Surely one of the most exciting fighters from one of boxings most exciting eras, but I want some additional input and thought into "Little Red", since I didn't get to experience any of the mans career first hand. I've been watching several of his fights lately, and I can't think of an easier to hit fighter that operated near the top of the sport. Pretty remarkable. What accounts for his career stretch from the Chacon loss to early 75, where he ended up losing 3 of his 4 fights? Was he simply an inconsistent fighter prone to upset? Did he improve his form later on his career once he became champion? Just how hard do you think he hit? I've always heard him lauded for both his power and heart... How does he compare to other bangers at the weight, historically? Was he a great fighter, or simply a very good one?
During the Mike Ayala fight, one of the fight commentators (Gil Clancy) comments that Lopez appears very big at the weight. In his words, I believe he said he looked like a boiled down 140 lb'er. Is there any truth to that? Was he a notorious weight cutter?
I came late to Little Red and then he quickly became one of my favorites. I was too young to follow him during his career but look forward to any insight others share. There are some really good interviews on line and some articles, too. The press seemed to like him back in the day. How could you not?
He's definitely a much beloved fighter, very similar to Chacon and Saad in that aspect. All three certainly earned the reputation, and I'm hoping for some equally good stories and insights from other posters that lived through his career. Fingers crossed.
That was my hero; when I was 7, 8, 9, he was my world. I remember when he fought Turi Pineda. I'd seen Pineda and was afraid he would beat Little Red. Lopez stopped him in four.
Guys could outbox him, but you would just wait, you knew he would finally land and KO his opponent, until he fought the great Sanchez. Lopez was really something, and seemed like a great guy too!
Gatti immediately comes to mind as a fighter who was as easy to hit as Lopez. Was he great or just very good? In terms of skill level and overall accomplishment he was probably just very good, but who cares about that really because he was one of the most exciting fighters of his era! He was in great fights and that's what he will always be remembered for. There have been far greater fighters in terms of skill and achievement who had far less memorable title reigns than Lopez. His is a different kind of greatness, similar to that of Gatti or Chacon. People can question their place in terms of the overall boxing hierarchy but no one will ever forget them because they brought genuine excitement to the sport each time they fought. That's their historical legacy.
I believe he got the most out of his talent. Had a nice reign as champion and lost his title to an All Time Legend. He retired smartly and seems to be doing pretty well.
I think he was probably the hardest punching feather ever. The type of power where he didn't even need to connect properly to visibly damage and short-circuit opponents. He pivoted and turned his shots over beautifully and was a brutal straight puncher with good timing to boot. Helped compensate for his slow hands and feet. How Sanchez took flush punches from him and barely flinched beggars belief.
