Marvin Johnson vs. Yaqui Lopez

I’m not sure if Yaqui fought any quality southpaws. None that I recall. He isn’t a right hand-left hook kind of guy so I’m not sure he’s best equipped for this, although Marvin wasn’t exactly tricky or elusive.

I’ll go with Pops here on a hunch. Busts Lopez up and takes a UD despite fading in the stretch run.

 

I'd pick Marvin over 10 if it means anything?

 

I'd narrowly side with Yaqui here but would hate to put money on it. Two guys that were dreadfully unlucky to be around in such an insane era.

Have a look at Pop's 6 losses. Saad, an 8 round decision to Mwale in Belgrade, Saad again, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Michael Spinks and then as an old man (think of how many battles this guy had endured) in his last ever fight Leslie Stewart whom he had beaten 2 fights prior. There's really not much to hold against him. It's unreal he won the title again after Spinks had left the division.

When prime and around 175 Lopez losses are super solid as well.

If Yaqui and Johnson were priming as Spinks departed they probably would have fought a trilogy and likely unified a couple of titles.

 

Just Yaqui's luck. Can't even get an easy one on here !

 

Galindez won rounds 1-8 (1, 3, 6, 8 were close). Johnson won 9, 10, 11 KO. Victor did great defensively, felt comfortable on the ropes, and counterpunched Johnson's body easily. The first eight rounds Pops couldn't get through his defense and then he had to pull Galindez on themselves (made him attack and throw halfway left hand)

 

Alvaro Yaqui Lopez went 15 rounds in a losing effort in October 1976 with then WBC Light Heavyweight Champion John Conteh, who defeated Lopez by unanimous decision, one handed. Alvaro lost to then WBA Light Heavyweight Champion, Victor Galindez in 1977 and 1978 both unanimous decisions. Yaqui then fought then WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Matthew Saad Muhammad on July 13 1980, losing by TKO 14. Marvin Johnson and Matthew Saad Muhammad engaged in two wars, Saad Muhammad winning both bouts. Lopez does have stamina and is a better boxer, but Johnson was a better pressure fighter, fighting behind his right jab. I think that Marvin would crowd Yaqui and force a phone booth type of war, which would be in his favor. I see Johnson stopping Lopez in round 12, after a brutal violent war.

 

Haha - I get you. There were that many good fighters (and most of them fought each other) it's not surprising one or two fights slipped through the net.

I'm going with Johnson in this one.

 

Lopez, close unanimous decision.

 

It's odd that they never fought during that time. One of the odd misses.

 

I got Lopez

 

Bump.
I favour Marvin Johnson, they’re both similar skill wise, so I feel Johnson takes it because of the southpaw stance + I feel he was slightly more versatile, he’s more fluid with his upper body movement which gives him more ways to set up punches, he shifts his way into range well deceptively, which means he can sneak that left in or an up jab when they think they’re out of range, Yaqui Lopez was quite stiff although he had power, he’s just not as versatile as Johnson imo, which means Johnson could use that fluid upper body movement to create different positions so he can fit the punches through the earmuffs and stiffness of Lopez, he’d take the jab away from Lopez with that upper body movement and simply having a southpaw stance.
This is one of the best style matchups for an entertaining fight there was, and the fact this was a possible fight as well just makes it very annoying that it didn’t happen, but on the flip side thinking about it, it’s probably best it didn’t because they would’ve both taken a beating and may have ended up having a rematch because of how entertaining it would’ve been, that may have been a bad idea health wise.

 

Lopez couldn't deal with James Scott's overly aggressive approach I can't see Lopez dealing with a whirling dervish like Marvin Johnson.

Lopez was a boxer who wasn't a big hitter I feel like that's not a good match up vs Johnson.

 

Johnson troubled many fighters that beat him despite losing, it's the most damage Saad took in his entire career at that point,old him also give Spinks some fits to his jinx,and many more.

His aggression would beat Lopez.

 

I think the problem for Lopez here is that he doesn't do any 1 thing well enough to beat Johnson.

-He's a solid hitter, but not a huge puncher like the 1s that KO'd a prime Johnson.
-He's a competent boxer, but not any kind of defensive wizard or master counterpuncher.

On top of that, he has a tendency to cut/bust up.

I think Johnson's more polished attack & accurate left hands carry the day to a clear decision or maybe late stoppage.

 

I wonder why this one never happened - doubt either of them ducked the other - must have just been a question of timing/opportunity.

This might be the best matchup of that era that didn’t happen.