Danny 'Little Red' Lopez ~ Career

[Bill Paxtom]

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez

Born .... July 6, 1952

Amateur Career ....... 40-7
Included, was winning the New Mexico Golden Gloves in both 1970 and 1971 at 54 Kg {119 lbs. Bantamweight}.

Danny also captured the Mountain Golden Gloves championship in the famous 'Battle of the Champions'
tournament held at Williams Gym in January 1971.

Danny was also selected to participate in the 1971 National Golden Gloves tournament held in
Forth Worth, Texas in March 1971.

Danny made it to the Semi-Finals of the Bantamweight Division where he lost a close Decision to Johnny Moreno
on March 22, 1971. Johnny went on to win the National Golden Gloves championship.

A 5' 7" tall, and hard-punching wide-open bombing Bantamweight, Danny was highly sought after by
Boxing Managers who wanted the 18 1/2 year old to turn Professional.
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1971 ... Danny, here with older brother Ernie, and Manager Howie Steindler

[Bill Paxtom]

Professional Debut

Thursday ~ May 27, 1971 ....... Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Main Event > Frankie Crawford vs. Tony Jumao-As

Danny Lopez - 0-0-0 {0 KO's} ~ 122 lbs. ~ {Age; 18 years, 10 months}
vs.
Steve Flajole - 2-0-1 {0 KO's} ~ 124 lbs. ~ {Age; 19 years, 6 months}
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Danny 'Little Red' Lopez made his professional debut against > Steve 'Ax Pole' Flajole from
Tacoma, Washington.

Danny {5' 7"} had a 4" height advantage over the {5' 3"} Tacoma visitor.

It was no contest, as Danny fired right-hand after right-hand over the top of his shorter
opponents left-jabs.

Danny dropped Flajole with '2' right-hands to the chin at the {0:55 Mark}. Flajole managed
to beat the count, and attempted to fight back.

But Danny was 'pin-point' with his right-hand punches, and dropped Flajoe again, where he
was counted out at the {1:44 Mark}.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ June 17, 1971 ...... Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Main Event .... Rodolfo Lobato vs. Vil Tumulak

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 1-0-0 {1 KO} ~ 119 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 7"~ {Age; 18 years, 11 months}
vs.
Felix 'Fili' Castro - 3-0-1 {1 KO} ~ 119 lbs. ~ 5' 3" {Age; 19 years, 3 months}

Televised on > Channel 13 {KCOP}

Danny got a good write up before the bout. His original opponent > Jose Luis Estrada pulled
out 2-Days before the bout.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Danny overwhelmed an undersized 'Fili' Castro, and deposited him on the canvas only 16-Seconds
into the bout after landing a hard right-hand to the head.

Castro was up at the '3-Count', and fought on. But Danny kept throwing bombs, and dropped
'Fili' again after tagging him with a 'left-right' to the chin just past the mid-way point the Round.

Referee - Rudy Jordan counted out Felix Castro @ 1:42 of the 1st Round.

[beenKOed]

Man! Brings back some names I haven't thought of in long time. Frankie Crawford and referee Rudy Jordan.

[Bill Paxtom]

Man! Brings back some names I haven't thought of in long time. Frankie Crawford and referee Rudy Jordan.

How about.

Olympic Auditorium Promoter ..... Aileen Eaton
Boxing Matchmaker ................... Don Chargin
Television Broadcast .................. Channel; 13 {KCOP-TV}

[beenKOed]

Man! Brings back some names I haven't thought of in long time. Frankie Crawford and referee Rudy Jordan.

How about.

Olympic Auditorium Promoter ..... Aileen Eaton
Boxing Matchmaker ................... Don Chargin
Television Broadcast .................. Channel; 13 {KCOP-TV}

I'll never forget Eaton or Chargin. We always called it K-COP, same call letters since the 50s I think.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ July 8, 1971 ....... Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Main Event ...... Ernie 'Red' Lopez vs. Danny Perez

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 2-0-0 {2 KO's} ~ 5' 7" ~ 119 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 19 years, 0 months}
vs.
Mauro Olivares - 2-3-0 {0 KO's} ~ 5' 5" ~ 119 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 20 years, 7 months}
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Danny Lopez won his 3rd-Straight bout by a 1st Round Knockout. Danny moved into Mauro Olivares
from the Opening Bell, and battered the out-matched Los Angeles Bantamweight with right-and-left
hands to the head.

Lopez delivered a barrage of blows on Olivares, who backed away to the Ropes, and took heavy
punishment,

Danny dropped Olivares with a right to the head, and a follow up left-hook to the right-ear.

Referee - Rudy Jordan counted out Mauro Olivares @ 1:13 of Round 1.

~ First Round KO by the Younger Lopez ~

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ July 29, 1971 ...... Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Televised ......... Channel 13 {KCOP-TV}
Attendance ...... 5677

Main Event ........ Mac Foster vs. Billy Joiner

Danny Lopez - 3-0-0 {3 KO's} ~ 5' 7" ~ 119 lbs. ~ {Age; 19 years, 0 months}
vs.
Jose Luis Estrada - 5-3-0 {2 KO's} ~ 5' 4" ~ 116 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 20 years, 1 month}
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Danny Lopez takes on Mexicali Bantamweight - Jose Luis Estrada.

~ Danny Lopez Wins 4th In A Row ~

An exciting 1st-Round, as both youngsters go toe-to-toe, each landing solid punches in
a wild shoot-out.

Late in the 1st-Round, Estrada lands a hard right-hook to Danny's chin, and he is dropped.
Danny gets up at the '2-Count', and takes the mandatory-count before resuming. Danny
is clear, and is battling back hard at the end of the session.

In Round 2, Danny comes out winging, Immediately he rocks Estrada with a barrage, and
drives the Mexicali fighter to the canvas at the {0:38 Mark} after landing a 7-Punch barrage.

Estrada is up at the '2-Count', and is ready to go on. Both fighter slug away at Center-Ring
for the next 50-Seconds.

Danny catches Estrada with a 'right-left-right' to the head, and Estrada goes down again at
the {1:43 Mark}. Estrada again is up quickly, and is ready to fight on.

By the {2:40 Mark}, Estarada has cleared the cob-webs, and is fighting back hard.

Again, both fighters slug away to the roar of the {5677} spectators. Estrada rallies at the
end of the Round to cheers from his supporters.

In Round 3, both fighters charge to Center-Ring, and exchange. Danny catches a wide-open
Estrada with a booming right-hand to the chin, and the Mexicali fighter goes down at the
{0:09 Mark}.

Estrada struggles up at the '7-Count', and is shaky but wants to continue. Referee - Rudy Jordan
allows it to go on.

When the action resumes, Danny moves in on his hurt opponent, and unloads with a 'two-fisted'
barrage and drops Estrada for a 4th-time.

This time Jose Luis Estrada does not get up, and he is counted out @ {0:35} of Round 3 by
Referee - Rudy Jordan.

Danny Lopez >
"I never saw the punch that knocked me down in the 1st-Round. I was stunned all-right. He
hit me good, right on the button. But I cleared my head, and was ready to slug back."

[beenKOed]

A fight a month!! When did he have time for a anything else? Youth, I miss it. Lol

[Bill Paxtom]

A fight a month!! When did he have time for a anything else? Youth, I miss it. Lol

In 6-Months {May 27, 1971 -thru- November 18, 1971}

Danny Lopez had 8-Bouts, scoring {8 KO's}, with '4' coming in the 1st Round.

Aileen Eaton {Promoter} and Don Chargin {Matchmaker} had turned 'Little Red' into
a 'Star' at the Olympic Auditorium.

And the coverage on Television {Channel 13 ~ KCOP-TV} made Danny a media darling.

A young 19 year-old > Danny Lopez, with Manager - Howie Steindler and brother Ernie 'Red' Lopez.

[greynotsoold]

I was 7 watching those fights. Little Red Lopez was my hero and I thought he had to be the best fighter ever.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ January 20, 1972

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Television ....... Channel 13 {KCOP-TV}
Attendance ..... 5877

Co-Main Event ........ Ernie 'Red' Lopez vs. Sal 'The Animal' Martinez

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 8-0-0 {8 KO's} ~ 5' 7" ~ 120 lbs. ~ {Age; 19 years, 6 months}
vs.
Jose Manuel 'Toluco' Orantes - 22-7-4 {4 KO's} ~ 5' 2" ~ 117 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 21 years, 9 months}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This was Danny Lopez' {1st} Co-Main Event and 10-Rounder.

Jose Manuel Orantes was a tough-kid from Mexico, who was now based out of Stockton.
The 3-Year Professional was a 'stockily-built' good inside-slugger. Though Orantes did not have
a big punch, he was an aggressive slugger who was willing to trade with anybody.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Harry Kabakoff {Manager for Jose Manuel Orantes}

"My guy is as tough as they come. He's built like a little Tank. He'll walk thru Danny Lopez'
punches, and wear him down."

"Danny has never had to go past 5-Rounds before. He's had too many early Round Knockouts.
Let's see what he's made of in the later Rounds, when he has to dig down and fight it out."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Danny Lopez Scores KO In Impressive Win ~

Danny Lopez showing lethal power, demolished the Jose Manuel Orantes by a Knockout
at {2:01} of Round 2.

Round 1 was action-packed, as both fighters threw out the 'feeling-out-process' and traded
away with heavy blows.

Orantes was able to get inside, and tagged the 'no-defense' Lopez with sharp right-hands to
the mid-section, that had Danny backing away during the middle-session the 1st-Round.

But Lopez kept moving and jabbing, and late in the Round he staggered Orantes with a solid
'counter' right-hand to the forehead. Orantes showed good ring-smarts, as he moved in close
on Danny, and grabbed and held to prevent Danny from landing any follow ups.

In Round 2, Lopez charged forward and kept unleashing with his heavy hands. By the middle
of the session Orantes was looking for a place to hide, as he was taking a one-sided thrashing.

Lopez continued with his attack, and scored with a heavy-bombardment, dropping Orantes
along the back Ropes with a 3-Punch combination to the head.

Referee - Abe Cohen counted out Jose Manuel Orantes @ 2:01 of Round 2.

Danny Lopez >
"Jose came to fight, and he gave me some problems in the 1st Round. I knew that he would
be tough. I'm glad I got him out of there in Round 2, as I was getting arm-weary."

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ February 18, 1972

Sports Arena ~ Los Angeles, California

Attendance ...... 15,165

Main Event > 'vacant' WBC Lightweight Championship > Mando Ramos vs. Pedro Carrasco

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez - 9-0-0 {9 KO's} ~ 5' 7" ~ 120 lbs. ~ {Age; 19 years, 7 months}
vs.
Rafael 'Polo' Lopez - 9-3-1 {4 KO's} ~ 5' 5" ~ 117 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 20 years, 11 months}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Danny Lopez will be fighting on the big stage for the 1st time, as the Main Supporting bout.

Danny will be taking on Mexicali's - Rafael 'Polo' Perez in a rematch of their previous bout 5 months
earlier {September 16, 1971}. In that bout, Perez was coming on strong, before he got cut over
the left-eye early in Round 5, and the bout was stopped by a TKO in Round 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Danny Lopez Wins 10th In A Row, Stops 'Polo' Lopez In 2 ~

Danny 'Little Red' Lopez displayed his uncanny-power within his thin frame, as he Knocked Out
tricky Rafael 'Polo' Lopez at 1:43 of Round 2 with one 'sizzling' left-hook.

Danny came out firing with both hands at the Opening Bell, and tore into 'Polo' Lopez with hard
punches to both the head and body. The Mexicali boxer did all he could to stay on his feet, as he
was rocked badly during the 1st-Round onslaught.

In Round 2, Danny came out blazing again, and drove 'Polo' Lopez backwards after every exchange.

At the {1:10 Mark} > Danny shook up his opponent with a hard '4-Punch' combination, and the
Mexicali fighter wobbled backwards into a Neutral-Corner.

Danny then moved in, and raked over his opponent with a series of combinations, that left Rafael in
a bad way.

Then just at the mid-way point in the Round, Danny landed a 'sizzling' left-hook to the head, and
'Polo' Lopez collapsed in a Neutral-Corner where he was counted out by the Referee at the {1:43 Mark}.

Rafael 'Polo' Lopez was left in a daze for 5-Minutes, as he was unaware of where he was.

Danny Lopez >
"Rafael had given me a tough test the last time we fought. He took my best punches, and came back
hard at me. But this time, I really sat down on my punches, and I was putting everything into them."

Rafael 'Polo' Lopez >
"Danny hit me a lot harder tonight than the last time we fought. He's a much better fighter now. He's
going to be a Champion. But, I don't think he will be able to get down to Bantamweight anymore. He's
tall and rangy, and will grow into a Featherweight."

[beenKOed]

More familiar names I didn't realize I'd forgotten! Lol
Referee George Latka, Judges Lee Grossman and Chuck Hassett.

[Bill Paxtom]

More familiar names I didn't realize I'd forgotten! Lol
Referee George Latka, Judges Lee Grossman and Chuck Hassett.

Good Officials those '3' ^

Not sure what Referee - George Latka was looking at here, to score all '3' Rounds for
Danny Lopez.

'Tury' Pineda pummeled Danny from 'pillar-to-post' in Round 2, enough to warrant
'2-Points'.

Round 1 was Danny's.
Round 3 was 'Even'.

Did Don Chargin know how to match fighters or what.