By Kevin Wrigley: Over Mexico’s storied pugilistic history has had a host of brilliant boxers. Lets face it they have to be something a bit unique when they emerge from Mexico’s tough club circuit, often in there tender teenage years. Names boxing fans will immediately pluck out of the air are those such as Julio Cesar Chavez, Salvador Sanchez, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. While these are all undoubtedly legends they tower over the technical magic that Ricardo Lopez could produce. Lets be honest if you wanted to find out information about this guy you need to delve deep into classical forums on boxing websites.
There are few articles on this guy. And why should there be? Guys below Lightweight don’t render as much interest from fans, imagine what it was like for a Minimum weight, not too long after the division was created. The reason I created this article is that it has been 10 years since this undefeated boxer had his last professional fight. Only 10 years ago, that’s it. Yet people still often talk about Ruben Olivares and Salvador Sanchez from 30 years ago. This article is to try and fill in boxing fans on his achievements and to hopefully watch his fights on YouTube (of which there are plenty) to see what they think.
Ricardo Lopez started his pro career in 1985 at the age of 19 beating one Rogelio Hernandez. He won 26 fights in a row before challenging for his first world title. 19 of these opponents were stopped. Interestingly in only his 9th pro fight he was put in a 10 rounder and was consistently so from then on. Rare for most boxers especially a fighter so young- signs his management knew they had something special on there hands perhaps? Along his road to the title he picked up the WBC Continental America Minimumweight title and for all little the belt means it meant he could have the experience of a 12 rounder which he did, bombing out Ray Hernandez in the 12 round. After 5 years of professional boxing Lopez had a fight scheduled against WBC champion Hideyuki Ohasi in Japan. Lopez had only ever fought out of Mexico once (in the US) so this was a big ask. Perhaps after showing to much caution in the first 3 rounds Lopez came out in the 4th and really sat down on his punches. He dropped the champion with a straight right and did so again at the start of the 5th. He finished proceedings with a left hook, showing how he was a two handed power puncher to the impressed Japanese crowd. Based on this showing you can be sure they appreciated the fact that Lopez came back to Japan for some of his first few title defenses. Indeed Lopez was a travelling champion defending his belt in places such as South Korea and often fought in the US after infamous boxing promoter Don King saw his potential and began promoting him.
In these many years at the top Lopez showed himself to be one of the top boxers around. He did not fight like a traditional Mexican. He could do pretty much everything. He could move and punch. he could knock you out with a left or right. Whilst not the best inside fighter he could throw a devastating uppercut and sickening body shots. His movement can be compared to a Wilfredo Gomez, his power to a Erik Morales. He earned his nickname Finito (translated into finished) because when he hit his opponents with that big left hook or straight right they were often indeed finished. 38 knockouts out of 51 wins does not tell the whole story- more than half of these distance fights occurred in his early non title fights. Very few title challengers lasted the distance.
Lopez defended this title 21 times in total. This was were he showed himself to be one of the great champions of the lower weight divisions (if not THE great champion). He ripped through the division taking on all comers. And sure while some of the challengers were not the best the majority of them deserved there chance. In this reign former champion Kyung-Yun-Lee took Lopez the distance as did Pretty Boy Lucas (who had recently had a draw when challenging for a world title). Samon Sorjaturong went on to stop the teak tough Humberto Gonzalez and yet could not last 2 rounds with Lopez. Manny Melchor had held a world title and lost a SD to the very good Ratanapol Sor Vorapin. Undefeated Kermin Guardia was 21-0 and went on to win a world title yet lost a wide UD to the peaking Lopez.
On and on it went like this. Guys who were accomplished or who would be accomplished in the future could not wrestle the title away from Lopez no matter how hard they tried. He had beaten all comers rarely losing any rounds to them. After adding the WBA Minimumweight belt to his trophy cabinet Lopez decided to take on Rosendo Alvarez, a fight in which he received his first blemish to his record, a draw. In a hotly contested battle the fight was stopped in the 8th due to a large cut over Lopez’s right eye from a accidental butt and as such the fight was taken to the judges scorecard’s. Lopez was also dropped for the first time in his career in the 2nd. Many believe Alvarez deserved the decision yet the fight was held in Mexico. To the great credit of Ricardo Lopez he gave Alvarez a rematch and won a ultra close SD. Whether you believe he did enough to earn it or not Lopez needs credit for this- he went on a 8 year tear rarely losing rounds yet he met a young bull who clearly was a major danger to Lopez yet he toughed out the rematch. These two fights are often most remembered about Lopez. Do these fights say something about time catching up with Lopez. It does seem that the smaller boxers have a shorter lifespan than the bigger guys. Signs of father time perhaps? Not yet satisified with his accomplishments in the sport Lopez moved up to Light-Flyweight and took a title of Alex Sanchez. He only had two more fights but significantly beat former long time champion Ratanapol Sor Vorapin.
Ricardo Lopez retired at the age of 37, one year after beating Zolani Petelo. Did he look bad in this fight? Did he struggle where years ago he would have sailed though? No he did not at spots he looked like the Lopez of old. Yet so many years of boxing had taken there toll on him and he wanted out as a champ. Ricardo Lopez officially left the sport on 28th November 2002. Not even 9 years ago. Joe Calzaghe and Rocky Marciano are the boxers who come to mind when you think of guys retiring at the top as champions, all there faculties intact . And while people often debate about how great these two are you need to give them something, just as you need to give Lopez something. He beat everyone put in front of him. Out of 51 men none of them on that particular night had enough to offset him. Whilst the division was not the best he was beating the best available and doing it in exciting fashion. He didn’t fight like your typical Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez. He never had a major rival who he had to beat for revenge. He was not fighting in a division full of killers. He didn’t take dozens of punches so he could march on and prove his will. He was barely above 5 foot and why watch someone like that when you can watch regular sized people fight? These are not valid reasons for why he should be forgotten but they contribute to it. Lets just hope his legacy does not go finito, as he made so many of his victims.
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