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Álvaro López (born May 21, 1951, in Zacatecas, Mexico), known as Yaqui López is a former Mexican boxer and current member of the Boxing Hall of Fame.[1][2][3] A native of Zacatecas, López is considered by many as one of the greatest Light Heavyweights to never become world champion.[4][5]
Yaqui Lopez | |
|---|---|
| Born | Álvaro López May 21, 1951 Zacatecas, Mexico |
| Nationality |  Mexican |
| Other names | Yaqui |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Heavyweight Cruiserweight Light Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (192 cm) |
| Reach | 77 in (197 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 76 |
| Wins | 61 |
| Wins by KO | 39 |
| Losses | 15 |
Early life
editLópez was born in Zacatecas, Mexico.
A young López had dreams of becoming a Matador. During his first bull fight when López was in his teens, a bull drove its horns into his ankle and shattered it. Due to his injury, López decided not to purse a bull fighting career.[citation needed]
Amateur career
editLópez ended his amateur boxing 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.
Professional career
editIn April 1972, Álvaro won his pro debut against Herman Hampton at the Civic Auditorium in Stockton, California.[6] The two would rematch in Carson City, Nevada less than two months later, with Álvaro stopping the bout early by knockout in the 2nd round.
WBC Light Heavyweight Championship
editOn October 9, 1976, López lost a unanimous decision to world champion John Conteh. The fight was held in Denmark.[7]
WBA Light Heavyweight Championship
editÁlvaro met Víctor Galíndez in two installments for the WBA Light Heavyweight Championship. The fights were held in Italy. Some boxing writers thought that Álvaro won the fights, though the decision victories went to the champion, Galíndez.[8]
He was one of the few boxers of his time to challenge James Scott at the Rahway State Prison.[9]
1980 Fight of the Year
editLópez would later fight in Ring Magazine's 1980 Fight of the Year against WBC Light Heavyweight Champion, Matthew Saad Muhammad. López dominated the first half of the fight, but all three score cards very close up until the fourteenth round. López eventually ran out of energy to continue fighting and was stopped.[10]
WBC Cruiserweight Championship
editIn Álvaro's last world title attempt, he would lose to the much younger WBC Cruiserweight Champion, Carlos De León.[11] López would then wait almost a year before fighting Bash Ali. Following the match, he retired from boxing.[12]
Legacy
editLopez is a member of both the California Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.[13][14] He has his own gym named after him, Yaqui Lopez's Fat City Boxing.[15]
Professional boxing record
edit
References
edit- ^ "Yaqui Lopez - BoxRec".
- ^ "Chatting with the champ: Yaqui Lopez". Max Boxing. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
- ^ Wainwright, Anson (2018-11-22). "Best I Faced: Yaqui Lopez". The Ring. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
- ^ "Alvaro "Yaqui" Lopez: The Zacatecas Matador". 11 April 2011.
- ^ "Down Memory Lane: Paul Malignaggi, a New-Age Yaqui Lopez?". Bleacher Report.
- ^ "BoxRec: Event".
- ^ "BoxRec Boxing Records". boxrec.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-30.
- ^ "A champion without a belt". 2006-01-07. Archived from the original on 2006-01-07.
- ^ "BoxRec: Event".
- ^ "Alvaro Lopez boxer". www.fightsrec.com. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ "BoxRec: Event".
- ^ "Inaugura boxeador zacatecano su gimnasio-museo en EU". zacatecasonline.com.mx.
- ^ "Where Are They Now; Alvaro "Yaqui" Lopez". 22 July 2005.
- ^ "Lopez finally among champs | Recordnet.com". 2012-04-06. Archived from the original on 2012-04-06.
- ^ www.yaquilopezsfatcityboxing.com
External links
edit- Boxing record for Yaqui López from BoxRec (registration required)
- Homepage of Fat City Boxing Club