< Ricardo "Finito" Lopez > Tribute video ~ Must see!!

[CutMeMick]

Being Puerto Rican, the rivalry between Puerto Rican and Mexican fighters has always been intense within me. Naturally, I root for the hometown fighter whenever there's a matchup. I've also disliked some all-time Mexican greats, such as Julio Cesar Chavez, Eric Morales, Fernando Vargas, and De La Hoya (if you count Mexican heritage on a U.S.-based fighter).

But two Mexican fighters that rank among my favorites are Marco Antonio Barrera and Ricardo "Finito" Lopez. In Barrera's case, I liked his humble nature and no-nonsense fighting style even BEFORE he embarassed Naseem Hamed. After that, he became a hero of mine.

With "Finito", even though he took out a popular P.R. champ in Alex "Nene" Sanchez, I've always admired the consumate skill of this fighter. A feared puncher, a perfect boxing stylist... this guy had it all. And such an unassuming character. He had all the right to brag, and never did. He just took on and beat all comers. Classic fighter, and one of my all-time favorites.

Class post Tito sometimes as fans it's hard to give fighters their dues when they are beating your countrymen.

But in the case of "Finito" you just can't help it but be in aww! of his skills.

You rarely saw him against the ropes and as I stated his ring generalship was outstanding. The precise punching he used like his trademark uppercuts were things of beauty. The brillaint hooks where he would rotate his whole upper body and what do you say about the straight right hand? Shit was fast and with some top caliber power.

[TitoFan]

Being Puerto Rican, the rivalry between Puerto Rican and Mexican fighters has always been intense within me. Naturally, I root for the hometown fighter whenever there's a matchup. I've also disliked some all-time Mexican greats, such as Julio Cesar Chavez, Eric Morales, Fernando Vargas, and De La Hoya (if you count Mexican heritage on a U.S.-based fighter).

But two Mexican fighters that rank among my favorites are Marco Antonio Barrera and Ricardo "Finito" Lopez. In Barrera's case, I liked his humble nature and no-nonsense fighting style even BEFORE he embarassed Naseem Hamed. After that, he became a hero of mine.

With "Finito", even though he took out a popular P.R. champ in Alex "Nene" Sanchez, I've always admired the consumate skill of this fighter. A feared puncher, a perfect boxing stylist... this guy had it all. And such an unassuming character. He had all the right to brag, and never did. He just took on and beat all comers. Classic fighter, and one of my all-time favorites.

Class post Tito sometimes as fans it's hard to give fighters their dues when they are beating your countrymen (thanks, bro ).

But in the case of "Finito" you just can't help it but be in aww! of his skills.

You rarely saw him against the ropes and as I stated his ring generalship was outstanding. The precise punching he used like his trademark uppercuts were things of beauty. The brillaint hooks where he would rotate his whole upper body and what do you say about the straight right hand? Shit was fast and with some top caliber power.

"Finito" was downright scary at that weight. If I'd been a fighter at that weight during his reign I probably would've said something to the effect of: "Yeah, I'm avoiding him... so what?"

[ICB]

I'd love to of seen Ricardo Lopez up against fighters like Roman Gonzalez, Ivan Calderon, Michael Carbajal, Humberto Gonzalez.

[Deanrw]

If you watch a lot of his hooks, he Loops them on purpose The reason he does it is because as soon as he does it, he dips his body the other way and then shortens the arc of the punch and them hits the mofo's every time.

He was brutal and sneaky. All about angles and his opponents could not tell where the punch was going.

[Beanflicker]

Awesome HL. It drives me nuts when you see "best mexican fighter" lists, and you see the usual suspects (Chavez, Barrera, Morales, Sanchez, ect ect) but Lopez is missing.

In my eyes he was the best fighter Mexico ever produced and one of the best fighters in the history of the sport. Its a shame he fought at weights that only serious boxing fans follow.

[ICB]

Awesome HL. It drives me nuts when you see "best mexican fighter" lists, and you see the usual suspects (Chavez, Barrera, Morales, Sanchez, ect ect) but Lopez is missing.

In my eyes he was the best fighter Mexico ever produced and one of the best fighters in the history of the sport. Its a shame he fought at weights that only serious boxing fans follow.

The top 5 skilled Mexican fighters of all time are.

In this order.

Ricardo Lopez
Miguel Canto
Salvador Sanchez
Juan Manuel Marquez
Marco Antonio Barrera

Probably something like that and the top 10 best Mexican fighters of all time.

Julio Cesar Chavez
Ruben Olivares
Ricardo Lopez
Miguel Canto
Marco Antonio Barrera
Erik Morales
Salvador Sanchez
Carlos Zarate
Vincente Saldivar
Kid Azteca

[CutMeMick]

Something that annoys me is when people say he didn't have hall of fame competition which is why his record is not impressive.

The thing is the lower weights especially Straweight is not on the same boat as the rest of the divisions. This is mainly in the lower weights.

Here's what I mean, fighters in the lower weights get title shots sooner/earlier in their careers then they do at the higher weights.

So you'll look at a Straweights record and it'll look like 21-3 and you'll say well what a short career. But when you actually study his record you'll see he fought something like 6 title bouts won 3 lost 3 and beat some top names. That may not look to be hall of fame career compared to Hagler or Duran but again it's because the careers at the lower weights seems to be shorter. Take Petelo for example his career ended at 17-5-2 hardly a monstrous career decorated with longevity but again look closer you'll see he fought Sor Vorapin, Jamili, Rubillar, Zolile & Lopez. He defended his IBF title 5 times before loosing to Lopez. That resume to me is a hall resume again considering the way careers go at the lower weight.

I think the Hall needs to update/revise a lot of things as far as their induction requirements. You can't measure careers when the lower weights are not on the same boat it's unfair to them IMO.

Anyway back to Lopez and his opposition.
I think he fought the best opposition available to him Ohashi, Saman, Kermin, Sanchez, Alvarez, Grisby, Vorapin & Petelo.
IMO all hall material for the small guys. So to me when I read things like he never fought top/hall opposition I just can't help but think that the people want to see opponents who had long careers with titles and all that but it's not the case.

Even today I mean in recent times did Calderon have any hall of fame names? Shit I just remembered he himself fought the same Sanchez, Lopez fought yrs. ago...
He moved up in weight and fought Cazares whos the biggest name on his resume. Yutaka himself, his best win is over Chana other then that he's got top names. I think Yutakas def. hall for a Straweight...

[Spicoli]

Nice intense Vid there.Awesome find.Lopez was a sensation with laser sighting on his punches.Shame King kept him buried on cards early on while all along he was, in many cases, the best fighter he had. It seems he is one of those greats that is fully realized only after the career is completed.Prior to him and not until the sun was setting on Lopez's career,Ring Magazine did not even recognize 105 in the rankings.

It always frustrated me that he would not jump up and tangle with many guys mentioned.The dream fight was with Carbajal who,with the two fisted help of Humberto Gonzalez,was busy putting the Jr.Flys on the map.Lopez vs. Carbajal would have been a great battle.I Love Carbajal, one of my all time favorites.But all things considered.....Lopez beats him.Oh that hurt just to say.I think Lopez could manage the weight and takes a tough 12 round decision.Carbajal was stellar but he could be boxed.If you only boxed on the back foot,Carbajal would cut you down and assert himself,nice left hooks.But if you boxed him and used mobility AND brought a decent punch (and yes,a good chin) you could pull it off.Gonzalez made very nice adjustments in their follow up meetings with strong boxing,even with a crimson mask.I thought Michael took the 2nd fight,scoring objectively,of course.

Lopez was just too damn mobile/versatile,very accurate pin point combination puncher and could come off the back foot so fast or off the side to touch you up badly before you knew what hit you,kept you very honest and if you wavered,he would take you out .

[Chino]

I'll say the guy that probably tested him was Rosendo Alvarez. Some people were questioning the draw and he was the only guy to knock him down ever in his career and leave his face full of blood. I would have to go see it again. His victory against Vorapin was nice. A guy with KO power who I believe is still fighting in Asia.

[Master]

Perfect poise, balance, skills, jab, right hand, left hook. What is there not to like about the perfect fighter.

[rjj tszyu]

nice. very nice!