Ricardo “Finito” López – the Greatest Strawweight in History
Mexican Arturo “Cuyo” Hernández, was the manager, guide, coach, mentor and teacher of many Mexican world champions, almost all of them turned into idols and box office smash hits.
Of the great legion that passed through his hands, one of the greatest Mexican fighters in history, Ricardo López Nava, stands as an undefeated great.
“Finito” achieved most of this in the straw weight division in a glittering 16-year career, showing himself to be a boxing artist, highlighting intelligence and genius.
In various interviews, Ricardo has commented that he was never a troublemaker and that his fondness for boxing came from watching Saturday cards on television with his father Maleno, as a family tradition.
Ricardo was born in Cuernavaca, Morelos, on July 25, 1966, then living in the neighbourhood of Tacubaya. His natural home was in the “Lupita” gym where Arturo Hernández worked his brilliant magic. Before, López he was seven years old, Ricardo put on the gloves for the first time, and at the age of fifteen he won the first of four Golden Gloves in a row.
He made his professional debut on January 18, 1985 against Rogelio Hernández in Cuernavaca and that year he reeled off six knockouts. Five more victories chained 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 Eduardo Ramírez and Javier Alonso, defeating both by decision in ten round fights.
In 1989, “Finito” defeated José Luis Zepeda, and that triumph gave him the opportunity to contest the Continental Americas title of the World Boxing Council on November 7, 1989 against Rey Hernández, defeating him by knockout in twelve rounds.
Already in the prelude to a world championship, López made his debut in the United States against Jorge Rivera, defeating him by knockout. Later he defeated Francisco Montiel by decision, being ready to seek the world title.
On October 25, 1990 in Tokyo, Japan, López defeated world champion Hideyuki Ohashi, within two minutes of the fifth round, showing the world his great quality. From then on, all Ricardo`s fights were world title bouts.
Ricardo López is the only champion who always staked his crown in all of his fights, highlighting that six of them were in Asia.
On March 7, 1998 with the World Council and World Boxing Association titles at stake, He faced one of his fiercest rivals, the undefeated Nicaraguan Rosendo Álvarez, with whom he technically drew in the eighth round in a highly contested fight. For the first and only time, Ricardo was knocked to the canvass, via a right cross in the second round. He got up and fought back with skill and determination, until an accidental clash of heads left him with a severe cut over his left eye.
Everyone clamoured for a rematch, so just eight months later the rematch, this time in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ricardo won by split decision in a brutal fight, one of the most difficult that perhaps he had to face.
Later, on November 12, 1994, he fought in the Plaza de Toros México in Mexico City defeating Javier Várguez. The fight while it lasted was memorable because of the battle presented by Várguez, but he was defeated by technical knockout in the eighth round.
On August 23, 1997, fought the Puerto Rican Alex “Nene” Sánchez at Madison Square Garden in New York, providing one of his best displays of strength, power and intelligence.
He sent the Puerto Rican to the canvas twice in the second and fifth rounds and finally defeated him by TKO in the fifth round.
On October 2, 1999, Lopez won a second world title in a different division at the age of 33, the IBF light flyweight version, defeating American Will Grisby, showing a great deal of resources to take a broad decision.
Finally, on September 29, 2001, he said goodbye to boxing, as one of the most technical and skilled fighters Mexico has ever had, by knocking out South African Zolani Petelo.
He is currently a sports commentator on Televisa, one of the most important television stations in Mexico, in addition to giving motivational conferences.
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