Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[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.

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ September 15, 1978

Superdome ~ New Orleans, Louisiana

* WBC Featherweight Championship

* WBC - Danny Lopez - 37-3-0 {35 KO's} ~ 125 1/4 lbs. ~ 5' 8" ~ {Age; 26 years, 2 months}
vs.
#2 WBC - Juan Domingo Malvarez - 43-6-7 {25 KO's} ~ 125 3/4 lbs. ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ {Age; 25 years, 11 months}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

Danny Lopez will be making the 4th Defense of his Title that he won back on November 6, 1976.

Juan Domingo 'Mingo' Malvarez of Argentina is Managed by Carlos 'Tito' Lecture. All week prior
to the Championship Bout, 'Tito' Lecture has been stating this fighter has the right style to
defeat the Champion - 'Little Red' Lopez.

Malvarez is very fast, and has both a lightning-quick and powerful left-hook. He also has a very
good right-hand cross. The Argentinian has gone 'unbeaten' {26-0-3} over the past 34-Months.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Bout ~

The Challenger took no caution, and went right after the Champion - Danny Lopez in the Opening
Round.

Both fighters met at Center-Ring. The Challenger sent in a left-jab as he moved to his left at the
{0:03 Mark}. Then Malvarez darted to his right at the {0:05 Mark}.

Malvarez fired in a quick double left-hook at the {0:08 Mark} as the Champion moved forward.

Malvarez then moved to his left, and fired in a straight right-and lead at the {0:10 Mark}. Danny
continued to press forward.

Malvarez lands with a left-jab to Danny's face a the {0:14 Mark}. Danny is still moving forward.

Danny 'misses' with a right-hand lead at the {0:18 Mark} as the Challenger ducks low along the
front Ring area.

Malvarez tries with a fast '4-Punch' combination, but misses with all his punches as the Champion
steps back at the {0:20 Mark}.

Malvarez moves over to the right-side Ring area at the {0:22 Mark}.

At the {0:23 Mark} Malvarez scores with a solid left-jab to the face, and Danny backs out a step.

The Challenger then leaps in, and fires in a jolting 'left-hook and right-hand' to the jaw at the {0:26 Mark}
as Danny backs up.

Danny steps in and fires out a 'left-right' at the {0:30 Mark}, but the punches are high.

Malvarez counters quickly, and lands with a jarring 'right-hand' to the chin, and comes back with a
'jolting' left-right to the jaw at the {0:32 Mark}.

The Champion 'goes down' at the {0:33 Mark}.

Danny is up at the '2-Count' and backs up to the back-right Corner area as Referee - Marcello Bertini
gives him the Mandatory Count.

[Bill Paxtom]

Danny Lopez vs. Juan Domingo Malvarez

~ Round 1 ~

The Challenger floored Danny Lopez at the {0:33 Mark}, after tagging him with a
solid right-hand lead to the chin, and a follow up left-hook to the jaw, and right-hand
to the head.