Ricardo Lopez: The Small Giant of Boxing

Today, many boxing fans pay close attention to such eminent fighters as Chavez Jr., Tyson Fury, Gennady Golovkin, Adonis Stevenson, Sergei Kovalev, Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather Jr.. But, as you know, people who created history, you can not forget. One of these boxers, who bore the official nickname The Greatest (and quite deservedly), was Ricardo Lopez. Unfortunately, due to some incomprehensible desire of the leadership of the boxing federations to please the public with "big" fights, this sportsman often spent his most significant fights on the undercard of other boxers, which were larger in size but significantly lower in skill level. Ricardo López is a man, at a farewell press conference about the departure from the sport of which they considered it their honor to be Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barerra.

Start

July 25, 1966 in a very small Mexican town with a very difficult to pronounce the name Cuernavaca was born the future master of pugilism. His elementary school in boxing Ricardo Lopez passed on an amateur ring. The career in his amateurs was not too long, but at the same time very bright and full. Although he did not perform at the Olympics, but from this his record did not become less significant: in 38 matches 37 victories were won. An impressive indicator, is not it? By the way, the only defeat in the amateurs was the only one for the whole sports life.

Profi

Ricardo Lopez first stepped into the ring in the status of a professional on January 18, 1985 in his hometown. The debut was very successful. His opponent - Rogelio Hernandez, was knocked out in the third round. Despite the successful beginning, the way to the top was long enough. Latin American soldiers, in contrast to the same Asian, before the title fight are very long, overthrowing from their path for this several dozen people. For our hero, the road to the battle for the belt took five and a half years. In this period of time he fought 25 times, and never lost or finished the match in a draw. Moreover, 18 wins he had early, and the first 8 - clean knockouts. Objectively speaking, during this period he fought with "bags", and from the significant victories one can only note the quiz over Ray Hernandez, which allowed Lopez to become the continental champion of the WBC. All this allowed in October 1990 Ricardo take the first line of the ranking of the World Boxing Council. Although at the same time he deservedly earned the reputation of a domestic fighter, because he rarely fought outside his native country.

First world title and first defense

Ricardo Lopez is a boxer whose biography is full of many bright fights. For his first belt, he went to Japan. In the Land of the Rising Sun, he took away the belt from then still active champion Hideyuki Okashi. However, the Japanese did not compose a worthy competition to the Mexican, the regulations to resist already in the fifth round.

In the same state, but after six months, another heir to the samurai, Kimio Hirano, was defeated. These two matches clearly showed who is who, demonstrated the fact that Lopez is two heads above all competitors.

Features of technology

Ricardo had a phenomenal technique. It was not difficult for him to "cut down" his opponent if necessary. In the course of the fight, the boxer held his hands high (very close to his head) and skillfully evaded the body, making swings and unobtrusive maneuvers with his whole body, which allowed to minimize the consequences of enemy strikes. The Mexican's most terrible weapon was his left lateral. Too obvious weaknesses in the fighter was not. In any case, during his whole career, not one of his opponents could find them.

Unification battle

August 23, 1997 Ricardo Lopez, the boxer, whose photo is shown below, met with Alex Sanchez, the WBO champion.

The Mexican in that fight used his advantage in growth over the rival. Lopez just nailed the Puerto Rican jabs, parallel to hard punching into the body. In the second round, Ricardo sends an opponent in a knockdown, and in the fifth round - a knockout.

Confrontation with Rosendo

Ricardo Lopez is a boxer who has never been afraid of competition and tough punches. In 1998, he fought just three belts with the most dangerous Rosendo Alvarez. Their first fight was a real bloody drama, which ended in a perfectly logical draw.

In the rematch, Alvarez could not "make weight", and therefore for him the duel was not the title one. The fight was as bloodthirsty as the first meeting of the fighters, as a result, a separate judicial decision was made in favor of Lopez. By the way, after the bout, for the first time in his life he looked badly beaten.

The result

For sixteen years of his busy sports life, Ricardo had 51 fights, 50 of which he did not lose. 37 fights he completed ahead of schedule. Thus, he left the sport of an undefeated and very respected athlete who forever wrote his name in the history of boxing.