Ricardo López (boxer)


Ricardo López Nava is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2001. He was a two-weight world champion, having held the WBC mini flyweight title from 1990 to 1998, defending it against a record-breaking 21 opponents; the WBA and WBO mini flyweight titles between 1997 and 1998; and the IBF junior flyweight title from 1999 until his retirement in 2001. He is one of just fifteen world boxing champions to retire without a loss. He is the father of undefeated former boxer Alonso López.
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Amateur career

López would win four consecutive Guantes de Oro de México Championships from 1981 to 1984. His record has been reported as 37–1.

Professional career

On January 18, 1985, Ricardo made his professional debut at the age of 18 by scoring a third-round knockout of Rogelio Hernandez. He accumulated a record of 26–0 before receiving his first shot at a world title.

WBC mini flyweight champion

On October 25, 1990, López defeated WBC and lineal mini flyweight champion Hideyuki Ohashi of Japan via fifth-round knockout to win his first world title. In 1991, he defeated Korean former champion Kyung-Yung Lee via Unanimous Decision. In 1992, he defended his title against
Pretty Boy Lucas of the Philippines via Unanimous Decision and Rocky Lin of Taiwan via TKO. López started 1993 with a stoppage victory over amateur standout Kwang-Soo Oh and followed it with a knockout over future two-time champion Saman Sorjaturong of Thailand. Sorjaturong was knocked down once in the first round and twice in the second round before the referee stopped the bout.
Later that year, he knocked out Filipino former champion Manny Melchor in the eleventh round. In his tenth title defense, López defeated future champion Kermin Guardia by unanimous decision. He knocked out Surachai Saengmorakot in the first round of his next bout. In 1995, he defeated Andy Tabanas of the Philippines via twelfth-round knockout. In his next bout, he defeated another Filipino boxer and founder of the famous "Ala Gym" Ala Villamor by knockout. In early 1997, there had been a plan in the works for López to move up in weight to challenge junior flyweight champion Michael Carbajal, however, the plan was upended when Carbajal lost his title in an upset loss. López would go on to defend his title against Mongkol Charoen.

WBO and WBA mini flyweight champion

In his 20th world title bout, López unified his WBC title by defeating WBO mini flyweight champion Alex Sánchez of Puerto Rico via fifth-round knockout. After López won the WBO title, he said he wanted to give his championship belt to his father, who is a boxing fan. His statement to Mexican newspapers prompted the organization to take away López' title and sanction a match between Eric Jamili and Mickey Cantwell to fill the vacancy. "It was enough for us," said the WBO president, Francisco Valcarcel, of López' intention. "That's a public resignation." Dwight Manley, López' agent, said López should have had a hearing before the WBO took away his title. "He got no letter, he got no telephone call," Manley said.
On March 7, 1998, López fought undefeated WBA mini flyweight champion Rosendo Álvarez to a technical draw after referee Arthur Mercante Sr. stopped the contest following an accidental clash of heads in the seventh round. This fight was part of undercard featured Julio César Chávez vs. Miguel Ángel González for the vacant WBC super lightweight title. In the rematch, Álvarez came in over the mini flyweight limit and was subsequently stripped of his title. Due to the weight disparity, the fight was in jeopardy. However, López chose to proceed with the contest against the heavier Álvarez with only López eligible to claim the now vacant WBA title. López defeated Álvarez by split decision to claim his third mini flyweight title. After the fight, he vacated his titles in order to move up in weight.

IBF junior flyweight champion

In his first bout at junior flyweight, López defeated IBF champion Will Grigsby of the U.S. by Unanimous Decision. He defended his title against former champion Ratanapol Sor Vorapin by knocked out in the 3rd Round. On September 29, 2001, López knocked out Zolani Petelo in the eighth round, who had recently vacated his IBF mini flyweight title, the only mini flyweight title that López had not claimed before moving up in weight. He officially announced his retirement from boxing at a press conference on November 27, 2002, in Mexico City.

Retirement

Ricardo López was the seventh male boxing champion to retire undefeated. With 26 successful title fights, he also shares the record for most consecutive title bouts without a loss with Joe Louis and Floyd Mayweather Jr. This streak began with his knockout of Hideyuki Ohashi to win the WBC mini flyweight title in 1990 and ended with his knockout of Zolani Petelo to defend his IBF junior flyweight title in 2001. Ricardo only had one draw, which came in his 48th bout against Rosendo Álvarez in 1998 and was then avenged in their rematch eight months later. His final record was 51 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw.

Life after boxing

López now works as a boxing broadcaster for the Mexican Televisa network.

Honors

López was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007.
Ricardo "El Finito" López was voted as the greatest Strawweight and Light Flyweight Champion ever by the Houston Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2014, while BoxRec rates him the best Minimumweight of all time. The Houston Boxing Hall Of Fame is a voting body composed entirely of current and former fighters.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
52WinZolani PeteloKO8, 1:32Sep 29, 2001Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained IBF junior flyweight title
51Win50–0–1Ratanapol Sor VorapinTKO3, 2:11Dec 2, 2000Mandalay Bay, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF junior flyweight title
50Win49–0–1Will GrigsbyUD12Oct 2, 1999Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Won IBF junior flyweight title
49Win48–0–1Rosendo ÁlvarezSD12Nov 13, 1998Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC mini flyweight title;
Won vacant WBA mini flyweight title
48Draw47–0–1Rosendo ÁlvarezTD8 Mar 7, 1998Plaza de Toros México, Mexico City, MexicoRetained WBC mini flyweight title;
For WBA mini flyweight title
47Win47–0Alex SánchezTKO5, 1:58Aug 23, 1997Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained WBC mini flyweight title;
Won WBO mini flyweight title
46Win46–0Mongkol CharoenUD12Mar 29, 1997Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC mini flyweight title
45Win45–0Myung-Sup ParkTKO1, 2:22Dec 7, 1996Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, U.S.Retained WBC mini flyweight title
44Win44–0Morgan NdumoTKO6, 0:55Nov 9, 1996MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC mini flyweight title
43Win43–0Kitichai PreechaTKO3, 1:46Jun 29, 1996Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, U.S.Retained WBC mini flyweight title
42Win42–0Edito “Ala” VillamorTKO8, 0:40Mar 16, 1996MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC mini flyweight title
41Win41–0Andy TabanasTKO12, 2:45Apr 1, 1995Buffalo Bill's Star Arena, Primm, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC mini flyweight title
40Win40–0Yamil CaraballoTKO1, 1:10Dec 10, 1994Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey, Monterrey, MexicoRetained WBC mini flyweight title
39Win39–0Javier VarguezTKO8, 1:33Nov 12, 1994Plaza de Toros México, Mexico City, MexicoRetained WBC mini flyweight title
38Win38–0Surachai SaengmorakotTKO1, 1:53Sep 17, 1994MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC mini flyweight title
37Win37–0Kermin GuardiaUD12May 7, 1994MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC mini flyweight title
36Win36–0Manny MelchorKO11, 2:00Dec 18, 1993Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC mini flyweight title
35Win35–0Toto PongsawangTKO11, 2:30Sep 19, 1993Capitol City Discotheque, Bangkok, ThailandRetained WBC mini flyweight title
34Win34–0Saman SorjaturongTKO2, 2:45Jul 3, 1993Parque la Junta, Nuevo Laredo, MexicoRetained WBC mini flyweight title
33Win33–0Kwang-Soo OhTKO9 Jan 31, 1993Indoor Gymnasium, Pohang, South KoreaRetained WBC mini flyweight title
32Win32–0Rocky LinTKO2 Oct 11, 1992Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBC mini flyweight title
31Win31–0Singprasert KittikasemTKO5 Aug 22, 1992Auditorio Americo Villareal, Ciudad Madero, MexicoRetained WBC mini flyweight title
30Win30–0Pretty Boy LucasUD12Mar 16, 1992Fronton Mexico, Mexico City, MexicoRetained WBC mini flyweight title
29Win29–0Kyung-Yun LeeUD12Dec 21, 1991Jamsil Arena, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBC mini flyweight title
28Win28–0Kimio HiranoTKO8 May 19, 1991Kusanagi Gymnasium, Shizuoka, JapanRetained WBC mini flyweight title
27Win27–0Hideyuki OhashiTKO5 Oct 25, 1990Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanWon WBC mini flyweight title
26Win26–0Francisco MontielUD10 Jun 29, 1990Mexico City, Mexico
25Win25–0Jorge RiveraKO8 Mar 15, 1990Fairmont Hotel, Dallas, Texas, U.S.Retained WBC Continental Americas mini flyweight title
24Win24–0Rey HernandezKO12 Nov 7, 1989Arena México, Mexico City, MexicoWon WBC Continental Americas mini flyweight title
23Win23–0Jose Luis ZepedaTKO7 Aug 26, 1989Mexico City, Mexico
22Win22–0Raymundo Ricardo MendozaKO5Aug 4, 1989Tulancingo, Mexico
21Win21–0Abel AndresKO2Jul 8, 1989León, Mexico
20Win20–0Jorge TorresKO8May 30, 1989Guasave, Mexico
19Win19–0Javier JuarezUD10 May 6, 1989Mexico City, Mexico
18Win18–0Ubaldo GonzalezTKO6Jan 27, 1989Mazatlán, Mexico
17Win17–0Ismael BenitezUD10 Nov 12, 1988Mexico City, Mexico
16Win16–0Evaristo MoralesKO5Aug 27, 1988Mexico City, Mexico
15Win15–0Fermin RiveraKO3Jul 30, 1988Zacapu, Mexico
14Win14–0Javier AlonsoUD10 Aug 18, 1987Mexico City, Mexico
13Win13–0Alex MolladoKO1Jul 31, 1987Acapulco, Mexico
12Win12–0Eduardo RamirezUD10 Apr 18, 1987Mexico City, Mexico
11Win11–0Herminio RamirezUD10 Dec 8, 1986Tlalnepantla, Mexico
10Win10–0Jorge FloresKO2Oct 6, 1986Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico
9Win9–0Herminio RamirezUD10 Jul 28, 1986Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico
8Win8–0Santiago HuizarKO2May 1, 1986Zacatecas City, Mexico
7Win7–0Reyes MendezKO1Mar 24, 1986Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico
6Win6–0Narciso PanchiKO5Aug 2, 1985Arena Naucalpan, Mexico City, Mexico
5Win5–0Manuel MartinezKO2Jun 27, 1985San Luis Potosí City, Mexico
4Win4–0Javier DominguezKO3Mar 8, 1985Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
3Win3–0Sebastian ReyesKO2Feb 18, 1985Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
2Win2–0Antonio ArciniegaKO2Feb 6, 1985Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
1Win1–0Rogelio HernandezKO3 Jan 18, 1985Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

Titles in boxing

Major world titles

Regional/International titles