The fight didn't start until Little Red got off the canvas and dusted himself off. Loved watching him, one of my all-time faves. Like an earlier poster, I tuned in to see him do a job on this unknown Mexican kid named Sal Sanchez ... and by the end I was sold on the newcomer to the world championship scene. Sad in a way that Lopez ran into the wrong up-and-coming ATG at the wrong time, and sadder still that someone steered him right back into a rematch, but it doesn't detract from all the great fights Lopez gave us.
Prior to the emergence of the 1976 US Olympic Team in the punch for pay ranks, Little Red WAS lighter weight professional boxing in the States. He was the guy who got all his title defenses broadcast on network television, and his was the full color centerfold poster in the first issue of KO Magazine. Danny got the cover of Sports Illustrated at a time when lighter weight American champions otherwise didn't enjoy that kind of high profile coverage. Of course there was that unpredictability of when he'd get knocked down by a single shot, or retaliate with a one punch knockout in return. He was getting the crap punched out of him by Sanchez, but you never knew if he'd abruptly land a solitary bomb to put Sal out. Boxed Ears, sorry to say this, but Danny "Little Red" Lopez KO 1 Boston Tom McMustache!!! [Oh boy! This is gonna be good if B.E. sees this!:stir] Lopez had the most awesome mustache in boxing history. [Sullivan did not maintain one consistently enough to measure up, and he competed too often in championship fights where he was shorn of it. Plus, colors hadn't been invented yet.] Lopez got taken out by Chacon because he was still clean shaven. Once he sprouted that magnificent bushy red cookie duster [more like a street sweeper, actually], he became like Sampson with long hair. Little Red actually made it look cool to be ginger. An Irish colored Ute Indian from the reservation who could knock your head off with a single shot, and be diffidently soft spoken about it? How awesome is that?
That is true, he needed to get beat up to get going, only other fighter that comes to mind like that is Matthew Sad Muhammad. MSM would wear you down with shear toughness, although a big puncher, he didn't seem to have the one punch voltage P4P Lopez did.
Love Danny Lopez. He wasn't really ready to fight until he got dropped. His aggression, determination, punching power, and lack of defense always made him a blast to watch. His fights against Olivares, Sanchez, and Ayala are among my favorites.
Olivares v Lopez, the first couple rounds...the first round is Lopez in microcosm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWY8_9vwBXg
Danny didn't lack fundamentals. He lacked versatility. His style was very textbook. Aside from the whole defense part. No defensive reflexes whatsoever. Sure made for fun fights, though.
True, he didn't appear to be a brawler, more a stand up boxer. Used a jab and straight right hand, almost European in style. I guess he was predictable and easy to time for counters. Opponents did quite well tell they were caught, then down they go.
