Danny “Little Red” Lopez: The Man who broke Ghana's Heart

Induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, is the “championship belt” every fighter seeks. It is representative of having left one’s mark on the sport; being recognized as one of the greats in the annals of boxing. There a plaque is placed and the fighter can stand tall and proud knowing his name is enshrined alongside that of Henry Armstrong, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Willie Pep, and Sugar Ray Robinson, the legends of the sport. More contemporary names that now appear in that hallowed hall are those of Bobby Chacon, Ruben Olivares, Eusebio Pedroza, and Salvador Sanchez. But missing from among those names, among those legends of the sport, is Danny “Little Red” Lopez. In reviewing the life, career, and accomplishments of Lopez the question arises as to why this immensely popular and legendary former Featherweight Champion has yet to be asked to take his place among boxing’s elite.

Of Irish, Mexican, and Native American ancestry, Danny Lopez grew up on a Ute Indian Reservation in Fort Duquesne, Utah, one of seven brothers and sisters. After a troubled childhood, he took an interest in boxing and followed in the footsteps of older brother, welterweight Ernie “Indian Red” Lopez, and turned pro at age 18. Danny began his professional boxing career on May 27, 1971, with a first round knockout of Steve Flajole. Lopez would reel off 21 straight wins by knockout, still recognized as one of the longest in boxing history, and go 23-0 overall before suffering his first defeat. During that time, Lopez would become a staple at the famed Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, regularly selling out the old fight club’s 10,000 seats. For three years Danny established himself as a warrior. In nearly every fight he would wade in, fists flying, get knocked down only to rise and knock out his opponent. Lopez hadn’t yet learned defense and it would show in his first defeat.

Danny’s first loss would come on May 24, 1974 at age 21 at the hands of Bobby Chacon. After 8 rounds of what was described as a war, Chacon, who would go on to become a legendary Featherweight and Super Featherweight Champion, stopped Lopez 48 seconds into the ninth stanza. A little more than 2 years later, and with knockout victories under his belt over former or future world champions Chucho Castillo (TKO 2), Ruben Olivares (KO 7), and Sean O’Grady (TKO 4), Lopez became a world champion. Traveling to Accra, Ghana, Little Red faced WBC Featherweight Champion David Kotey on November 6, 1976. In front of more than 100,000 African fans cheering for their native champion Lopez captured the title with a unanimous decision over 15 rounds in 100 degree heat. Unfortunately he did so in near obscurity. With no television or radio broadcasts of the fight, and Lopez’ 72 year old manager Howie Steindler having been forbidden by his doctor to make the trip, it was not until Danny returned to the United States two days later that many would learn their man had won the world title. It wouldn’t take long before the world knew the newly crowned champion.

After taking some time off to celebrate his victory, Danny fought 2 non-title fights less than one month apart; a knockout in 2 rounds over Jose Olivares on July 29, 1977 and a KO in 6 over Jorge Altamirano on August 28. Lopez’ first title defense came just 16 days later on September 13, 1977. In a nationally televised bout Lopez came off the canvas to brutally stop Jose Torres in the 7th round. Next, Little Red would meet David Kotey in a rematch on February 15, 1978 on the undercard of Ali-Spinks I and this time Lopez stopped Kotey in 6 rounds. With his first two defenses having been nationally televised Danny’s popularity, already well established among California fans where Lopez had fought almost exclusively before becoming champion, grew exponentially.

After a TKO win in 6 rounds over Jose Francisco De Paula in April, 1978, Danny fought Juan Malvarez on September 15 on the undercard of Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks II. Again defending on a televised fight card Danny was floored in the opening round. Dusting himself off coolly after the knockdown, Lopez doggedly pursued his challenger as Malvarez landed lead rights and left hooks. A stunned crowd looked on as the round ended, becoming convinced this might be the end of the road for the title reign of their hero Little Red. With just 44 seconds gone in the second round Lopez countered over an attempted lead right uppercut by Malvarez with an explosive right hand of his own. The punch separated Malvarez from his senses and he crumpled to the floor. After the referee completed his 10 count the challenger remained on the floor for a full two minutes. Lopez had retained his title in stirring come-from-behind fashion. This was of course not the first time Lopez had been down in his career and he was gaining notoriety as the kind of fighter who might get knocked down but would come back to knock out his opponents, sometimes, as with Malvarez, in the very next round.

On June 17, 1979, in what would later be named by Ring Magazine as 1979’s Fight of the Year, Lopez faced top contender Mike “Little Cyclone” Ayala. In a battle Sports Illustrated would tag “a mini Ali-Frazier” Lopez broke Ayala’s nose early in the fight, floored the challenger in the seventh and eleventh rounds, and stopped Ayala in the 15th and final round. Lopez had proven his mettle as a champion this night and cemented his legacy in this, his seventh title defense. Walking through punishment to deliver some his own brand of mayhem upon the body of an opponent Lopez had succeeded in bringing attention to the Featherweight division and garnering a level of popularity that perhaps no Featherweight Champion in history had enjoyed.

After one more successful title defense, a 3rd round TKO over Jose Caba on September 25, 1979, Lopez defended his WBC title on February 2, 1980 against young up-and-coming featherweight Salvador Sanchez. The legend that would become Salvador Sanchez was born that night in Phoenix, Arizona as Sanchez stopped the popular Champion in the 13th round to claim the title. The two would fight again a little more than four months later on June 21, and Lopez would last one round longer, succumbing to the young phenom in the 14th round. After the fight Lopez would hand Sanchez the Indian headdress he wore into the ring, a symbolic gesture of the passing of the torch, and a display of the kind of champion Danny Lopez had been.

Little Red retired after the rematch with Sanchez. Nearly 12 years later, after witnessing the success of George Foreman’s comeback, Danny made an ill-advised comeback attempt of his own on February 27, 1992, losing by knockout to Jorge Rodriguez in 3 rounds. Danny hung up the gloves for good following the loss.

Lopez’ final career mark was 42-6, 39 KO’s, an incredible 81.25 knockout percentage. Looking inside the numbers is the best argument for why Danny Lopez belongs in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Lopez made eight successful defenses of the WBC Featherweight Championship, holding the title from November 1976 until February, 1980. Little Red fought six former, current, or future champions during his career. Two of his six losses were to the legendary Sanchez, one to another legend Bobby Chacon, both Hall of Fame inductees. Still another, a 10 round points loss to Octavio Gomez in 1975, was later avenged with a knockout of Gomez in three rounds a year later. He is currently a member of the World Boxing Hall Of Fame, was inducted in 2005 to the California Boxing Hall Of Fame, and was inducted in 2008 to the WBC Legends of Boxing Museum along with such luminaries as Lennox Lewis, Ken Norton, and Diego Corrales.

With a career filled with excitement, a record as respectable as any current members, and with all the various Halls Of Fame that have already inducted Danny “Little Red” Lopez, the question still remains: When will Lopez be included on the ballot for the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in Canastota, New York? When will his plaque be hung on those hallowed halls among his fellow legends? In a sport plagued with legitimacy issues over everything from loaded hand wraps to steroid use, the enshrinement of a man who reached the pinnacle of his profession through hard work, dedication, and determination would go a long way in restoring a measure of respectability and legitimacy. Danny Lopez has appeared several times at the IBHOF through the years, giving freely of himself and spending countless hours greeting and signing autographs for the many thousands of boxing fans in attendance. Always the bridesmaid, and never the bride, still Danny comes. It is the measure of the man and the champion.

I am one of the many thousands of boxing fans who had both the pleasure and the honor of watching Little Red fight and defend his title those many years ago. I am also among those who have had the distinct honor of meeting him at the Hall of Fame. He is a warm and genuine human being, one who deserves to be on the podium giving his acceptance speech instead of in the gymnasium of a high school working like a greeter at a Wal-Mart.

Danny “Little Red” Lopez will turn 57 years old this year. It is this writer’s opinion as a fan and supporter of the International Boxing Hall of Fame that Danny should not turn 58 before he gets that call that says “Danny, you have been inducted.” He earned it, he deserves it…..it is past due!