Ricardo Lopez
Encyclopedia
Ricardo “El Finito” López Nava (born July 25, 1966) is a retired Mexican
boxer
. As a professional, he defended the WBC
Strawweight Championship a record 21 times. He also won the WBA
and WBO
championship of the same weight class. Lopez also won the IBF
Light Flyweight Championship and defended it twice before retiring. He is also the father of undefeated Flyweight
prospect Alonso López
.
of Japan via a fourth round knockout to win his first world title. In 1991, he defeated Korean former champion Kyung-Yun Lee (20-1-0). In 1992, he defended his title against
Pretty Boy Lucas (22-2-2) of the Philippines and Rocky Lin (14-0) of Taiwan. In 1993, López defeated future two time champion Saman Sorjaturong
of Thailand. Sorjaturong was knocked down once in the 1st round and twice in the 2nd round when the referee stopped the bout.
Later that year, he knocked out Filipino former champion Manny Melchor in the 11th round. In his tenth title defense, López defeated future champion Kermin Guardia (21-0-0) by unanimous decision. He knocked out Surachai Saengmorakot (10-0) in the first round of his next bout. In 1995, he defeated Andy Tabanas (30-2-0) of the Philippines via 12th round knock out. In his next bout, he defeated another Filipino boxer and founder of the famous "Ala Gym" Ala Villamor (29-1-1) by knockout. In 1997, López defended his title against Mongkol Charoen (20-1-0).
(25-1-0) of Puerto Rico via 5th round knock out. On March 7, 1998, López fought undefeated WBA minimumweight champion Rosendo Álvarez
to a technical draw after referee Arthur Mercante Sr. stopped the contest following an accidental head butt in the seventh round. In the rematch, Alvarez came in over the minimumweight limit and was subsequently stripped of his title. Due to the weight disparity, the fight was in jeopardy, however, López chose to proceed with the contest against the heavier Alvarez with only López eligible to claim the now vacant WBA title. López defeated Alvarez by split decision to claim his third minimumweight title. After the fight, he vacated his titles in order to move up in weight.
of the United States. He defended his title against former champion Ratanapol Sor Vorapin
. On September 29, 2001, López knocked out Zolani Petelo who had recently vacated his IBF minimumweight title, the only minimumweight title that López had not claimed before moving up to light flyweight. He officially announced his retirement from boxing at a press conference on 28 November 2002, in Mexico City.
the record for consecutive title bouts without a loss (twenty-six). This streak began with his knockout of Hideyuki Ohashi to win the WBC minimumweight title in 1990 and ended with his knockout of Zolani Potelo to defend his IBF light flyweight title in 2001. Ricardo only had one draw, which came against Rosendo Alvarez
in 1998 in Lopez's 48th bout, and was avenged in the rematch eight months later. His final record was 51 wins (KO 38), 0 losses, and 1 draw.
and World Boxing Hall of Fame
in 2007.http://cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/riclop.htm
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. As a professional, he defended the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
Strawweight Championship a record 21 times. He also won the WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
and WBO
World Boxing Organization
The World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...
championship of the same weight class. Lopez also won the IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
Light Flyweight Championship and defended it twice before retiring. He is also the father of undefeated Flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
prospect Alonso López
Alonso López
Alonso López is an undefeated Mexican professional boxer in the Flyweight division. He was born in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico...
.
Biography
On January, 18, 1985, López made his professional debut at the age of 20 by scoring a third round knockout of Rogelio Hernandez. He accumulated a record of 26-0 before receiving his first shot at a world title.WBC Strawweight championship
On October 10, 1990, López defeated WBC Strawweight champion Hideyuki OhashiHideyuki Ohashi
Hideyuki Ohashi is a former professional boxer and two-time minimumweight world champion.- Professional career :...
of Japan via a fourth round knockout to win his first world title. In 1991, he defeated Korean former champion Kyung-Yun Lee (20-1-0). In 1992, he defended his title against
Pretty Boy Lucas (22-2-2) of the Philippines and Rocky Lin (14-0) of Taiwan. In 1993, López defeated future two time champion Saman Sorjaturong
Saman Sorjaturong
Saman Sorjaturong was a Thai former world boxing champion.Sorjaturong turned pro in 1989 and won the WBC and IBF junior flyweight title during his career. He defeated reigning champion Humberto González in a thrilling fight that was named Ring Magazine fight of the year in 1995 to win the IBF and...
of Thailand. Sorjaturong was knocked down once in the 1st round and twice in the 2nd round when the referee stopped the bout.
Later that year, he knocked out Filipino former champion Manny Melchor in the 11th round. In his tenth title defense, López defeated future champion Kermin Guardia (21-0-0) by unanimous decision. He knocked out Surachai Saengmorakot (10-0) in the first round of his next bout. In 1995, he defeated Andy Tabanas (30-2-0) of the Philippines via 12th round knock out. In his next bout, he defeated another Filipino boxer and founder of the famous "Ala Gym" Ala Villamor (29-1-1) by knockout. In 1997, López defended his title against Mongkol Charoen (20-1-0).
WBO and WBA Strawweight championship
In his 20th world title bout, López unified his WBC title by defeating WBO Strawweight champion Alex SánchezAlex Sánchez
Alex Sánchez may refer to:*Alex Sánchez *Alex Sánchez *Alex Sanchez *Alex Sánchez *Álex Sánchez , Spanish footballer...
(25-1-0) of Puerto Rico via 5th round knock out. On March 7, 1998, López fought undefeated WBA minimumweight champion Rosendo Álvarez
Rosendo Álvarez
Rosendo José Álvarez Hernández is a flyweight boxer, and is well known for giving Mexican legend Ricardo Lopez two tough fights. He is the only person to hold the undefeated flyweight champion to a draw....
to a technical draw after referee Arthur Mercante Sr. stopped the contest following an accidental head butt in the seventh round. In the rematch, Alvarez came in over the minimumweight limit and was subsequently stripped of his title. Due to the weight disparity, the fight was in jeopardy, however, López chose to proceed with the contest against the heavier Alvarez with only López eligible to claim the now vacant WBA title. López defeated Alvarez by split decision to claim his third minimumweight title. After the fight, he vacated his titles in order to move up in weight.
IBF Light Flyweight championship
In his first bout at light flyweight, López defeated IBF champion Will GrigsbyWill Grigsby
William Henry Grigsby is an American professional boxer.- Professional career :Grigsby turned pro in 1988 and lost his second professional fight, to flyweight legend Michael Carbajal who was making his professional debut. In 1998 he captured the vacant IBF light flyweight title by decisioning...
of the United States. He defended his title against former champion Ratanapol Sor Vorapin
Ratanapol Sor Vorapin
Ratanapol Sor Vorapin , is a professional boxer. He is the older brother of former WBO Bantamweight champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin.-Professional career:...
. On September 29, 2001, López knocked out Zolani Petelo who had recently vacated his IBF minimumweight title, the only minimumweight title that López had not claimed before moving up to light flyweight. He officially announced his retirement from boxing at a press conference on 28 November 2002, in Mexico City.
Retirement
Ricardo López was the third champion in history to retire undefeated. He also shares with Joe LouisJoe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
the record for consecutive title bouts without a loss (twenty-six). This streak began with his knockout of Hideyuki Ohashi to win the WBC minimumweight title in 1990 and ended with his knockout of Zolani Potelo to defend his IBF light flyweight title in 2001. Ricardo only had one draw, which came against Rosendo Alvarez
Rosendo Álvarez
Rosendo José Álvarez Hernández is a flyweight boxer, and is well known for giving Mexican legend Ricardo Lopez two tough fights. He is the only person to hold the undefeated flyweight champion to a draw....
in 1998 in Lopez's 48th bout, and was avenged in the rematch eight months later. His final record was 51 wins (KO 38), 0 losses, and 1 draw.
Honors
López was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of FameInternational Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
and World Boxing Hall of Fame
World Boxing Hall of Fame
The World Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Riverside, California, United States, in Southern California. The WBHF is one of two recognized international boxing halls of fame with the other being the International Boxing Hall of Fame , with the IBHOF being the more widely recognized...
in 2007.http://cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/riclop.htm
See also
- List of WBC world champions
- List of WBO world champions
- List of IBF world champions
- List of WBA world champions