Yaqui López

Yaqui Lopez
Statistics
Real name Álvaro López
Nickname(s) Yaqui
Rated at Heavyweight
Cruiserweight
Light Heavyweight
Height 6 ft 3 in (192 cm)
Reach 77 in (197 cm)
Nationality Mexico Mexican
Born (1951-05-21) 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. Unfortunately for López the fights were also held in this champions home, Italy. Both bouts went the distance and Álvaro was robbed again in the eyes of most boxing writers.[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 Nigeria Bash Ali SD 12 12/09/1984 California Stockton, California, United States 114-115, 112-118, 117-114.
Loss 35-3 Puerto Rico Carlos De Leon TKO 4 21/09/1983 California San Jose, California, United States WBC World Cruiserweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:51 of the fourth round.
Win 22-2 United States Eddie Gonzales UD 10 07/05/1983 Nevada Stateline, Nevada, United States
Win 11-4 United States Mike Jameson UD 10 19/02/1983 Nevada Incline Village, Nevada, United States 99-92, 100-90, 100-90.
Win 22-19-2 United States "King" James Williams UD 10 27/11/1982 Nevada Incline Village, Nevada, United States
Win 1-10-1 United States Roger Braxton UD 10 09/09/1982 Nevada Stateline, Nevada, United States 97-92, 97-92, 98-91.
Win 16-6 United States Ken Arlt UD 10 31/07/1982 Nevada Incline Village, Nevada, United States 100-89, 99-90, 99-90.
Win 12-24-6 United States David "The King" Smith UD 12 01/06/1982 California Sacramento, California, United States
Win 11-9 United States Alvin Dominey TKO 6 05/05/1982 California Stockton, California, United States
Loss 11-3 United States Johnny "Reb" Davis UD 10 14/01/1982 New Jersey Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 77-11-1 Australia Tony Mundine TKO 3 27/11/1981 Australia Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Loss 20-5 United States ST Gordon TKO 7 24/07/1981 Nevada Reno, Nevada, United States NABF Cruiserweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 0:36 of the seventh round.
Win 12-9-3 United States Willie "The Bull" Taylor KO 7 27/05/1981 California Stockton, California, United States
Win 11-3 United States George O'Mara TKO 10 18/03/1981 California San Carlos, California, United States
Win 10-6 United States Grover "Torpedo" Robinson KO 4 14/02/1981 Nevada Incline Village, Nevada, United States Robinson knocked out at 2:21 of the fourth round.
Win 7-6 United States Carl Ivy KO 3 29/11/1980 Nevada Incline Village, Nevada, United States
Loss 13-0 United States Michael "Jinx" Spinks TKO 7 18/10/1980 New Jersey Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Referee stopped the bout at 0:46 of the seventh round.
Loss 26-3-2 United States Matthew Saad Muhammad TKO 14 13/07/1980 New Jersey 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 The Bahamas Bobby Lloyd KO 8 20/05/1980 California Fresno, California, United States
Win 10-10-1 United States Pete McIntyre KO 8 16/04/1980 California Fresno, California, United States
Loss 17-0-1 United States James "Great" Scott UD 10 01/12/1979 New Jersey Woodbridge, New Jersey, United States 2-8, 3-7, 3-6.
Win 5-4 Nigeria Bash Ali UD 10 04/10/1979 California Redwood City, California, United States 100-90, 100-89, 99-98.
Win 20-5 The Bahamas Andros Ernie Barr KO 4 12/09/1979 California Stockton, California, United States
Win 17-5 United States Ivy Brown KO 3 27/02/1979 California Sacramento, California, United States
Win 7-5 United States Wilbert Albers KO 3 18/01/1979 California Stockton, California, United States
Loss 21-3-2 United States Matthew Saad Muhammad TKO 11 24/10/1978 Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States NABF Light Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the 11th round.
Win 17-6-1 United States Jesse Burnett MD 15 02/07/1978 California Stockton, California, United States 145-141, 144-142, 146-146.
Loss 49-6-4 Argentina Victor Galindez UD 15 06/05/1978 Italy Viareggio, Toscana, Italy WBA World Light Heavyweight Title.
Win 32-3-3 United States Mike "Jewish Bomber" Rossman TKO 6 02/03/1978 New York New York City, United States
Win 2-2 Panama Fabian Falconette TKO 2 12/01/1978 California Los Angeles, California, United States Referee stopped the bout at 2:49 of the second round.
Win 13-6-2 United States Clarence "Butch" Geigger KO 4 15/12/1977 California Stockton, California, United States
Win 8-7 United States Chuck Warfield KO 4 27/10/1977 California Stockton, California, United States
Loss 46-6-4 Argentina Victor Galindez UD 15 17/09/1977 Italy Rome, Lazio, Italy WBA World Light Heavyweight Title.
Win 4-15-2 Mexico Benny Barra KO 5 27/07/1977 Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 30-16-2 United States Manuel Fierro KO 3 20/07/1977 California Stockton, California, United States
Win 10-13-1 United States Bobby Lloyd KO 5 17/06/1977 Florida Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Loss 28-3 United States Lonnie Bennett TKO 3 22/04/1977 Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Win 10-4-1 United States Larry Castaneda KO 8 07/03/1977 California Stockton, California, United States
Win 10-9-1 United States Danny Brewer TKO 6 17/02/1977 Nevada Stateline, Nevada, United States
Win 4-6-1 United States Pete McIntyre KO 6 08/12/1976 California Stockton, California, United States
Win 13-4-2 United States Clarence "Butch" Geigger TKO 5 18/11/1976 Nevada Stateline, Nevada, United States
Loss 28-1 United Kingdom John Conteh UD 15 09/10/1976 Denmark Copenhagen, Denmark WBC World Light Heavyweight Title. 145-149, 145-149, 146-148.
Win 10-2-1 United States Larry Castaneda KO 9 17/07/1976 California Stockton, California, United States
Win 38-24-4 United States Karl Zurheide TKO 6 30/06/1976 California Stockton, California, United States
Win 8-12-5 United States David "The King" Smith PTS 10 03/05/1976 California Stockton, California, United States
Win 15-18-5 United States "Irish" Terry Lee UD 10 12/02/1976 Oregon Portland, Oregon, United States
Win 9-1-1 United States Jesse Burnett SD 12 24/09/1975 California Stockton, California, United States California Light Heavyweight Title.
Loss 8-1-1 United States Jesse Burnett SD 12 31/07/1975 California Stockton, California, United States California Light Heavyweight Title.
Win 23-7-2 Canada Gary Summerhays UD 10 03/07/1975 Nevada Gardnerville, Nevada, United States
Win 48-5-3 United States Mike Quarry UD 10 14/05/1975 California Stockton, California, United States
Win 3-8 United States "General" Lee Mitchell KO 6 08/04/1975 California Sacramento, California, United States
Win 15-14-5 United States "Irish" Terry Lee TKO 9 04/03/1975 California Sacramento, California, United States California Light Heavyweight Title.
Win 27-6-4 United States Hildo Silva PTS 10 13/11/1974 California Stockton, California, United States
Win 43-28-1 United States Bobby Rascon KO 6 11/10/1974 Oregon Portland, Oregon, United States Rascon knocked out at 1:25 of the sixth round.
Win 18-4-1 United States Joe Cokes PTS 12 07/07/1974 Nevada Gardnerville, Nevada, United States
Win 26-5-4 United States Hildo Silva PTS 12 10/05/1974 California Stockton, California, United States California Light Heavyweight Title.
Win 38-21-1 United States Willie "Sweetwater" Warren UD 10 06/03/1974 Nevada Reno, Nevada, United States
Win 44-13-8 United States Andy "Scappoose Express" Kendall RTD 4 14/02/1974 Oregon Portland, Oregon, United States
Win 16-5-1 United States Al Bolden UD 10 06/12/1973 Oregon Portland, Oregon, United States 99-96, 98-97, 98-97.
Win 7-9 Mexico Alfonso Gonzalez KO 2 01/11/1973 Oregon Portland, Oregon, United States Gonzalez knocked out at 2:25 of the second round.
Win 5-9-6 United States Charlie "Budda" Brooks KO 5 20/09/1973 California Stockton, California, United States
Win 4-6 United States Herman Hampton KO 4 22/08/1973 Washington (state) Tacoma, Washington, United States Hampton knocked out at 2:15 of the fourth round.
Win 61-20-7 Canada Ron "Mr." Wilson TKO 6 03/08/1973 Nevada Reno, Nevada, United States
Win 10-7-3 United States Dave "Hardrock" Rogers TKO 5 06/07/1973 Nevada Gardnerville, Nevada, United States
Win 61-19-7 Canada Ron "Mr." Wilson PTS 10 09/06/1973 California Santa Rosa, California, United States
Win 20-3-3 United States Hildo Silva PTS 10 21/04/1973 California Santa Rosa, California, United States
Loss 9-5-1 United States Al Bolden PTS 10 15/03/1973 Washington (state) Seattle, Washington, United States
Win 0-1 Mexico Polo Ramirez KO 7 08/02/1973 California Stockton, California, United States
Win 2-0 United States Van Sahib KO 1 11/12/1972 Oregon Eugene, Oregon, United States Sahib knocked out at 2:54 of the first round.
Win 3-4 United States Herman Hampton KO 7 29/11/1972 California Stockton, California, United States
Win -- Mark Hearn TKO 2 06/11/1972 Oregon Eugene, Oregon, United States Referee stopped the bout at 2:56 of the second round.
Win 1-0 United States "King" Henry Tavake PTS 6 24/10/1972 California San Carlos, California, United States
Loss 2-0-1 United States Jesse Burnett PTS 8 01/07/1972 California Stockton, California, United States
Win 4-1-1 United States Cisco Solorio TKO 6 16/06/1972 California Stockton, California, United States
Win 0-3 United States Herman Hampton KO 2 02/06/1972 Nevada Carson City, Nevada, United States
Win 0-2 United States Herman Hampton PTS 6 24/04/1972 California Stockton, California, United States

References

External links

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