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
López was born under a bull ring in the Plaza de Toros San Pedro in Zacateca, Mexico. He grew up underneath the seats in an adobe garage of a famous Bullring in Zacatecas.
A Young López had dreams of becoming a Matador. During his very 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 becoming a bull fighter.
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. Many Native Americans attended 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 would win his pro debut against Herman Hampton. The bout was held 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
On October 9, 1976, López lost a very disputed decision to world champion John Conteh. Many people in the crowd thought López had pulled off the upset. The fight was held in Denmark.[7]
WBA Light Heavyweight Championship
Álvaro 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, Galindez.[8]
He was one of the very few boxers of his time to challenge James Scott at the Rahway State Prison.[9]
1980 Fight of the Year
López would later fight in 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. Álvaro eventually ran out of energy to continue fighting and was stopped.[10]
WBC Cruiserweight Championship
In 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 matchh, he retired from boxing.[12]
Legacy
Lopez 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] 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.[16][17]
Professional boxing record
References
External links
- Boxing record for Yaqui López from BoxRec (registration required)
- Homepage of Fat City Boxing Club