Álvaro López (born May 21, 1951, in
Zacatecas, Zacatecas
Zacatecas () is the principal city within the municipality in Mexico of the same name, and the capital and the largest city of the state of Zacatecas. Located in north-central Mexico, the city had its start as a Spanish mining camp in the mid- ...
,
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
) is a Mexican former
boxer Boxer most commonly refers to:
* Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing
*Boxer (dog), a breed of dog
Boxer or boxers may also refer to:
Animal kingdom
* Boxer crab
* Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans
* Boxer snipe ee ...
and current member of the Boxing Hall of Fame. A native of
Zacatecas, Zacatecas
Zacatecas () is the principal city within the municipality in Mexico of the same name, and the capital and the largest city of the state of Zacatecas. Located in north-central Mexico, the city had its start as a Spanish mining camp in the mid- ...
, López was very popular among Mexicans and is considered by many as one of the greatest
Light Heavyweight
Light heavyweight, also referred to as junior cruiserweight or light cruiserweight, is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing Professional
In professional boxing, the division is above and up to , falling between super middleweight and cruise ...
s to never become world champion.
Early life
The story of López starts with his birth under a bull ring in the Plaza de Toros San Pedro in
Zacatecas, Zacatecas
Zacatecas () is the principal city within the municipality in Mexico of the same name, and the capital and the largest city of the state of Zacatecas. Located in north-central Mexico, the city had its start as a Spanish mining camp in the mid- ...
,
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
. 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. However, when López was in his teens, in his very first bull fight, after about four or five passes, the bull drove his horn into his ankle which shattered it. Due to his shattered ankle, he decided to no longer pursue his desire to become 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. 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
The Yaqui, Hiaki, or Yoeme, are a Native American people of the southwest, who speak a Uto-Aztecan language. Their homelands include the Río Yaqui valley in Sonora, Mexico, and the area below the Gila River in Arizona, Southwestern United Stat ...
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
Stockton is a city in and the county seat of San Joaquin County, California, San Joaquin County in the Central Valley (California), Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. Stockton was founded by Carlos Maria Weber in 1849 after he acquir ...
. The two would rematch in
Carson City, Nevada
Carson City is an independent city and the capital of the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,639, making it the sixth largest city in Nevada. The majority of the city's population lives in Eagle Valley, on the ...
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
John Anthony Conteh, (born 27 May 1951) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1971 to 1980. He held the WBC light-heavyweight title from 1974 to 1978, and regionally the European, British and Commonwealth titles between 1 ...
. Many people in the crowd thought López had pulled off the upset. The fight was held in
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark
...
.
WBA Light Heavyweight Championship
Álvaro met
Víctor Galíndez
Víctor Emilio Galíndez (2 November 1948 in Vedia – 25 October 1980 in Veinticinco de Mayo, Buenos Aires) was an Argentine boxer who was the third Latin American to win the world Light Heavyweight championship, after Puerto Rico's José ...
in two installment for the
WBA Light Heavyweight
Light heavyweight, also referred to as junior cruiserweight or light cruiserweight, is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing Professional
In professional boxing, the division is above and up to , falling between super middleweight and cruise ...
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.
He was one of the very few boxers of his time to challenge
James Scott at the
Rahway State Prison
East Jersey State Prison (EJSP) is a medium-security prison operated by the New Jersey Department of Corrections in Avenel, Woodbridge Township, New Jersey. It was established in 1896 as Rahway State Prison, and was the first reformatory in Ne ...
.
1980 Fight of the Year
López would later fight in the
Ring Magazine's 1980 Fight of the Year against
WBC Light Heavyweight
Light heavyweight, also referred to as junior cruiserweight or light cruiserweight, is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing Professional
In professional boxing, the division is above and up to , falling between super middleweight and cruise ...
Champion,
Matthew Saad Muhammad
Matthew Saad Muhammad (born Maxwell Antonio Loach; June 16, 1954 – May 25, 2014) was an American professional boxer who was the WBC Light Heavyweight Champion of the World for two-and-a-half years.
Background
Saad Muhammad's mother died when ...
. 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 energy to continue fighting and was stopped.
WBC Cruiserweight Championship
In Álvaro's last world title attempt, he would lose to the much younger
WBC Cruiserweight Champion,
Carlos De León
Carlos may refer to:
Places
;Canada
* Carlos, Alberta, a locality
;United States
* Carlos, Indiana, an unincorporated community
* Carlos, Maryland, a place in Allegany County
* Carlos, Minnesota, a small city
* Carlos, West Virginia
;Elsewhere ...
. López would then wait almost a year and fight Bash Ali, before retiring from boxing.
Legacy
Lopez is a member of both California Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. He has his own gym named after him, Yaqui Lopez's Fat City Boxin
www.yaquilopezsfatcityboxing.comDuring Álvaro's career he faced
Víctor Galíndez
Víctor Emilio Galíndez (2 November 1948 in Vedia – 25 October 1980 in Veinticinco de Mayo, Buenos Aires) was an Argentine boxer who was the third Latin American to win the world Light Heavyweight championship, after Puerto Rico's José ...
,
Mike Rossman
Mike Rossman (born Michael Albert DePiano on July 1, 1955) is an American former professional boxer who was the WBA light heavyweight champion of the world. He is of both Italian and Jewish descent, which led to his monikers "The Kosher Butcher ...
,
Mike Quarry
Michael Wayne Quarry (March 4, 1951 – June 11, 2006) was an American light heavyweight boxer. He had a record of 63–13–6 including 17 knockouts during his career. Mike bested such fighters as Jimmy Dupree.
Mike Quarry was born in Bakers ...
,
Tony Mundine,
Jesse Burnett
Jesse Burnett (born February 8, 1946) is an American former professional boxer. His professional record was 23-18-2 with 11 knockouts. He is best remembered as the spoiler who won a twelve-round decision in a WBC cruiserweight elimination bout o ...
,
James Scott,
S. T. Gordon
S.T. Gordon (born April 18, 1959) is an American former professional boxer held the WBC and Lineal cruiserweight titles from 1982 to 1983.
Professional boxing career
Gordon became a professional boxer in 1977. He faced undefeated heavyweight p ...
,
Matthew Saad Muhammad
Matthew Saad Muhammad (born Maxwell Antonio Loach; June 16, 1954 – May 25, 2014) was an American professional boxer who was the WBC Light Heavyweight Champion of the World for two-and-a-half years.
Background
Saad Muhammad's mother died when ...
,
Carlos De León
Carlos may refer to:
Places
;Canada
* Carlos, Alberta, a locality
;United States
* Carlos, Indiana, an unincorporated community
* Carlos, Maryland, a place in Allegany County
* Carlos, Minnesota, a small city
* Carlos, West Virginia
;Elsewhere ...
,
Michael Spinks
Michael Spinks (born July 13, 1956) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1988. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the undisputed light heavyweight title from 1983 to 1985, and the lineal he ...
, and
John Conteh
John Anthony Conteh, (born 27 May 1951) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1971 to 1980. He held the WBC light-heavyweight title from 1974 to 1978, and regionally the European, British and Commonwealth titles between 1 ...
.
Professional boxing record
, -
, align="center" colspan=8, 61 Wins (39 knockouts, 22 decisions), 15 Losses (6 knockouts, 9 decisions
, -
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Res.
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Record
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Opponent
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Type
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Round
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Date
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Location
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Notes
, -
, Loss
, 61-15
, align=left, Bash Ali
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Loss
, 61-14
, align=left,
Carlos De Leon
,
,
,
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, Win
, 61-13
, align=left, Eddie Gonzales
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 60-13
, align=left, Mike Jameson
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 59-13
, align=left, James Williams
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 58-13
, align=left, Roger Braxton
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 57-13
, align=left, Ken Arlt
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 56-13
, align=left, David Smith
,
,
,
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, Win
, 55-13
, align=left, Alvin Dominey
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Loss
, 54-13
, align=left, Johnny Davis
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 54-12
, align=left,
Tony Mundine
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Loss
, 53-12
, align=left,
ST Gordon
,
,
,
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, Win
, 53-11
, align=left, Willie Taylor
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 52-11
, align=left, George O'Mara
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 51-11
, align=left, Grover Robinson
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 50-11
, align=left, Carl Ivy
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Loss
, 49-11
, align=left,
Michael Spinks
Michael Spinks (born July 13, 1956) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1988. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the undisputed light heavyweight title from 1983 to 1985, and the lineal he ...
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Loss
, 49-10
, align=left,
Matthew Muhammad
,
,
,
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, Win
, 49-9
, align=left, Bobby Lloyd
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 48-9
, align=left, Pete McIntyre
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Loss
, 47-9
, align=left,
James Scott
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 47-8
, align=left, Bash Ali
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 46-8
, align=left, Andros Ernie Barr
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 45-8
, align=left, Ivy Brown
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 44-8
, align=left, Wilbert Albers
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Loss
, 43-8
, align=left,
Matthew Muhammad
,
,
,
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, Win
, 43-7
, align=left,
Jesse Burnett
Jesse Burnett (born February 8, 1946) is an American former professional boxer. His professional record was 23-18-2 with 11 knockouts. He is best remembered as the spoiler who won a twelve-round decision in a WBC cruiserweight elimination bout o ...
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Loss
, 42-7
, align=left,
Victor Galindez
The name Victor or Viktor may refer to:
* Victor (name), including a list of people with the given name, mononym, or surname
Arts and entertainment
Film
* ''Victor'' (1951 film), a French drama film
* ''Victor'' (1993 film), a French shor ...
,
,
,
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, Win
, 42-6
, align=left,
Mike Rossman
Mike Rossman (born Michael Albert DePiano on July 1, 1955) is an American former professional boxer who was the WBA light heavyweight champion of the world. He is of both Italian and Jewish descent, which led to his monikers "The Kosher Butcher ...
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 41-6
, align=left, Fabian Falconette
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 40-6
, align=left, Clarence Geigger
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 39-6
, align=left, Chuck Warfield
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Loss
, 38-6
, align=left,
Victor Galindez
The name Victor or Viktor may refer to:
* Victor (name), including a list of people with the given name, mononym, or surname
Arts and entertainment
Film
* ''Victor'' (1951 film), a French drama film
* ''Victor'' (1993 film), a French shor ...
,
,
,
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, Win
, 38-5
, align=left, Benny Barra
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 37-5
, align=left, Manuel Fierro
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 36-5
, align=left, Bobby Lloyd
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Loss
, 35-5
, align=left, Lonnie Bennett
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 35-4
, align=left, Larry Castaneda
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 34-4
, align=left, Danny Brewer
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 33-4
, align=left, Pete McIntyre
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 32-4
, align=left, Clarence Geigger
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Loss
, 31-4
, align=left,
John Conteh
John Anthony Conteh, (born 27 May 1951) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1971 to 1980. He held the WBC light-heavyweight title from 1974 to 1978, and regionally the European, British and Commonwealth titles between 1 ...
,
,
,
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, Win
, 31-3
, align=left, Larry Castaneda
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 30-3
, align=left, Karl Zurheide
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 29-3
, align=left, David Smith
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 28-3
, align=left, Terry Lee
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 27-3
, align=left,
Jesse Burnett
Jesse Burnett (born February 8, 1946) is an American former professional boxer. His professional record was 23-18-2 with 11 knockouts. He is best remembered as the spoiler who won a twelve-round decision in a WBC cruiserweight elimination bout o ...
,
,
,
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
, 26-3
, align=left,
Jesse Burnett
Jesse Burnett (born February 8, 1946) is an American former professional boxer. His professional record was 23-18-2 with 11 knockouts. He is best remembered as the spoiler who won a twelve-round decision in a WBC cruiserweight elimination bout o ...
,
,
,
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, Win
, 26-2
, align=left,
Gary Summerhays
Gary Summerhays (1950 – 19 October 2021) was a Canadian professional light heavyweight, light heavy/cruiserweight (boxing), cruiserweight Boxing, boxer of the 1970s and 1980s, who won the Canadian light heavyweight title and List of Commonweal ...
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 25-2
, align=left,
Mike Quarry
Michael Wayne Quarry (March 4, 1951 – June 11, 2006) was an American light heavyweight boxer. He had a record of 63–13–6 including 17 knockouts during his career. Mike bested such fighters as Jimmy Dupree.
Mike Quarry was born in Bakers ...
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 24-2
, align=left, Lee Mitchell
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 23-2
, align=left, Terry Lee
,
,
,
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, Win
, 22-2
, align=left, Hildo Silva
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 21-2
, align=left, Bobby Rascon
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 20-2
, align=left, Joe Cokes
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 19-2
, align=left, Hildo Silva
,
,
,
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, Win
, 18-2
, align=left, Willie Warren
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 17-2
, align=left, Andy Kendall
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 16-2
, align=left, Al Bolden
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 15-2
, align=left, Alfonso Gonzalez
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 14-2
, align=left, Charlie Brooks
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 13-2
, align=left, Herman Hampton
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 12-2
, align=left, Ron Wilson
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 11-2
, align=left, Dave Rogers
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 10-2
, align=left, Ron Wilson
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 9-2
, align=left, Hildo Silva
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Loss
, 8-2
, align=left, Al Bolden
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 8-1
, align=left, Polo Ramirez
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 7-1
, align=left, Van Sahib
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 6-1
, align=left, Herman Hampton
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 5-1
, align=left, Mark Hearn
,
, )
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 4-1
, align=left, Henry Tavake
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Loss
, 3-1
, align=left,
Jesse Burnett
Jesse Burnett (born February 8, 1946) is an American former professional boxer. His professional record was 23-18-2 with 11 knockouts. He is best remembered as the spoiler who won a twelve-round decision in a WBC cruiserweight elimination bout o ...
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 3-0
, align=left, Cisco Solorio
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 2-0
, align=left, Herman Hampton
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
, -
, Win
, 1-0
, align=left, Herman Hampton
,
,
,
, align=left,
,
References
External links
*
Homepage of Fat City Boxing Club
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lopez, Yaqui
1951 births
Living people
Boxers from Zacatecas
People from Zacatecas City
Light-heavyweight boxers
Cruiserweight boxers
Mexican male boxers