“Earlier than every spherical Ricardo appears to be like as much as the heavens, then goes out to kill, kill, kill. It’s like he’s asking permission from God to annihilate the opposite man.”
In two sentences the late Jose Sulaiman summed up the essence of Ricardo Lopez, the honest, humble, respectful killing machine. Lopez was the sort who would go to his 4 common church buildings in Mexico Metropolis after which pray for a sufferer he had simply wickedly dispatched.
Lopez’s mom Ana Maria wished her son to develop into a lawyer. However at solely ten years of age he selected to battle, copying the slick strikes of his idol, Sugar Ray Robinson. From 1976 onward, the one loss Ricardo suffered was within the 1984 Mexico Metropolis Golden Gloves and shortly thereafter he turned professional. By 1990 he was a world champion and by 1997 Lopez had rattled off 19 defenses of the WBC minimumweight title earlier than being matched in opposition to a younger Puerto Rican named Alex Sanchez at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Felix Trinidad’s star energy amongst Puerto Rican followers far eclipsed that of Sanchez, however Trinidad’s father and coach, Felix Sr., had led Sanchez to successful the WBO minimumweight belt and defending it six occasions. It was a formidable accomplishment for a 24-year-old competing in a division that had solely been round for a decade. However when it was introduced that Felix Jr. can be shifting from welterweight to tremendous welterweight to face former title challenger Troy Waters, Lopez vs Sanchez was now not the primary occasion.
The cardboard, dubbed “Quest for the Greatest,” was the primary held at Madison Sq. Backyard in over a yr because the one earlier, the primary fateful assembly between Riddick Bowe and Andrew Golota, led to a violent riot that left many injured and The Backyard with costly damages. In entrance of additional safety, Lopez vs Sanchez can be the primary minimumweight bout ever held on the venue, the primary ever minimumweight unification, and doubtlessly Lopez’s twentieth title protection, a feat beforehand managed by solely Larry Holmes and Joe Louis.
Lopez was launched to the gang by Jimmy Lennon Jr., principally to hooting regardless of a smattering of Mexican flags, however Sanchez had little to supply by way of the primary spherical. Solely when the lankier Lopez selected to cease and commerce did Sanchez get to make contact, and uppercut counters waited for him when he did. The greater than 14,000 in attendance gasped when a hook to the physique from Sanchez was countered with two proper palms that dumped him to the canvas in spherical two. It took braveness and toughness to climate the exact Lopez proper palms that adopted and survive the spherical, however it was evident that Sanchez was lower than the problem.
By way of a signature excessive guard “El Finito” picked off Sanchez’s wild makes an attempt and snapped house his personal blows with ease. Because the challenger’s scenario grew extra determined with every passing trade so did Sanchez’s swings as he left himself open for counters and within the first minute of spherical three a proper uppercut wobbled him. He battled again to just about win the spherical, however a left hook rocked him once more within the fourth. All that was left for Sanchez was to try to get Lopez off his recreation with illicit ways, so he twice pushed the Mexican’s head down, hitting the champion on the second try to incomes a degree deduction.
In an interview with Sports activities Illustrated years later, Lopez would declare he advised Sanchez,”Come on! Combat clear!” And he stated Sanchez replied, “I’m going to kill you, you son of a bitch!” Cordiality had ended, so Lopez mauled his foe with brutal effectivity, hurting him with a left hook and sending him down once more. The knockdown was dominated a slip, however Sanchez rose wearily and tried to take a knee for the nonexistent necessary eight rely. Even in easing up earlier than the bell Lopez despatched his man strolling to the nook unsteadily.
In spherical 5 Sanchez bravely got here ahead however Lopez couldn’t miss together with his left hand. Within the second minute of the spherical a collection of fast proper palms introduced in regards to the ultimate sequence, and a mix despatched Sanchez down as soon as extra. His aimless stumble in regards to the ring and the vacant look in his eyes prompted Arthur Mercante, Jr. to finish the battle and crown a brand new unified minimumweight champion.
Combating solely as excessive as 108 kilos, Lopez was maybe an enormous fish in a small pond, however the lack of adoration was doubtless resulting from his extra cerebral method and respectful demeanor within the ring. For instance, when making the second protection of his WBC belt in opposition to Kyung-Yung Lee in 1991, Lopez was repeatedly hit on the again of the top, elbowed, and extra, however Lopez chopped his method to a businesslike determination win. It was nice, however too good, too accountable. Stated Mexican author Ricardo Mireles, “Mexican boxing followers are principally males, and Mexican males need to see a boxer who likes to drink and reside the great life. Ricardo [Lopez] is just too devoted and goody-goody for them.”
Nonetheless good or “goody-goody” he was, one other victory for Mexico in its generational rivalry with Puerto Rico for Latin boxing supremacy was fortunately accepted by Lopez’s countrymen. Whether or not or not he was correctly acknowledged and appreciated in his time, the actual fact stays “El Finito” dominated over his division like few nice champions earlier than or since, at the same time as that weight class nonetheless struggles for consideration and respect.
–Patrick Connor
