Ricardo López (boxer)

Ricardo López
Born	Ricado López Nava (1966-07-25) July 25, 1966 Cuernavaca, Mexico
Nationality	Mexican
Other names	El Finito (The Refined)
Statistics
Weight(s)	Strawweight Junior Flyweight
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	52
Wins	51
Wins by KO	38
Losses	0
Draws	1
No contests	0

Ricardo “El Finito” López Nava (born July 25, 1966) is a retired undefeated Mexican professional boxer. As a professional, he defended the Lineal and WBC Strawweight Championship a record 21 times. He also won the WBA and WBO Championships in the same weight class. López later won the IBF Light Flyweight Championship and defended it twice before retiring. He is also the father of undefeated flyweight prospect Alonso López.

Amateur career

López would win four consecutive Guantes de Oro de México Championships from 1981 to 1984. López turned pro without having ever lost an amateur bout. And is now known as one of the best Amateur boxers to ever step in the ring

Professional career

On January 18, 1985, Ricardo made his professional debut at the age of 20 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 Minimumweight Championship

On October 10, 1990, López defeated Lineal and WBC Minimumweight Champion Hideyuki Ohashi of Japan via a fourth round knockout to win his first world title. In 1991, he defeated Korean former champion Kyung-Yun Lee (20–1–0). In 1992, he defended his title against Pretty Boy Lucas (22–2–2) of the Philippines and Rocky Lin (14–0) of Taiwan. In 1993, López defeated future two time champion Saman Sorjaturong of Thailand. Sorjaturong was knocked down once in the 1st round and twice in the 2nd round when the referee stopped the bout.

Later that year, he knocked out Filipino former champion Manny Melchor in the 11th round. In his tenth title defense, López defeated future champion Kermin Guardia (21–0–0) by unanimous decision. He knocked out Surachai Saengmorakot (10–0) in the first round of his next bout. In 1995, he defeated Andy Tabanas (30–2–0) of the Philippines via 12th round knock out. In his next bout, he defeated another Filipino boxer and founder of the famous "Ala Gym" Ala Villamor (29–1–1) by knockout. In 1997, López defended his title against Mongkol Charoen (20–1–0).

WBO and WBA Minimumweight Championship

In his 20th world title bout, López unified his WBC title by defeating WBO Minimumweight Champion Alex Sánchez (25–1–0) of Puerto Rico via 5th round knockout. On March 7, 1998, López fought undefeated WBA Minimumweight Champion Rosendo Álvarez to a technical draw after referee Arthur Mercante Sr. stopped the contest following an accidental head butt in the seventh round. In the rematch, Alvarez came in over the minimumweight 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 Alvarez with only López eligible to claim the now vacant WBA title. López defeated Alvarez by split decision to claim his third Minimumweight title. After the fight, he vacated his titles in order to move up in weight.

IBF Light Flyweight Championship

In his first bout at light flyweight, López defeated IBF Champion Will Grigsby of the United States. He defended his title against former champion Ratanapol Sor Vorapin. On September 29, 2001, López knocked out Zolani Petelo, who had recently vacated his IBF Minimumweight title, the only Minimumweight title that López had not claimed before moving up to light flyweight. He officially announced his retirement from boxing at a press conference on November 28, 2002 in Mexico City.

Retirement

Ricardo López was the third champion in history to retire undefeated and the first to do so as both an amateur and professional fighter. He also shares with Joe Louis and Floyd Mayweather Jr. the record for consecutive title bouts without a loss (twenty-six). This streak began with his knockout of Hideyuki Ohashi to win the WBC Minimumweight title in 1990 and ended with his knockout of Zolani Petelo to defend his IBF Light Flyweight title in 2001. Ricardo only had one draw, which came against Rosendo Alvarez in 1998 in Lopez's 48th bout and was avenged in the rematch eight months later. His final record was 51 wins (38 knockouts), 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 "Finito" Lopez was voted as the Greatest Strawweight and Light Flyweight Champion Ever by the Houston Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2014. The HBHOF is a voting body composed entirely of current and former fighters.

Professional record

52 fights	51 wins	0 losses
By knockout	38	0
By decision	13	0
Draws	1
No contests	0

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
52	Win	51–0–1	Zolani Petelo	KO	8(12), 1:32	Sep 29, 2001	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York	Retained IBF Light Flyweight title.
51	Win	50–0–1	Ratanapol Sor Vorapin	TKO	3(12), 2:11	Dec 2, 2000	Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada	Retained IBF Light Flyweight title.
50	Win	49–0–1	Will Grigsby	UD	12	Oct 2, 1999	Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada	Won IBF Light Flyweight title.
49	Win	48–0–1	Rosendo Alvarez	SD	12	Nov 13, 1998	Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada	Won WBA Minimumweight title. WBC Minimumweight title not on the line as Alvarez was over weight limit.
48	Draw	47–0–1	Rosendo Alvarez	TD	8(12)	Mar 7, 1998	Plaza de Toros, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles. For WBA Minimumweight title.
47	Win	47–0	Alex Sánchez	TKO	5(12), 1:58	Aug 23, 1997	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles. Won WBO Minimumweight title.
46	Win	46–0	Mongkol Charoen	UD	12	Mar 29, 1997	Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
45	Win	45–0	Myung-Sup Park	TKO	1(12), 2:22	Dec 7, 1996	Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
44	Win	44–0	Morgan Ndumo	TKO	6(12), 0:55	Nov 9, 1996	MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
43	Win	43–0	Kitichai Preecha	KO	3(12), 1:46	Jun 29, 1996	Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
42	Win	42–0	Edito “Ala” Villamor	KO	8(12), 0:40	Mar 16, 1996	MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
41	Win	41–0	Andy Tabanas	TKO	12(12), 2:45	Apr 1, 1995	Buffalo Bill's Star Arena, Primm, Nevada	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
40	Win	40–0	Yamil Caraballo	TKO	1(12), 1:10	Dec 10, 1994	Estadio de Beisbol Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
39	Win	39–0	Javier Varguez	TKO	8(12), 1:33	Nov 12, 1994	Plaza Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
38	Win	38–0	Surachai Saengmorakot	TKO	1(12), 1:53	Sep 17, 1994	MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
37	Win	37–0	Kermin Guardia	UD	12	May 7, 1994	MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
36	Win	36–0	Manny Melchor	KO	11(12), 2:00	Dec 18, 1993	Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
35	Win	35–0	Toto Pongsawang	TKO	11(12), 2:30	Sep 19, 1993	Capitol City Discotheque, Bangkok, Thailand	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
34	Win	34–0	Saman Sorjaturong	TKO	2(12), 2:45	Jul 3, 1993	Parque la Junta, Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
33	Win	33-0	Kwang-Soo Oh	TKO	9(12)	Jan 31, 1993	Indoor Gymnasium, Pohang City, South Korea	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
32	Win	32–0	Rocky Lin	KO	2(12)	Oct 11, 1992	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
31	Win	31–0	Singprasert Kittikasem	KO	5(12)	Aug 22, 1992	Auditorio de Madero, Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, Mexico	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
30	Win	30–0	Pretty Boy Lucas	UD	12(12)	Mar 16, 1992	Fronton Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
29	Win	29–0	Kyung-Yun Lee	UD	12(12)	Dec 21, 1991	Jamsil Arena, Seoul, South Korea	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
28	Win	28–0	Kimio Hirano	TKO	8(12)	May 19, 1991	Kusanagi Gymnasium, Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan	Retained Lineal and WBC Minimumweight title.
27	Win	27–0	Hideyuki Ohashi	TKO	5(12)	Oct 25, 1990	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan	Won Lineal and WBC Minimumweight titles.
26	Win	26–0	Francisco Montiel	UD	10(10)	Jun 29, 1990	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
25	Win	25–0	Jorge Rivera	KO	8(12)	Mar 15, 1990	Fairmont Hotel, Dallas, Texas	Retained WBC Continental Americas Minimumweight title.
24	Win	24–0	Rey Hernandez	KO	12(12)	Nov 7, 1989	Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico	Won WBC Continental Americas Minimumweight title.
23	Win	23–0	Jose Luis Zepeda	TKO	7(10)	Aug 26, 1989	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
22	Win	22–0	Raymundo Ricardo Mendoza	KO	5	Aug 4, 1989	Tulancingo, Hidalgo, Mexico
21	Win	21–0	Abel Andres	KO	2	Jul 8, 1989	León, Guanajuato, Mexico
20	Win	20–0	Jorge Torres	KO	8	May 30, 1989	Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico
19	Win	19–0	Javier Juarez	UD	10(10)	May 6, 1989	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
18	Win	18–0	Ubaldo Gonzalez	TKO	6	Jan 27, 1989	Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico
17	Win	17–0	Ismael Benitez	UD	10(10	Nov 12, 1988	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
16	Win	16–0	Evaristo Morales	KO	5	Aug 27, 1988	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
15	Win	15–0	Fermin Rivera	KO	3	Jul 30, 1988	Zacapu, Michoacán, Mexico
14	Win	14–0	Javier Alonso	UD	10(10)	Aug 18, 1987	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
13	Win	13–0	Alex Mollado	KO	1	Jul 31, 1987	Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
12	Win	12–0	Eduardo Ramirez	UD	10(10)	Apr 18, 1987	Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
11	Win	11–0	Herminio Ramirez	UD	10(10)	Dec 8, 1986	Tlalnepantla, México, México
10	Win	10–0	Jorge Flores	KO	2	Oct 6, 1986	Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico, Mexico
9	Win	9–0	Herminio Ramirez	UD	10(10)	Jul 28, 1986	Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico, Mexico
8	Win	8–0	Santiago Huizar	KO	2	May 1, 1986	Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico
7	Win	7–0	Reyes Mendez	KO	1	Mar 24, 1986	Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico, Mexico
6	Win	6–0	Narciso Panchi	KO	5	Aug 2, 1985	Arena Naucalpan, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
5	Win	5–0	Manuel Martinez	KO	2	Jun 27, 1985	San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
4	Win	4–0	Javier Dominguez	KO	3	Mar 8, 1985	Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
3	Win	3–0	Sebastian Reyes	KO	2	Feb 18, 1985	Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
2	Win	2–0	Antonio Arciniega	KO	2	Feb 6, 1985	Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
1	Win	1–0	Rogelio Hernandez	KO	3(4)	Jan 18, 1985	Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

See also

• List of lineal boxing world champions
• List of minimumweight boxing champions
• List of WBC world champions
• List of WBO world champions
• List of WBA world champions
• List of IBF world champions
• List of Mexican boxing world champions

External links

• Boxing record for Ricardo Lopez from BoxRec (registration required)
• Official website
• Ricardo López - CBZ Profile