Eduardo Prieto Bout Cancelled ~

The WBC Featherweight Championship Bout between Champion - Danny Lopez and
the #1 WBC-ranked Challenger - Eduardo Prieto of Chile scheduled for next Saturday
{June 24th} has been cancelled.

At the pre-fight Physical Examination on Thursday {June 15th} it was discovered that
the young Challenger has a congenital disease 'cataracts' on his left eye.

The California State Athletic Commission immediately contacted Fight Promoter -
Aileen Eaton and ordered the bout cancelled.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ruben Godoy Morales 'Manager' for Eduardo Prieto >

We had a full examination last month in Iquique, Chile and there were no significant issues
with the left eye. Then we signed contracts of June 2nd.

This is a major disappointment. I guess we go back home now. We don't need a second
opinion. Eduardo wants to retire from Boxing now. He doesn't want to risk an injury or
losing his eye sight.

Eduardo's not even {Age; 22} yet, and his boxing career is over now. He's only been boxing
as a professional for a little over 3-Years. He really wanted to be a World Champion.

[Bill Paxtom]

August 3, 1978

~ Danny Lopez Signs To Defend WBC Championship Against Argentinian ~

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez will defend his WBC Featherweight Championship for the 4th Time
on September 15th in New Orleans.

The bout will the Main Undercard Bout, for the Leon Spinks vs. Muhammad Ali 'II" WBA
Heavyweight Championship.

'Little Red' {Age; 26 years, 1 month} with a record of 37-3-0 {35 KO's} has been listed
as a { 3-1 } Betting-Favorite over Argentinian - Juan Domingo Malvarez.

Malvarez {Age; 25 years, 11 months} has a record of 43-6-7 {25 KO's}. The Argentinian
goes by the nickname of 'Mingo', and is the Argentinian Featherweight Champion, a Title
that he has held since January 14, 1977.

Malvarez, a 7-Year Professional, is ranked as the #2 WBC Featherweight, and had gone
'unbeaten' in his last 29-Bouts {26-0-3} dating back to December 12, 1975.

Danny Lopez will be bringing his heavy-power and fierce aggression into the Ring. But, the
Champion has a porous defense, and has been down several times, especially early in his
bouts.

Malvarez who is a classic 'boxer-puncher', has only been stopped 'once' in his 56-Bout career,
and that was only in his 5th Professional bout, back on November 10, 1972.