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Ricardo “Finito” Lopez, one of the best Mexican champions in history

by WBC Store on Jul 03, 2021

Ricardo “Finito” Lopez, one of the best Mexican champions in history

The Mexican Arturo “Cuyo” Hernandez, was manager, guide, trainer, advisor, administrator and teacher of a large number of Mexican world champions of the past, almost all of them turned into idols and blockbusters.


Of the great legion that passed through his hands, stands out above all, boxing-wise, one of the greatest Mexican fighters in history, Ricardo Lopez Nava, who had the virtue of acquiring knowledge and wisdom of the “Cuyo”, to implement a world record of unbeaten.

The “Finito” did it in the straw division, but that does not take away the greatness he showed during 16 years of career, showing to be an artist of boxing, far above the savagery and exchange of blows that by nature is boxing, highlighting the intelligence, aesthetics and effectiveness.

In several interviews, Ricardo has commented that he was never a troublemaker and that his love for pugilism came from watching the Saturday shows on television with his father Maleno, as a family tradition.

Ricardo was born in Cuernavaca, Morelos, on July 25, 1966, living in the neighborhood of Tacubaya, his natural entry was in the gym “Lupita” where Arturo Hernandez taught and prepared his champions, before, Lopez was seven years old when he put on gloves for the first time and at fifteen years old won the first of four consecutive Golden Gloves.



He made his professional debut on January 18, 1985 against Rogelio Hernandez in Cuernavaca and that year of his debut he scored six knockouts. Five more victories followed in 1986, although he only knocked out twice. In 1987, under the command of “Cuyo”, he fought three times, testing himself against experienced and tough fighters like Eduardo Ramirez and Javier Alonso, defeating both of them by decision in ten round fights.

In 1989, “Finito” showed signs of what he was going to be in the future, first among his ten victims accumulated between 1988 and 1989, he defeated Jose Luis Zepeda, that victory gave him the opportunity to dispute the Continental title of the Americas of the World Boxing Council on November 7, 1989 against Rey Hernandez, defeating him by knockout in twelve rounds.

Already on the cusp of a world championship, Lopez made his debut in the United States against Jorge Rivera, defeating him by knockout. Then he defeated Francisco Montiel by decision, being ready to seek the world title.



On October 25, 1990 in Tokyo, Japan, Lopez defeated then world champion Hideyuki Ohashi, two minutes into the fifth round, showing the world his great quality. Since then he has never stepped into a ring again to offer non-headlining exhibitions, which speaks even more in favor of his greatness.

Lopez is the only champion who always exposed his crown in all his fights, highlighting that six of them were in Asia, which carries more risk and difficulty.

On March 7, 1998, with the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association titles at stake, he faced one of his toughest opponents, the undefeated Nicaraguan Rosendo Alvarez, with whom he drew technically in the eighth round in a hard-fought fight.

The fight is historic, because it is the only time that “Finito” did not have his hand raised at the end of the fight.



Of course the rematch was not long in coming and 8 months later they faced each other again in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ricardo won by split decision in a brutal fight, one of the toughest he may have ever faced.

Subsequently, on November 12, 1994 he fought in the Plaza de Toros Mexico in Mexico City against Javier Várguez, the fight while it lasted was memorable for the battle presented by Várguez who in the end was defeated by technical knockout in the eighth round.



On August 23, 1997 was his consecration against the Puerto Rican Alex “Nene” Sanchez at Madison Square Garden in New York, providing one of his best displays of strength, power and intelligence.

He twice sent the Puerto Rican to the canvas in the second and fifth rounds and finally defeated him by technical knockout in the fifth round.

On October 2, 1999, Lopez captures a second world title in a different division at the age of 33, the IBF light flyweight title, defeating American Will Grisby, showing a great deal of resourcefulness to win a wide decision.

Finally, on September 29, 2001, one of the most technical and skilled fighters Mexico has ever had said goodbye to boxing, knocking out South African Zolani Petelo.

He is currently a sports commentator for Televisa, one of the most important television stations in Mexico, in addition to giving motivational conferences.

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