by Norm Frauenheim
A reasonable argument continues about whether to cross a border that, at least according to headlines and perhaps hyperbole, sounds like a battlefield. Bob Arum says that all is quiet on the Tijuana side of the southern front, despite news reports and State Department advisories that say otherwise.
Maybe, Arum is right. I hope he is. For one night, at least, maybe all the violence in Tijuana will be controlled with a Latin Fury card Saturday in a bullring close to the border and not far from streets bloodied by warring drug gangs.
Maybe, the gangsters will take a night off and watch somebody else fight. There is precedence for that. During Manny Pacquiao’s fights in Las Vegas, there have been reports that Filipino rebels suspend their insurgency long enough to watch their famed countryman, the Boxing Writers Association’s 2008 Fighter of the Year who also qualified for some peace-prize consideration.
Arum has been taking some heat from U.S. media for trying to quell fears about Tijuana during a conference a call a few weeks ago. He tried to separate the documented violence in Juarez from what has happened in Tijuana. Given the alarming statistics, that’s hard – no, impossible – to do. Throughout all of the criticism, however, it is hard not to admire Arum, whose loyalty is about as old school as it gets.
Arum is taking a chance with a Tijuana card featuring Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. against Argentina’s Luciano Cuello, just as surely as he took one in his angry defense of welterweight Antonio Margarito, who was suspended in the U.S. for one year and faces public condemnation for a lot longer in the wake of charges of altered hand wraps before his loss to Sugar Shane Mosley.
But there is an important thread of consistency in his decision to stand behind a fighter and a city. Both are Mexican. Without Mexico, it’s hard to imagine where Arum’s business would be, or if it would be much of a business, at all.
Over at least the last decade, Mexico has been Arum’s biggest, most reliable market. Without Mexico, Pacquiao wouldn’t be quite the phenomenon he is today. The Arum-promoted Pacquiao hates being called The Mexicutioner. Without Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez, however, he just would be a good Filipino fighter.
Then, there is Floyd Mayweather Jr and Ricky Hatton, neither an Arum client. They wouldn’t be as rich with out those Mexican fans either. Both have acknowledged that with a tip of the symbolic sombrero – Mayweather in a Pancho Villa-like costume before beating De La Hoya and Hatton in appearances with Barrera, his compadre.
Mexico has created opportunities for them and avenues to new markets for Arum, who is in Tijuana this weekend like a vigilant shop-keeper. He’s minding the store, making sure not to anger his best customers.
Notes, quotes and oddservations
· Pacquiao as Fighter of the Year was a foregone conclusion at the very second De La Hoya lost to him last December. A further sign of Pacquiao’s widening stardom arrived in Time, which included him on a list of 202 candidates for being the world’s most influential. Pacquiao is among a handful of sports figures, including Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, golfer Tiger Woods, basketball’s Kobe Bryant, baseball’s Alex Rodriquez, cycling’s Lance Armstrong, race-car driver Danica Patrick and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Apparently, no newspaper publishers or editors had anything to do with the magazine’s list. They decided boxing was dead years ago and have since gone on to kill off their own business.
· It looks as if Phelps is slowly re-surfacing after weeks of controversy surrounding those photos of him poised over a bong. He is scheduled to appear with Muhammad Ali Saturday night in Phoenix at Ali’s annual fund-raiser in the fight against Parkinson’s.
· Just wondering: Will De La Hoya announce his retirement before Mayweather Jr. says he is coming back?
· OK, Tijuana is dangerous, but ringside isn’t always safe either. A Phoenix ringside photographer, Dale Hausner, could get the death penalty for his conviction on 80 criminal counts, including six murders. In a strange choice of words, a jury declared Hausner “eligible” for death. Huh? How does you gain eligibility for lethal injection? Anyway, I know Hausner, the so-called Serial Shooter. He always struck me as a harmless nerd. Once, I appeared on public-access television to talk boxing with him. He was the host. He gave me a small, bull-like stuffed animal that was supposed to be Mike Tyson, one of his heroes. Before his trial, I got a couple of calls from a Hausner attorney, who wanted me to testify in his behalf as a character witness. I never returned those calls.
Friday, March 27, 2009
THE PROSPECT
By Roger Esty
This caught me off guard in a sense. Not like a punch comin' at you,but more like a surprise. Ya' see I got this kid in my class who's somewhat of a fighter. Not a guy who jumps in with all his buddies to stack the odds with him nor is he a kid that gets into fights after school down the street. This kid is one of those UFC kind of fighters. He's won tournaments,championships. Last week he won top prize in a tournament in Las Vegas. He's had 25 matches and is undefeated.
Well I stick my 2 cents in and talk him into going to the National City Community Center in National City. The one where the late Junior Robles used to workout in. I've been there. Know the guy who runs it now. Carlos Barragan. He's a stand up guy with lots of pride and enthusiasm. Going there tomorrow to see this kid workout. I think I've talked him into trying boxing for his luck. The kid's Mexican. Around 5 foot 8. A solid 150. Has long arms and big hands. Says he's been trained to box a little by his UFC coach. He's already made an appearance at the Center. Tomorrow,I'll make mine. Oh,I'll bring my camera. Will take some pics of the place and of Carlos Barragan. It's a real clean facility. Boxing only.
Carlos Barragan keeps it open after school for the kids to come in and learn how to box. Has some amateurs and a couple of pros.30 kids give or take.Who knows, I might get interested again. If this kid looks like something,I might step in.
The kid's name is Jonathan Becerra. Good student when he's in class. He's always either in a tournament or in the gym.Like I said,I might get my beak wet. Maybe Gato would too. Don't know of anyone around who knows more about boxing in the near by area than the ex light weight champ. Gato told me he's got the urge to train a good prospect.
Well ,I don't want to go over board. Take it one step at a time is the best way to go. The kid's 14 years old. Has proven that he's willing to train. Is indefeated in the UFC. There I go again. Slow down.
You might be wondering why I'm on the thread at this time of night. Can't get to sleep thinking about tomorrow.
This caught me off guard in a sense. Not like a punch comin' at you,but more like a surprise. Ya' see I got this kid in my class who's somewhat of a fighter. Not a guy who jumps in with all his buddies to stack the odds with him nor is he a kid that gets into fights after school down the street. This kid is one of those UFC kind of fighters. He's won tournaments,championships. Last week he won top prize in a tournament in Las Vegas. He's had 25 matches and is undefeated.
Well I stick my 2 cents in and talk him into going to the National City Community Center in National City. The one where the late Junior Robles used to workout in. I've been there. Know the guy who runs it now. Carlos Barragan. He's a stand up guy with lots of pride and enthusiasm. Going there tomorrow to see this kid workout. I think I've talked him into trying boxing for his luck. The kid's Mexican. Around 5 foot 8. A solid 150. Has long arms and big hands. Says he's been trained to box a little by his UFC coach. He's already made an appearance at the Center. Tomorrow,I'll make mine. Oh,I'll bring my camera. Will take some pics of the place and of Carlos Barragan. It's a real clean facility. Boxing only.
Carlos Barragan keeps it open after school for the kids to come in and learn how to box. Has some amateurs and a couple of pros.30 kids give or take.Who knows, I might get interested again. If this kid looks like something,I might step in.
The kid's name is Jonathan Becerra. Good student when he's in class. He's always either in a tournament or in the gym.Like I said,I might get my beak wet. Maybe Gato would too. Don't know of anyone around who knows more about boxing in the near by area than the ex light weight champ. Gato told me he's got the urge to train a good prospect.
Well ,I don't want to go over board. Take it one step at a time is the best way to go. The kid's 14 years old. Has proven that he's willing to train. Is indefeated in the UFC. There I go again. Slow down.
You might be wondering why I'm on the thread at this time of night. Can't get to sleep thinking about tomorrow.
Hands of Plaster
The hand wrappings confiscated from former world welterweight champion Antonio Margarito minutes before his title defense against Shane Mosley in January contained calcium and sulfur, two primary elements in plaster of Paris, according to a California Department of Justice laboratory report obtained by The Times on Thursday.
Hardened gauze pads inserted inside the wrappings around Margarito's knuckle area were seized Jan. 24 after Mosley's trainer Nazim Richardson objected to their use.
Margarito lost his title in a ninth-round technical knockout by Mosley, and the California State Athletic Commission subsequently revoked the licenses of Margarito, and his trainer Javier Capetillo, for one year.
"The commission's decision appears to be supported by that report," said Karen Chappelle, the state deputy attorney general for licensing. "The only things that are allowed in hand wraps are gauze and tape and those items aren't gauze and tape."
Bob Arum, Margarito's promoter, had no immediate response to the findings, saying, "I'd have to see [the report]."
lance.pugmire@latimes.com
Hardened gauze pads inserted inside the wrappings around Margarito's knuckle area were seized Jan. 24 after Mosley's trainer Nazim Richardson objected to their use.
Margarito lost his title in a ninth-round technical knockout by Mosley, and the California State Athletic Commission subsequently revoked the licenses of Margarito, and his trainer Javier Capetillo, for one year.
"The commission's decision appears to be supported by that report," said Karen Chappelle, the state deputy attorney general for licensing. "The only things that are allowed in hand wraps are gauze and tape and those items aren't gauze and tape."
Bob Arum, Margarito's promoter, had no immediate response to the findings, saying, "I'd have to see [the report]."
lance.pugmire@latimes.com
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Steven Luevano fails physical exam
March 26, 2009 by Edgar Gonzalez
Steven Luevano who was scheduled to defend his WBO featherweight title against Bernabe Concepcion as the co-main event for the highly anticipated “Battle of the East and West” headlined by Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao versus Britian’s Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas on May 2, had to withdraw from the proposed bout.
Inside sources have revealed to MyBoxingFans that the fight has been canceled due to the fact that Luevano from La Puente, CA failed an eye exam during his mandatory physical exam. Luevano, a 27 year old southpaw who won the title with an 11th round knockout of Britian’s undefeated Nikcy Cook on July 14, 07, was held to a draw in a title defense against Mario Santiago last June. In his last fight, he successfully defended his crown against Australia’s Billy Dib with a fairly comfortable twelve round decision.
Luevano (36-1-1 15KO’s) is known for his speed and his boxing abilities, no word if this will effect his professional career. Stay tuned as more information comes in.
Steven Luevano who was scheduled to defend his WBO featherweight title against Bernabe Concepcion as the co-main event for the highly anticipated “Battle of the East and West” headlined by Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao versus Britian’s Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas on May 2, had to withdraw from the proposed bout.
Inside sources have revealed to MyBoxingFans that the fight has been canceled due to the fact that Luevano from La Puente, CA failed an eye exam during his mandatory physical exam. Luevano, a 27 year old southpaw who won the title with an 11th round knockout of Britian’s undefeated Nikcy Cook on July 14, 07, was held to a draw in a title defense against Mario Santiago last June. In his last fight, he successfully defended his crown against Australia’s Billy Dib with a fairly comfortable twelve round decision.
Luevano (36-1-1 15KO’s) is known for his speed and his boxing abilities, no word if this will effect his professional career. Stay tuned as more information comes in.
THIS THE WAY IT IS
By Roger Esty
OK Kevin . I bet you've never been to TJ to see a fight. I bet you've never been to TJ at all. Maybe to Revolucion Street once to go to Jack In The Box to eat a taco,but you have no frame of reference on this subject matter of this fight or any fight that goes on down there.
You guys on the U.S. side,especially the gringos,go if you want to go. You won't get killed .Honest.
So Tijuana is off limits to the Marines. What a joke. It's not the first time. Marines love Tijuana because it's red light district offers them everything that's illegal on this side. Besides,the hookers down there are inspected by U.S. doctors. And 20 bucks will get you a girl that could work Vegas if she had the papers.
So we know the Marine generals know their boys aren't sissies. Tijuana is a lot safer than Iraq. It's just diplomatic red tape bullshit on both sides.
Now that I've cleared the air on the safety issue,you might wonder if I'm going. NO I'M NOT. Why? Look,I've been to plenty of fights in TJ. Read the thread for intimate details. I ain't goin' cause it ain't worth it. Sure,there'll be 1800 Tijuana cops standing around. That's what they'll be doin'. Standin' around. Parking will be a mess. The line at the border will be a mess. I can see it later on Mexican TV. And pay 75 to 150 bucks to watch JC Jr.? I paid ten to watch his old man dismantle Danilo Cabrera at the race track.
I've seen fights at the old downtown bullring that's now gone. I saw Mantequilla,Olivares,Saldivar,and JC.Sr. Oh yeh,Baby Vasquez to name a few. The 60's and 70's when Mexican boxing ruled the lighter weights.I never shelled out more than ten bucks to throw the dead rattlesnake around the ring.
That's why I ain't goin'. I'd have to go by myself .Besides, I can't find a Marine who'd go with me anyway.
OK Kevin . I bet you've never been to TJ to see a fight. I bet you've never been to TJ at all. Maybe to Revolucion Street once to go to Jack In The Box to eat a taco,but you have no frame of reference on this subject matter of this fight or any fight that goes on down there.
You guys on the U.S. side,especially the gringos,go if you want to go. You won't get killed .Honest.
So Tijuana is off limits to the Marines. What a joke. It's not the first time. Marines love Tijuana because it's red light district offers them everything that's illegal on this side. Besides,the hookers down there are inspected by U.S. doctors. And 20 bucks will get you a girl that could work Vegas if she had the papers.
So we know the Marine generals know their boys aren't sissies. Tijuana is a lot safer than Iraq. It's just diplomatic red tape bullshit on both sides.
Now that I've cleared the air on the safety issue,you might wonder if I'm going. NO I'M NOT. Why? Look,I've been to plenty of fights in TJ. Read the thread for intimate details. I ain't goin' cause it ain't worth it. Sure,there'll be 1800 Tijuana cops standing around. That's what they'll be doin'. Standin' around. Parking will be a mess. The line at the border will be a mess. I can see it later on Mexican TV. And pay 75 to 150 bucks to watch JC Jr.? I paid ten to watch his old man dismantle Danilo Cabrera at the race track.
I've seen fights at the old downtown bullring that's now gone. I saw Mantequilla,Olivares,Saldivar,and JC.Sr. Oh yeh,Baby Vasquez to name a few. The 60's and 70's when Mexican boxing ruled the lighter weights.I never shelled out more than ten bucks to throw the dead rattlesnake around the ring.
That's why I ain't goin'. I'd have to go by myself .Besides, I can't find a Marine who'd go with me anyway.
Jose (Toluco) Lopez
By Dan Couco
Jose was born Jose Lopez Hernandez on June 21, 1932 in El Oro, Mexico. Like Macias, Jose also started his professional career fighting ten rounders. He was nicknamed “Toluco” after the city of Toluca where he began his fistic career.
Following his graduation from school, he worked as a plaster’s helper, than a journeyman plasterer, but found that he enjoyed plastering opponents better than walls.
He won all 15 of his amateur fights and was state champion in 1953. He made his professional debut just 17 days shy of his 21st birthday against journeyman Baby Garcia on June 4, 1953 in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He stopped Garcia in the 8th round. A strong willing mixer, he quickly reached main bout status and by the end of 1954 had established himself as one of the best 118 pounders in Mexico. His record stood at 14-3, with 5 knockouts.
At this stage of his career he was more of a scientific boxer and realized that if he was going to continue to grow and reach the next level he would have to adapt his style. So he adopted a more aggressive style and started to set down on his punches more. His new exciting style started to pay off immediately and he became a tremendous drawing card in Mexico City, La Laguna and the Mexican Provinces.
1955 was his breakout year. When Raul Macias gave up his national title, Jose was matched with Fili Nava for the vacant crown. He came through with a victory. In 29 bouts he had only lost four decisions, and reversed three of those losses. Lopez had stopped 11 and was the seventh rated challenger for the world bantam title by “The Ring.”
Toluco started off 1956 impressively, knocking out Emilio de la Rosa in eleven rounds to defend his national title and Joey Benson in one round. These two victories catapulted him to the number three ranking by "The Ring." He was riding high. But that was about to change - quickly!
On August 14, 1956, Toluco made his highly anticipated debut in Los Angeles to face Billy Peacock at the Olympic Auditorium. The gallery was sold out a half-hour after going on sale. Mexican fight fans felt that the colorful Lopez was the fighter to avenge Peacock's recent mastery over Mexican fighters. In previous appearances, Peacock had knocked out Raul Macias in 3, Pimi Barajas in 4, Memo Sanchez in 3 and Kildo Martinez in 6. But Peacock continued his mastery by winning a lopsided decision over ten rounds. Peacock repeatedly nailed Toluco with crushing rights hands. Lopez took every one of those right hands and came back fighting. Lopez put on such a gutsy performance that he received a standing ovation from the crowd when he left the ring. Bud Furillo of the Herald-Express said in his column the next day "Toluco Lopez is the most courageous fighter I've ever seen!" All in attendance including the promoter agreed that he would be heartily welcomed back at any time.
Toluco unwisely decided to return to the Olympic just five weeks after his grueling loss to Peacock to meet featherweight Rudy Garcia. The hard-hitting Garcia entered the ring
with a record of 35-10-1, 20 kayos. His kayo victims included Harold Dade, Chico Rosa, Gene Smith and Nate Brooks. He held decision victories over Jackie Blair Lauro Salas, Auburn Copeland and Carmelo Costa. Garcia never looked better as he scored a 50-second knockout over Toluco. The echo of the opening bell had scarcely died away before Garcia drilled Lopez with a two-punch combination sending Lopez down for an eight count. Toluco bravely got up and ran into a savage left hook, followed by three hard rights sending him down again, this time for the full count.
The losses to Peacock and Garcia dropped him to the seventh spot in "The Ring."
The resilient Toluco wasn't discouraged by the losses. Less than a month after the Garcia loss he was back in the ring again winning a ten round decision over Joel Sanchez in Mexicali. He continued to fight up and down the Mexican provinces winning 19 of his next 20 fights, 14 by kayo. His only loss - a close decision to Havana, Cuba veteran Manuel Armenteros, later avenged. He also avenged his loss to Billy Peacock by beating him twice - by decision in Tijuana and by knockout in Los Angeles. A month prior to his knockout of Peacock he scored the biggest victory of his career when he kayoed Memo Diez in five rounds to defend his national bantam title. The knockout defeat was the first of Diez's career. Only a year before Diez had been "The Ring's" number one ranked flyweight before losing his lofty position by upset decisions to Dommy Ursua and Ramon Arias.
Once again, Toluco was ranked the third rated challenger for the world bantam title by “The Ring.” His ring record stood at 46-7-0, with 27 kayos. Of his seven defeats, five had been avenged.
Jose, however, couldn't handle prosperity. On May 11, 1958 an out of shape Lopez took on lightly regarded Willie Parker in Acapulco. Parker in only his second year as a professional came into the fight with a record of 5-6-1, with no kayos. Two of his six losses had been by kayo. Parker surprised everyone by giving the out of shape Lopez a thorough beating and stopped him in the seventh round. Lopez dropped in the ratings from third to sixth.
Lopez was so embarrassed by his performance he demanded a rematch. He got himself in shape taking on two tune-up fights - winning both by knockout. His rematch with Parker took place before a large crowd at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Lopez turned the tables on Parker by winning an easy ten round decision.
Lopez stayed in shape and ran off another string of impressive victories culminating with a third round knockout of 23-year-old hard-hitting Mexican prospect Carlos Cardoso on December 3, 1958.
On February 1, 1959 Lopez returned to California to face Horace (Boots) Monroe for the North American Bantamweight Title. The 21-year old Monroe was the hottest prospect in California. His ring record was a gaudy 20-1-0, with 16 kayos. His only loss was a four round decision in his third professional fight - later reversed. He held knockouts over Willie Parker, German Ohm, Willie Lucedo, Roberto Hernandez, Nacho Esclante and Herman Marquez and outpointed Kid Irapuato, Billy Peacock and Joe Medel.
Before a capacity crowd at the Hollywood Legion Stadium Lopez shocked the crowd by stopping Monroe in only two rounds. Monroe got off to an excellent start, utilizing his superior height and reach and employing the long left jab for which he was noted. Near the end of the round, however, Toluco stepped in and nailed Monroe with a hard right and visibly shook him. In round two, Lopez came out quickly and dropped a still dazed Monroe three times before the referee mercifully stopped the fight. The win catapulted Lopez to third in "The Rings" world ratings. Again, he was on top of the world!
Negotiations were underway for Lopez to fight bantam champ Alphonse Halimi at Wrigley Field. While negotiations were taking place, Toluco returned to Hollywood on March 24, 1959 to take on unranked Danny Kid of the Philippines in a tune up fight. Before a near capacity crowd at the Hollywood Legion Stadium, 6-1 underdog Kid employing an excellent left jab and superior ring generalship had the better of the first seven rounds. Lopez realizing he was behind came out for the final three rounds with everything in his arsenal and engaged Kid in an exciting toe-to-toe slugfest. But his rally was too late and he left the ring the loser of a majority decision and a title shot with champion Halimi. The title shot instead went to fellow Mexican Jose Becerra. This was the closest Lopez would ever again get to a title shot. Toluco would remain in the top ten ratings until April 1961 by going 29-5-1-1, with 20 kayos. During that stretch he beat Danny Kid twice by decision and outpointed Eloy Sanchez and Manny Elias. But, he also lost his Mexican Bantamweight Title to Joe Medel by decision on August 1, 1959 and suffered knockout defeats to Medel and Otilio Galvan in 1960. He was dropped from the ratings for good after suffering a seventh round knockout loss to Hector Agundez on April 2, 1961.
In his last two years in the ring (1962-1963) he went 10-7, with six knockouts. His final ring ledger was 99-20-2-1, with 62 kayos. He was stopped seven times.
NOTE: IBRO Mexico Boxing Historian Roberto Valero states that Lopez had many pro fights in El Toro in 1952 that are not recorded. The Ring magazine's Mexican boxing correspondent reported that Lopez was the Mexican State Champion in 1953. So there is some confusion as to when he actually turned professional.
Jose was born Jose Lopez Hernandez on June 21, 1932 in El Oro, Mexico. Like Macias, Jose also started his professional career fighting ten rounders. He was nicknamed “Toluco” after the city of Toluca where he began his fistic career.
Following his graduation from school, he worked as a plaster’s helper, than a journeyman plasterer, but found that he enjoyed plastering opponents better than walls.
He won all 15 of his amateur fights and was state champion in 1953. He made his professional debut just 17 days shy of his 21st birthday against journeyman Baby Garcia on June 4, 1953 in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He stopped Garcia in the 8th round. A strong willing mixer, he quickly reached main bout status and by the end of 1954 had established himself as one of the best 118 pounders in Mexico. His record stood at 14-3, with 5 knockouts.
At this stage of his career he was more of a scientific boxer and realized that if he was going to continue to grow and reach the next level he would have to adapt his style. So he adopted a more aggressive style and started to set down on his punches more. His new exciting style started to pay off immediately and he became a tremendous drawing card in Mexico City, La Laguna and the Mexican Provinces.
1955 was his breakout year. When Raul Macias gave up his national title, Jose was matched with Fili Nava for the vacant crown. He came through with a victory. In 29 bouts he had only lost four decisions, and reversed three of those losses. Lopez had stopped 11 and was the seventh rated challenger for the world bantam title by “The Ring.”
Toluco started off 1956 impressively, knocking out Emilio de la Rosa in eleven rounds to defend his national title and Joey Benson in one round. These two victories catapulted him to the number three ranking by "The Ring." He was riding high. But that was about to change - quickly!
On August 14, 1956, Toluco made his highly anticipated debut in Los Angeles to face Billy Peacock at the Olympic Auditorium. The gallery was sold out a half-hour after going on sale. Mexican fight fans felt that the colorful Lopez was the fighter to avenge Peacock's recent mastery over Mexican fighters. In previous appearances, Peacock had knocked out Raul Macias in 3, Pimi Barajas in 4, Memo Sanchez in 3 and Kildo Martinez in 6. But Peacock continued his mastery by winning a lopsided decision over ten rounds. Peacock repeatedly nailed Toluco with crushing rights hands. Lopez took every one of those right hands and came back fighting. Lopez put on such a gutsy performance that he received a standing ovation from the crowd when he left the ring. Bud Furillo of the Herald-Express said in his column the next day "Toluco Lopez is the most courageous fighter I've ever seen!" All in attendance including the promoter agreed that he would be heartily welcomed back at any time.
Toluco unwisely decided to return to the Olympic just five weeks after his grueling loss to Peacock to meet featherweight Rudy Garcia. The hard-hitting Garcia entered the ring
with a record of 35-10-1, 20 kayos. His kayo victims included Harold Dade, Chico Rosa, Gene Smith and Nate Brooks. He held decision victories over Jackie Blair Lauro Salas, Auburn Copeland and Carmelo Costa. Garcia never looked better as he scored a 50-second knockout over Toluco. The echo of the opening bell had scarcely died away before Garcia drilled Lopez with a two-punch combination sending Lopez down for an eight count. Toluco bravely got up and ran into a savage left hook, followed by three hard rights sending him down again, this time for the full count.
The losses to Peacock and Garcia dropped him to the seventh spot in "The Ring."
The resilient Toluco wasn't discouraged by the losses. Less than a month after the Garcia loss he was back in the ring again winning a ten round decision over Joel Sanchez in Mexicali. He continued to fight up and down the Mexican provinces winning 19 of his next 20 fights, 14 by kayo. His only loss - a close decision to Havana, Cuba veteran Manuel Armenteros, later avenged. He also avenged his loss to Billy Peacock by beating him twice - by decision in Tijuana and by knockout in Los Angeles. A month prior to his knockout of Peacock he scored the biggest victory of his career when he kayoed Memo Diez in five rounds to defend his national bantam title. The knockout defeat was the first of Diez's career. Only a year before Diez had been "The Ring's" number one ranked flyweight before losing his lofty position by upset decisions to Dommy Ursua and Ramon Arias.
Once again, Toluco was ranked the third rated challenger for the world bantam title by “The Ring.” His ring record stood at 46-7-0, with 27 kayos. Of his seven defeats, five had been avenged.
Jose, however, couldn't handle prosperity. On May 11, 1958 an out of shape Lopez took on lightly regarded Willie Parker in Acapulco. Parker in only his second year as a professional came into the fight with a record of 5-6-1, with no kayos. Two of his six losses had been by kayo. Parker surprised everyone by giving the out of shape Lopez a thorough beating and stopped him in the seventh round. Lopez dropped in the ratings from third to sixth.
Lopez was so embarrassed by his performance he demanded a rematch. He got himself in shape taking on two tune-up fights - winning both by knockout. His rematch with Parker took place before a large crowd at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Lopez turned the tables on Parker by winning an easy ten round decision.
Lopez stayed in shape and ran off another string of impressive victories culminating with a third round knockout of 23-year-old hard-hitting Mexican prospect Carlos Cardoso on December 3, 1958.
On February 1, 1959 Lopez returned to California to face Horace (Boots) Monroe for the North American Bantamweight Title. The 21-year old Monroe was the hottest prospect in California. His ring record was a gaudy 20-1-0, with 16 kayos. His only loss was a four round decision in his third professional fight - later reversed. He held knockouts over Willie Parker, German Ohm, Willie Lucedo, Roberto Hernandez, Nacho Esclante and Herman Marquez and outpointed Kid Irapuato, Billy Peacock and Joe Medel.
Before a capacity crowd at the Hollywood Legion Stadium Lopez shocked the crowd by stopping Monroe in only two rounds. Monroe got off to an excellent start, utilizing his superior height and reach and employing the long left jab for which he was noted. Near the end of the round, however, Toluco stepped in and nailed Monroe with a hard right and visibly shook him. In round two, Lopez came out quickly and dropped a still dazed Monroe three times before the referee mercifully stopped the fight. The win catapulted Lopez to third in "The Rings" world ratings. Again, he was on top of the world!
Negotiations were underway for Lopez to fight bantam champ Alphonse Halimi at Wrigley Field. While negotiations were taking place, Toluco returned to Hollywood on March 24, 1959 to take on unranked Danny Kid of the Philippines in a tune up fight. Before a near capacity crowd at the Hollywood Legion Stadium, 6-1 underdog Kid employing an excellent left jab and superior ring generalship had the better of the first seven rounds. Lopez realizing he was behind came out for the final three rounds with everything in his arsenal and engaged Kid in an exciting toe-to-toe slugfest. But his rally was too late and he left the ring the loser of a majority decision and a title shot with champion Halimi. The title shot instead went to fellow Mexican Jose Becerra. This was the closest Lopez would ever again get to a title shot. Toluco would remain in the top ten ratings until April 1961 by going 29-5-1-1, with 20 kayos. During that stretch he beat Danny Kid twice by decision and outpointed Eloy Sanchez and Manny Elias. But, he also lost his Mexican Bantamweight Title to Joe Medel by decision on August 1, 1959 and suffered knockout defeats to Medel and Otilio Galvan in 1960. He was dropped from the ratings for good after suffering a seventh round knockout loss to Hector Agundez on April 2, 1961.
In his last two years in the ring (1962-1963) he went 10-7, with six knockouts. His final ring ledger was 99-20-2-1, with 62 kayos. He was stopped seven times.
NOTE: IBRO Mexico Boxing Historian Roberto Valero states that Lopez had many pro fights in El Toro in 1952 that are not recorded. The Ring magazine's Mexican boxing correspondent reported that Lopez was the Mexican State Champion in 1953. So there is some confusion as to when he actually turned professional.
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