# Yaqui López

Álvaro López (born May 21, 1951, in Zacatecas, Mexico), known as Yaqui López is a former Mexican boxer and current member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame (not to be confused with the International Boxing Hall of Fame). A native of Zacatecas, López is considered by many as one of the greatest Light Heavyweights to never become world champion.

## Early life

López was born in Zacatecas, Mexico.
A young López had dreams of becoming a Matador. During his first bull fight when López was in his teens, a bull drove its horns into his ankle and shattered it. Due to his injury, López decided not to purse a bull fighting career.

## Amateur career

López ended his amateur boxing career with a record of 13–3. At the Diamond Belt Championship in Eureka, California, he knocked out the defending champion to win the title.

## Professional career

In April 1972, Álvaro won his pro debut against Herman Hampton at the Civic Auditorium in Stockton, California. The two would rematch in Carson City, Nevada less than two months later, with Álvaro stopping the bout early by knockout in the 2nd round.

### WBC Light Heavyweight Championship

On October 9, 1976, López lost a unanimous decision to world champion John Conteh. The fight was held in Denmark.

### WBA Light Heavyweight Championship

Álvaro met Víctor Galíndez in two installments for the WBA Light Heavyweight Championship. The fights were held in Italy. Some boxing writers thought that Álvaro won the fights, though the decision victories went to the champion, Galíndez.
He was one of the few boxers of his time to challenge James Scott at the Rahway State Prison.

### 1980 Fight of the Year

López would later fight in Ring Magazine's 1980 Fight of the Year against WBC Light Heavyweight Champion, Matthew Saad Muhammad. López dominated the first half of the fight, but all three score cards very close up until the fourteenth round. López eventually ran out of energy to continue fighting and was stopped.

### WBC Cruiserweight Championship

In Álvaro's last world title attempt, he would lose to the much younger WBC Cruiserweight Champion, Carlos De León. López would then wait almost a year before fighting Bash Ali. Following the match, he retired from boxing.

## Legacy

Lopez is a member of both the California Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. He has his own gym named after him, Yaqui Lopez's Fat City Boxing.

## Professional boxing record

61 Wins (39 knockouts, 22 decisions), 15 Losses (6 knockouts, 9 decisions) :
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 61-15 | Bash Ali | SD | 12 | 12-09-1984 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Loss | 61-14 | Carlos De Leon | TKO | 4 (12) | 21-09-1983 | San Jose, California, United States | For WBC cruiserweight title |
| Win | 61-13 | Eddie Gonzales | UD | 10 | 07-05-1983 | Stateline, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 60-13 | Mike Jameson | UD | 10 | 19-02-1983 | Incline Village, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 59-13 | James Williams | UD | 10 | 27-11-1982 | Incline Village, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 58-13 | Roger Braxton | UD | 10 | 09-09-1982 | Stateline, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 57-13 | Ken Arlt | UD | 10 | 31-07-1982 | Incline Village, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 56-13 | David Smith | UD | 12 | 01-06-1982 | Sacramento, California, United States | Won California cruiserweight title |
| Win | 55-13 | Alvin Dominey | TKO | 6 (10) | 05-05-1982 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Loss | 54-13 | Johnny Davis | UD | 10 | 14-01-1982 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 54-12 | Tony Mundine | TKO | 3 (12) | 27-11-1981 | Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia | |
| Loss | 53-12 | ST Gordon | TKO | 7 (12) | 24-07-1981 | Reno, Nevada, United States | For WBC-NABF cruiserweight title |
| Win | 53-11 | Willie Taylor | KO | 7 (10) | 27-05-1981 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 52-11 | George O'Mara | TKO | 10 (10) | 18-03-1981 | San Carlos, California, United States | |
| Win | 51-11 | Grover Robinson | KO | 4 (10) | 14-02-1981 | Incline Village, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 50-11 | Carl Ivy | KO | 3 (10) | 29-11-1980 | Incline Village, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 49-11 | Michael Spinks | TKO | 7 (10) | 18-10-1980 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 49-10 | Matthew Muhammad | TKO | 14 (15) | 13-07-1980 | McAfee, New Jersey, United States | For WBC light heavyweight title |
| Win | 49-9 | Bobby Lloyd | KO | 8 (10) | 20-05-1980 | Fresno, California, United States | |
| Win | 48-9 | Pete McIntyre | KO | 8 (12) | 16-04-1980 | Fresno, California, United States | |
| Loss | 47-9 | James Scott | UD | 10 | 01-12-1979 | Woodbridge, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 47-8 | Bash Ali | UD | 10 | 04-10-1979 | Redwood City, California, United States | |
| Win | 46-8 | Andros Ernie Barr | KO | 4 (10) | 12-09-1979 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 45-8 | Ivy Brown | KO | 3 (10) | 27-02-1979 | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| Win | 44-8 | Wilbert Albers | KO | 3 (10) | 18-01-1979 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Loss | 43-8 | Matthew Muhammad | TKO | 11 (12) | 24-10-1978 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | For WBC-NABF light heavyweight title |
| Win | 43-7 | Jesse Burnett | UD | 15 | 02-07-1978 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Loss | 42-7 | Victor Galindez | UD | 15 | 06-05-1978 | Viareggio, Toscana, Italy | For WBA light heavyweight title |
| Win | 42-6 | Mike Rossman | TKO | 6 (10) | 02-03-1978 | New York City, United States | |
| Win | 41-6 | Fabian Falconette | TKO | 2 (10) | 12-01-1978 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Win | 40-6 | Clarence Geigger | KO | 4 (10) | 15-12-1977 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 39-6 | Chuck Warfield | KO | 4 (10) | 27-10-1977 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Loss | 38-6 | Victor Galindez | UD | 15 | 17-09-1977 | Rome, Lazio, Italy | For WBA light heavyweight title |
| Win | 38-5 | Benny Barra | KO | 5 (10) | 27-07-1977 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 37-5 | Manuel Fierro | KO | 3 (10) | 20-07-1977 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 36-5 | Bobby Lloyd | KO | 5 (10) | 17-06-1977 | Miami Beach, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 35-5 | Lonnie Bennett | TKO | 3 (10) | 22-04-1977 | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 35-4 | Larry Castaneda | KO | 8 (10) | 07-03-1977 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 34-4 | Danny Brewer | TKO | 6 (10) | 17-02-1977 | Stateline, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 33-4 | Pete McIntyre | KO | 6 (10) | 08-12-1976 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 32-4 | Clarence Geigger | TKO | 5 (10) | 18-11-1976 | Stateline, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 31-4 | John Conteh | UD | 15 | 09-10-1976 | Copenhagen, Denmark | For WBC light heavyweight title |
| Win | 31-3 | Larry Castaneda | KO | 9 (10) | 17-07-1976 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 30-3 | Karl Zurheide | TKO | 6 (10) | 30-06-1976 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 29-3 | David Smith | UD | 10 | 03-05-1976 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 28-3 | Terry Lee | UD | 10 | 12-02-1976 | Portland, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 27-3 | Jesse Burnett | SD | 12 | 24-09-1975 | Stockton, California, United States | Won California light heavyweight title |
| Loss | 26-3 | Jesse Burnett | MD | 12 | 31-07-1975 | Stockton, California, United States | Lost California light heavyweight title |
| Win | 26-2 | Gary Summerhays | UD | 10 | 03-07-1975 | Gardnerville, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 25-2 | Mike Quarry | UD | 10 | 14-05-1975 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 24-2 | Lee Mitchell | KO | 6 (10) | 08-04-1975 | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| Win | 23-2 | Terry Lee | TKO | 9 (12) | 04-03-1975 | Sacramento, California, United States | Retained California light heavyweight title |
| Win | 22-2 | Hildo Silva | UD | 10 | 13-11-1974 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 21-2 | Bobby Rascon | KO | 6 (10) | 11-10-1974 | Portland, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 20-2 | Joe Cokes | MD | 12 | 07-07-1974 | Gardnerville, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 19-2 | Hildo Silva | UD | 12 | 10-05-1974 | Stockton, California, United States | Won California light heavyweight title |
| Win | 18-2 | Willie Warren | UD | 10 | 06-03-1974 | Reno, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17-2 | Andy Kendall | RTD | 4 (10) | 14-02-1974 | Portland, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 16-2 | Al Bolden | UD | 10 | 06-12-1973 | Portland, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 15-2 | Alfonso Gonzalez | KO | 2 (10) | 01-11-1973 | Portland, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 14-2 | Charlie Brooks | KO | 5 (10) | 20-09-1973 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 13-2 | Herman Hampton | KO | 4 (10) | 22-08-1973 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 12-2 | Ron Wilson | TKO | 6 (10) | 03-08-1973 | Reno, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11-2 | Dave Rogers | TKO | 5 (10) | 06-07-1973 | Gardnerville, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 10-2 | Ron Wilson | UD | 10 | 09-06-1973 | Santa Rosa, California, United States | |
| Win | 9-2 | Hildo Silva | UD | 10 | 21-04-1973 | Santa Rosa, California, United States | |
| Loss | 8-2 | Al Bolden | UD | 10 | 15-03-1973 | Seattle, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 8-1 | Polo Ramirez | KO | 7 (8) | 08-02-1973 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 7-1 | Van Sahib | KO | 1 (10) | 11-12-1972 | Eugene, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 6-1 | Herman Hampton | KO | 7 (8) | 29-11-1972 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 5-1 | Mark Hearn | TKO | 2 (6) | 06-11-1972 | Eugene, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 4-1 | Henry Tavake | UD | 6 | 24-10-1972 | San Carlos, California, United States | |
| Loss | 3-1 | Jesse Burnett | SD | 8 | 01-07-1972 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 3-0 | Cisco Solorio | TKO | 6 (8) | 16-06-1972 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Win | 2-0 | Herman Hampton | KO | 2 (8) | 02-06-1972 | Carson City, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 1-0 | Herman Hampton | UD | 6 | 24-04-1972 | Stockton, California, United States | |