Yaqui López
| Yaqui Lopez | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Álvaro López |
| Nickname(s) | Yaqui |
| Weight(s) |
Heavyweight Cruiserweight Light Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (192 cm) |
| Reach | 77 in (197 cm) |
| Nationality |
 Mexican |
| Born |
May 21, 1951 Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 76 |
| Wins | 61 |
| Wins by KO | 39 |
| Losses | 15 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Álvaro López (born May 21, 1951 in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico) is a former Mexican boxer and current member of the Boxing Hall of Fame.[1] A native of Zacatecas, Zacatecas, López was very popular among Mexicans and is considered by many as one of the greatest Light Heavyweights to never become world champion.[2][3]
Early life
The fascinating story of López starts with his birth under a bull ring in the Plaza de Toros San Pedro in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico. He was raised for 14 years underneath the seats in an adobe garage of a famous Bullring in Zacatecas.
A Young López had dreams of becoming a Matador, but those dreams were shattered when in his teens, he got a shot at fighting a bull. After about four or five passes, the bull drove his horn into his ankle which shattered it. With that shattered ankle came shattered dreams of becoming a bullfighter.
Amateur career
López ended his amateur career with a record of 13-3. At the Diamond Belt Championship in Eureka, California, he knocked out the defending champion to win the title. A lot of Native Americans were at the event and asked his trainer Jack Cruz, if Álvaro was Native American. Cruz lied and told them that López was of Yaqui heritage.
Professional career
In April 1972, Álvaro faced the veteran Herman Hampton to win his pro debut. The bout was held at the Civic Auditorium in Stockton, California.[4]
WBC Light Heavyweight Championship
On October 9, 1976, López lost a very disputed decision to world champion John Conteh. Many thought López had pulled off the upset. The fight was held in Denmark.[5]
WBA Light Heavyweight Championship
Álvaro met Víctor Galíndez in two installment for the WBC Light Heavyweight Championship. The fights were held in Italy and both bouts went the distance. Some boxing writers thought that Álvaro won the fights, though the decision victories went to the champion, Galindez.[6]
He was one of the very few boxers of his time to challenge James Scott at the Rahway State Prison.[7]
1980 Fight of the Year
López would later fight in the Ring Magazine's 1980 Fight of the Year against WBC Light Heavyweight Champion, Matthew Saad Muhammad. The first half of the fight was dominated by López, with all three score cards very close up until the fourteenth round. When Álvaro ran out of gas and was stopped.[8]
WBC Cruiserweight Championship
In Álvaro's last world title attempt, he would lose to the much younger WBC Cruiserweight Champion, Carlos De León.[9] López would then wait almost a year and fight Bash Ali, before retiring from boxing.[10]
Legacy
Lopez is a member of both California Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.[11][12] He has his own gym named after him, Yaqui Lopez's Fat City Boxing.www.yaquilopezsfatcityboxing.com During Álvaro's career he faced Víctor Galíndez, Mike Rossman, Mike Quarry, Tony Mundine, Jesse Burnett, James Scott, S. T. Gordon, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Carlos De León, Michael Spinks, and John Conteh.[13][14]
Professional boxing record
| 61 Wins (39 knockouts, 22 decisions), 15 Losses (6 knockouts, 9 decisions) | |||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 23-9 |  Bash Ali |
SD | 12 | 12/09/1984 |  Stockton, California, United States |
114-115, 112-118, 117-114. |
| Loss | 35-3 |  Carlos De Leon |
TKO | 4 | 21/09/1983 | San Jose, California, United States |
WBC World Cruiserweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:51 of the fourth round. |
| Win | 22-2 |  Eddie Gonzales |
UD | 10 | 07/05/1983 |  Stateline, Nevada, United States |
|
| Win | 11-4 | Mike Jameson |
UD | 10 | 19/02/1983 | Incline Village, Nevada, United States |
99-92, 100-90, 100-90. |
| Win | 22-19-2 | "King" James Williams |
UD | 10 | 27/11/1982 | Incline Village, Nevada, United States |
|
| Win | 1-10-1 | Roger Braxton |
UD | 10 | 09/09/1982 | Stateline, Nevada, United States |
97-92, 97-92, 98-91. |
| Win | 16-6 | Ken Arlt |
UD | 10 | 31/07/1982 | Incline Village, Nevada, United States |
100-89, 99-90, 99-90. |
| Win | 12-24-6 | David "The King" Smith |
UD | 12 | 01/06/1982 | Sacramento, California, United States |
|
| Win | 11-9 | Alvin Dominey |
TKO | 6 | 05/05/1982 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Loss | 11-3 | Johnny "Reb" Davis |
UD | 10 | 14/01/1982 |  Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |
|
| Win | 77-11-1 |  Tony Mundine |
TKO | 3 | 27/11/1981 | Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia |
|
| Loss | 20-5 | ST Gordon |
TKO | 7 | 24/07/1981 | Reno, Nevada, United States |
NABF Cruiserweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 0:36 of the seventh round. |
| Win | 12-9-3 | Willie "The Bull" Taylor |
KO | 7 | 27/05/1981 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | 11-3 | George O'Mara |
TKO | 10 | 18/03/1981 | San Carlos, California, United States |
|
| Win | 10-6 | Grover "Torpedo" Robinson |
KO | 4 | 14/02/1981 | Incline Village, Nevada, United States |
Robinson knocked out at 2:21 of the fourth round. |
| Win | 7-6 | Carl Ivy |
KO | 3 | 29/11/1980 | Incline Village, Nevada, United States |
|
| Loss | 13-0 | Michael "Jinx" Spinks |
TKO | 7 | 18/10/1980 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |
Referee stopped the bout at 0:46 of the seventh round. |
| Loss | 26-3-2 | Matthew Saad Muhammad |
TKO | 14 | 13/07/1980 | McAfee, New Jersey, United States |
WBC World Light Heavyweight Title. 1980 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year. Referee stopped the bout at 2:03 of the 14th round. |
| Win | 15-17-1 |  Bobby Lloyd |
KO | 8 | 20/05/1980 | Fresno, California, United States |
|
| Win | 10-10-1 | Pete McIntyre |
KO | 8 | 16/04/1980 | Fresno, California, United States |
|
| Loss | 17-0-1 | James "Great" Scott |
UD | 10 | 01/12/1979 | Woodbridge, New Jersey, United States |
2-8, 3-7, 3-6. |
| Win | 5-4 | Bash Ali |
UD | 10 | 04/10/1979 | Redwood City, California, United States |
100-90, 100-89, 99-98. |
| Win | 20-5 | Andros Ernie Barr |
KO | 4 | 12/09/1979 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | 17-5 | Ivy Brown |
KO | 3 | 27/02/1979 | Sacramento, California, United States |
|
| Win | 7-5 | Wilbert Albers |
KO | 3 | 18/01/1979 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Loss | 21-3-2 | Matthew Saad Muhammad |
TKO | 11 | 24/10/1978 |  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
NABF Light Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the 11th round. |
| Win | 17-6-1 | Jesse Burnett |
MD | 15 | 02/07/1978 | Stockton, California, United States |
145-141, 144-142, 146-146. |
| Loss | 49-6-4 |  Victor Galindez |
UD | 15 | 06/05/1978 |  Viareggio, Toscana, Italy |
WBA World Light Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 32-3-3 | Mike "Jewish Bomber" Rossman |
TKO | 6 | 02/03/1978 |  New York City, United States |
|
| Win | 2-2 |  Fabian Falconette |
TKO | 2 | 12/01/1978 | Los Angeles, California, United States |
Referee stopped the bout at 2:49 of the second round. |
| Win | 13-6-2 | Clarence "Butch" Geigger |
KO | 4 | 15/12/1977 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | 8-7 | Chuck Warfield |
KO | 4 | 27/10/1977 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Loss | 46-6-4 | Victor Galindez |
UD | 15 | 17/09/1977 | Rome, Lazio, Italy |
WBA World Light Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 4-15-2 | Benny Barra |
KO | 5 | 27/07/1977 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
|
| Win | 30-16-2 | Manuel Fierro |
KO | 3 | 20/07/1977 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | 10-13-1 | Bobby Lloyd |
KO | 5 | 17/06/1977 |  Miami Beach, Florida, United States |
|
| Loss | 28-3 | Lonnie Bennett |
TKO | 3 | 22/04/1977 |  Indianapolis, Indiana, United States |
|
| Win | 10-4-1 | Larry Castaneda |
KO | 8 | 07/03/1977 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | 10-9-1 | Danny Brewer |
TKO | 6 | 17/02/1977 | Stateline, Nevada, United States |
|
| Win | 4-6-1 | Pete McIntyre |
KO | 6 | 08/12/1976 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | 13-4-2 | Clarence "Butch" Geigger |
TKO | 5 | 18/11/1976 | Stateline, Nevada, United States |
|
| Loss | 28-1 |  John Conteh |
UD | 15 | 09/10/1976 |  Copenhagen, Denmark |
WBC World Light Heavyweight Title. 145-149, 145-149, 146-148. |
| Win | 10-2-1 | Larry Castaneda |
KO | 9 | 17/07/1976 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | 38-24-4 | Karl Zurheide |
TKO | 6 | 30/06/1976 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | 8-12-5 | David "The King" Smith |
PTS | 10 | 03/05/1976 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | 15-18-5 | "Irish" Terry Lee |
UD | 10 | 12/02/1976 |  Portland, Oregon, United States |
|
| Win | 9-1-1 | Jesse Burnett |
SD | 12 | 24/09/1975 | Stockton, California, United States |
California Light Heavyweight Title. |
| Loss | 8-1-1 | Jesse Burnett |
SD | 12 | 31/07/1975 | Stockton, California, United States |
California Light Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 23-7-2 |  Gary Summerhays |
UD | 10 | 03/07/1975 | Gardnerville, Nevada, United States |
|
| Win | 48-5-3 | Mike Quarry |
UD | 10 | 14/05/1975 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | 3-8 | "General" Lee Mitchell |
KO | 6 | 08/04/1975 | Sacramento, California, United States |
|
| Win | 15-14-5 | "Irish" Terry Lee |
TKO | 9 | 04/03/1975 | Sacramento, California, United States |
California Light Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 27-6-4 | Hildo Silva |
PTS | 10 | 13/11/1974 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | 43-28-1 | Bobby Rascon |
KO | 6 | 11/10/1974 | Portland, Oregon, United States |
Rascon knocked out at 1:25 of the sixth round. |
| Win | 18-4-1 | Joe Cokes |
PTS | 12 | 07/07/1974 | Gardnerville, Nevada, United States |
|
| Win | 26-5-4 | Hildo Silva |
PTS | 12 | 10/05/1974 | Stockton, California, United States |
California Light Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 38-21-1 | Willie "Sweetwater" Warren |
UD | 10 | 06/03/1974 | Reno, Nevada, United States |
|
| Win | 44-13-8 | Andy "Scappoose Express" Kendall |
RTD | 4 | 14/02/1974 | Portland, Oregon, United States |
|
| Win | 16-5-1 | Al Bolden |
UD | 10 | 06/12/1973 | Portland, Oregon, United States |
99-96, 98-97, 98-97. |
| Win | 7-9 | Alfonso Gonzalez |
KO | 2 | 01/11/1973 | Portland, Oregon, United States |
Gonzalez knocked out at 2:25 of the second round. |
| Win | 5-9-6 | Charlie "Budda" Brooks |
KO | 5 | 20/09/1973 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | 4-6 | Herman Hampton |
KO | 4 | 22/08/1973 |  Tacoma, Washington, United States |
Hampton knocked out at 2:15 of the fourth round. |
| Win | 61-20-7 | Ron "Mr." Wilson |
TKO | 6 | 03/08/1973 | Reno, Nevada, United States |
|
| Win | 10-7-3 | Dave "Hardrock" Rogers |
TKO | 5 | 06/07/1973 | Gardnerville, Nevada, United States |
|
| Win | 61-19-7 | Ron "Mr." Wilson |
PTS | 10 | 09/06/1973 | Santa Rosa, California, United States |
|
| Win | 20-3-3 | Hildo Silva |
PTS | 10 | 21/04/1973 | Santa Rosa, California, United States |
|
| Loss | 9-5-1 | Al Bolden |
PTS | 10 | 15/03/1973 | Seattle, Washington, United States |
|
| Win | 0-1 | Polo Ramirez |
KO | 7 | 08/02/1973 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | 2-0 | Van Sahib |
KO | 1 | 11/12/1972 | Eugene, Oregon, United States |
Sahib knocked out at 2:54 of the first round. |
| Win | 3-4 | Herman Hampton |
KO | 7 | 29/11/1972 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | -- | Mark Hearn | TKO | 2 | 06/11/1972 | Eugene, Oregon, United States |
Referee stopped the bout at 2:56 of the second round. |
| Win | 1-0 | "King" Henry Tavake |
PTS | 6 | 24/10/1972 | San Carlos, California, United States |
|
| Loss | 2-0-1 | Jesse Burnett |
PTS | 8 | 01/07/1972 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | 4-1-1 | Cisco Solorio |
TKO | 6 | 16/06/1972 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
| Win | 0-3 | Herman Hampton |
KO | 2 | 02/06/1972 | Carson City, Nevada, United States |
|
| Win | 0-2 | Herman Hampton |
PTS | 6 | 24/04/1972 | Stockton, California, United States |
|
References
- ↑ http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Yaqui_Lopez
- ↑ http://www.ibroresearch.com/?p=4466
- ↑ http://bleacherreport.com/articles/311811-down-memory-lane-paul-malignaggi-a-new-age-yaqui-lopez
- ↑ http://boxrec.com/show_display.php?show_id=21103
- ↑ http://boxrec.com/show_display.php?show_id=21066
- ↑ http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050901/SPECIALREPORTS03/509010315
- ↑ http://boxrec.com/show_display.php?show_id=21055
- ↑ http://boxrec.com/show_display.php?show_id=16950
- ↑ http://boxrec.com/show_display.php?show_id=21038
- ↑ http://www.zacatecasonline.com.mx/index.php/deportes/noticias/10630-boxeador-zacatecano-gimansio
- ↑ http://www.boxingscene.com/-they-now-alvaro-yaqui-lopez--1600
- ↑ http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071007/A_SPORTS0202/710070328/-1/A_SPORTS02
- ↑ http://ringtalk.com/where-are-they-now-indian-yaqui-lopez
- ↑ http://www.thesweetscience.com/news/articles/1677-yaqui-lopez-never-took-a-backwards-step