elgigante
03-26-2005, 01:03 AM
http://www.profiboksz.hu/genesis/nagyito/lopez.jpg
NAME: Ricardo ?Finito? Lopez
Weight Class: Light Flyweight (108 lbs)
Record: 51-0-1 38 KO?s
Notable fights: Rosendo Alvarez (2x)
When we look back in boxing history at dominant fighters, most casual fans focus tends to look at the bigger guys like Rocky Marciano or the flashier well known characters such as Marvin Hagler. But hidden away through the past two decades in the light flyweight division is one of the most dominating fighters this sport has ever seen. His name, Ricardo ?Finito? Lopez. Lopez never got the media attention that even his countrymen that were just ten pounds heavier or so like Erik Morales and Marco Barrera got, but he displayed a complete and utter control of the 108 lb weight class for well over a decade.
Coming out of Mexico City, Lopez turned pro in 1985 and would immediately begin what would turn into a long victorious career. He ran off 26 straight wins before getting his first title shot in 1990 against Japanese fighter Hideyuki Ohashi. Lopez would brutalize Ohashi in 5 rounds in Japan to win the WBC light flyweight title and began a long and glorious reign over the division which included 22 successful defenses. It was not for lack of trying that fighters couldn?t defeat Lopez; he just exhibited such vicious body punching skills and was a good overall boxer who just wore his opponents down en route to what usually ended up being KO victories.
The one fight of Lopez I actually saw live was against a Phillipino fighter by the name of Ala Villamor back in 1996. Villamor managed to put up a pretty good showing in the first six rounds of the bout but Lopez was starting to wear him down with body shots, Ricardo did have a fair bit of power too and by the time round 8 came around he hit Villamor with a uppercut on the chin that just froze Villamor and dropped him like a felled tree for a KO loss. This power and skill is what gave me respect for the man known as Finito.
Lopez would almost meet his match against another top notch light flyweight though in 1998 when he took on tough Nicaraguan 108 lb champion Rosendo Alvarez. This was a matchup of two highly talented unbeaten fighters and what some folks thought might be a changing of the guard in the 108 lb division. For the first time Ricardo looked mortal in a bout as he was dropped by Alvarez in round 2 and would suffer a cut that led to the bout being stopped in round 8. The bout was a Technical Draw with one scorecard going to each man and the third one even. Lopez would revenge this blemish in his next bout as he managed to eke out a split decision win against Alvarez and pick up the WBO belt in the process.
After a 1999 IBF title win against Will Grigsby, Lopez would fight twice more. After victories against these final two unheralded opponents, Ricardo decided to call it a career . Although he never got a career defining win in the eyes of casual fans or the US media, I believe that Ricardo ?Finito? Lopez deserves to be mentioned among boxing?s all time great fighters.
NAME: Ricardo ?Finito? Lopez
Weight Class: Light Flyweight (108 lbs)
Record: 51-0-1 38 KO?s
Notable fights: Rosendo Alvarez (2x)
When we look back in boxing history at dominant fighters, most casual fans focus tends to look at the bigger guys like Rocky Marciano or the flashier well known characters such as Marvin Hagler. But hidden away through the past two decades in the light flyweight division is one of the most dominating fighters this sport has ever seen. His name, Ricardo ?Finito? Lopez. Lopez never got the media attention that even his countrymen that were just ten pounds heavier or so like Erik Morales and Marco Barrera got, but he displayed a complete and utter control of the 108 lb weight class for well over a decade.
Coming out of Mexico City, Lopez turned pro in 1985 and would immediately begin what would turn into a long victorious career. He ran off 26 straight wins before getting his first title shot in 1990 against Japanese fighter Hideyuki Ohashi. Lopez would brutalize Ohashi in 5 rounds in Japan to win the WBC light flyweight title and began a long and glorious reign over the division which included 22 successful defenses. It was not for lack of trying that fighters couldn?t defeat Lopez; he just exhibited such vicious body punching skills and was a good overall boxer who just wore his opponents down en route to what usually ended up being KO victories.
The one fight of Lopez I actually saw live was against a Phillipino fighter by the name of Ala Villamor back in 1996. Villamor managed to put up a pretty good showing in the first six rounds of the bout but Lopez was starting to wear him down with body shots, Ricardo did have a fair bit of power too and by the time round 8 came around he hit Villamor with a uppercut on the chin that just froze Villamor and dropped him like a felled tree for a KO loss. This power and skill is what gave me respect for the man known as Finito.
Lopez would almost meet his match against another top notch light flyweight though in 1998 when he took on tough Nicaraguan 108 lb champion Rosendo Alvarez. This was a matchup of two highly talented unbeaten fighters and what some folks thought might be a changing of the guard in the 108 lb division. For the first time Ricardo looked mortal in a bout as he was dropped by Alvarez in round 2 and would suffer a cut that led to the bout being stopped in round 8. The bout was a Technical Draw with one scorecard going to each man and the third one even. Lopez would revenge this blemish in his next bout as he managed to eke out a split decision win against Alvarez and pick up the WBO belt in the process.
After a 1999 IBF title win against Will Grigsby, Lopez would fight twice more. After victories against these final two unheralded opponents, Ricardo decided to call it a career . Although he never got a career defining win in the eyes of casual fans or the US media, I believe that Ricardo ?Finito? Lopez deserves to be mentioned among boxing?s all time great fighters.