August 1980 The 'new' WBA Heavyweight Champion - Mike 'Hercules' Weaver was looking for one 'easy' $1,000,000 defense, before heading over to South Africa, to defend his WBA Championship versus Gerrie Coetzee. Hot on the 'west coast' was East Los Angeles Heavyweight, Eddie 'The Animal' Lopez, fresh off his 'hard-fought' 10-Round Draw with fomer Champion - Leon Spinks. Tale of the Tape Mike Weaver Age........29 Height.....6' 1" Reach.....78" Weight....210 lbs. Record.....22-9-0 (15 KO's) Eddie Lopez Age........27 Height.....6' 1" Reach.....77" Weight....210 lbs. Record....18-2-2 (11 KO's) Eddie 'The Animal' Lopez, has only lost to John Tate and Gerry Cooney, both 'close' Decision losses. Could Eddie 'The Animal' swarm over the 'slow-starting' Hercules over the early rounds, to build up a big points lead, and then hold off the Champion's power puncher in the later rounds. Eddie had a very good chin, and could he withstand the Champion's hard punches.
I'm thinking Eddie wouldn't trouble Mike like James Tillis did, and lose a hardfought decision to Mike.Leon Spinks would be a problem for Mike Weaver, however.
Eddie 'The Animal' Lopez had a good chin, and had better stamina than Gerrie Coetzee. I think Eddie's in close mauling style may have held Mike Weaver 'Even' through 8-Rounds, but in the later rounds, Mike would have had the better skills to score with cleaner punching. No Knockdowns and No Knockout. Mike Weaver by Decision.