Ricardo López (boxer)

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.

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 Potelo 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.