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Danny Lopez Vs Wilfredo Gomez: Mythical Matchup

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DLR Danny “Little Red” Lopez and Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez were two of the most exciting lower weight fighters of the late 1970’s. The hard punching Lopez captured the WBC Featherweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over David Kotey victory in November 1976. Lopez was a devastating power puncher who always provided entertaining fights, often overcoming adversity to win. Little Red comes into this fight off his 15th round stoppage of Mike Ayala in June 1979, a war which was named Ring Magazine’s fight of the year. The 27 year old Lopez has a record of 41-3, 38 KO’s.

At the same time that Lopez was ruling at 126, Wilfredo Gomez was placing his dominant stamp on the 122 lbs. division. Gomez captured the WBC Super Bantamweight championship with a 12 round knockout over Dong-Kyun Yum in May 1977. The next year, in October 1978, Bazooka proved he was the real deal, destroying legendary Bantamweight champion Carlos Zarate in 5 rounds. At a time when men such as Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler were active, many experts were lauding Gomez as the best pound for pound fighter in the world. Gomez comes into this fight off a 5th round TKO victory over Julio Hernandez in June 1979. The 22 year old Gomez has an outstanding record of 25-0-1, 25 KO’s.
Little Red vs Bazooka. Who takes it?

Let’s settle this in the ring.

On the night of September 8, 1979, The Forum in Inglewood, California is filled to capacity. This fight is also being televised to a live ABC Sports audience in primetime. Little Red is a hero here in Southern California and his fans in attendance wait in rapid anticipation for this epic battle. Combined these two men have 64 stoppages in their 67 victories so it seems highly unlikely this one lasts the distance. The semifinal features Carlos Zarate destroying Daniel Zaragoza in 4 rounds. The fans wait in breathless anticipation of the main event.

Gomez enters the ring to a chorus of boos. However, he seems oblivious to the partisan crowd focused solely on the task at hand. In contrast, the hometown hero Lopez enters the ring to thunderous applause. At 5’8’’ Lopez enjoys a substantial height and reach advantage over the 5’5’’ Gomez. Both men weighed in at the Featherweight limit of 126 lbs. Ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Sr. makes the introductions and referee Richard Green issues the final instructions. The fighters return to their corner and await the opening bell.

Bazooka comes out boxing in round one keeping Little Red off balance with his speed and lateral movement. Gomez lands a hard right which draws blood from Danny’s nose as the round comes toWG a close. This pattern continues into the second round with Wilfredo moving in and out and landing clean punches while Lopez simply isn’t able to get set. With one minute remaining in the round, Gomez lands a sneaky left hook which sends Little Red to the canvas. Danny rises at the count of 6 but is on wobbly legs. Gomez pursues him to the ropes and fires away. Lopez tries to fire back landing a left hook which snaps Bazooka’s head back. However, Gomez responds with an overhand right which sends Danny down again. Lopez rises at the count of 8 but is now in bad trouble. Only the bell saves him from a certain knockout.

As the bell rings for the 3rd round, Gomez looks to finish his adversary. He quickly works Little Red to the ropes and tees off with power shots. Lopez is now suffering from a cut over his left eye. However, in his zeal to finish Little Red off, Bazooka gets careless leaving his chin exposed. Lopez capitalizes, landing a devastating right which sends Gomez to the canvas. Now it is Gomez who is badly hurt. Lopez follows up with a left hook to the liver and another crushing right which send Gomez reeling towards the ropes. Bazooka holds on for dear life and barely manages to survive the round. The crowd is in a frenzy, exhilarated by the action they’ve seen over the first 9 minutes of the fight.

Lopez continues his momentum into round four as a rubbery legged Gomez is still in survival mode. A thunderous right by Little Red nearly tears his head off. Danny pursues Wilfredo to the ropes and pounds him to the head and body. Gomez desperately holds on while Lopez looks for the finishing blow. Bazooka momentarily backs him off with hard right. However, Little Red lands a left hook which nearly floors Gomez for the second time in the fight. The referee watches carefully but Bazooka manages to survive the round.

Gomez manages to avoid trouble over the first 90 seconds of round five and his head begins to clear. Bazooka lands a hard right and now Danny’s left eye is busted wide open. Gomez takes advantage nailing Lopez with the right time and time again over the course of the rest of the round. The ring doctor takes a careful look at the wound between rounds but allows the fight to continue. Lopez realizes he’s running out of time and comes out swinging in round six. He eats a right hand from Gomez but then lands a hard left to the body. Little Red forces Gomez to the ropes and hurts him with a hard right hand. Wilfredo is forced to clinch. Lopez lands a left hook which buckles Bazooka’s knees.

Gomez responds with a hard left hook of his own which snaps Lopez’ head back. Danny’s face is now a river of blood. The fighters go toe to toe in the center of the ring with no quarter given, none taken. Gomez lands a crushing right which sends a blinded Lopez reeling towards the ropes. Gomez lands 12 unanswered punches which prompts referee Richard Green to step in and stop the fight. Bazooka is the winner by 6th round technical knockout!

In the aftermath, the Forum crowd is both shocked and disappointment by the outcome but appreciative of the heart and courage demonstrated by both fighters. The now ex-champion Lopez leaves the ring to a rousing ovation. As for Gomez, the new WBC Featherweight champion has definitely put his stamp on boxing as one the best fighters pound for pound in the world. No one can doubt his greatness based on this performance. Lopez and his camp lobby for a rematch which is then tentatively scheduled for the summer of 1980. However, a guy by the name of Sanchez intervenes, scoring a shocking upset of Gomez in February 1980. Later in the year he defeats Little Red and ultimately becomes known as one of the greatest Featherweights who ever lived. The rest shall we say is history.

 

 

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