The Forum
Inglewood, California
February 28, 1973
Showing posts with label Ernie Lopez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ernie Lopez. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Ernie 'Indian Red' Lopez fondly remembered
by Robert Morales
When Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004, he spoke humbly and softly during his acceptance speech.
That was not surprising because that's who he was.
Lopez had been a drifter for 10years when he finally was found that year in a homeless shelter in Fort Worth, Texas. He told yours truly he really liked being on his own, but he was happy to be reunited with his family, whom he had not seen for a decade.
Lopez died last Saturday from complications of dementia in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He was 64.
Howie Steindler, who was murdered in 1977, managed and trained Lopez and his younger brother, former featherweight champion Danny "Little Red" Lopez. Steindler owned the Main Street Gym in Los Angeles and after his death - which remains unsolved - his daughter, Carol, took over operations of the gym.
Carol Steindler-Ferris on Friday recalled Lopez, whom she said was a lovable man.
"He and Danny, they were like his (her father's) sons," she said. "He always wanted sons, obviously, because he was in boxing and he had two girls. They were like my brothers.
"Ernie was always a very gentle man. That is what I remember most about him - being kind and gentle. He always made my father very happy, and to me that is very important."
Lopez, an American Indian, was born in Utah on an Indian reservation. Most of the early part of his career, from 1964-74 (he did fight once in 1987, after a 13-year retirement), was spent fighting in Las Vegas. He became a fixture in Los Angeles in the late 1960s, when he fought a trilogy against world-class fighter Hedgemon Lewis.
Lopez stopped Lewis in the ninth round at the Olympic Auditorium in July 1968. Lopez reeled off four more victories, then lost a 10-round decision to Lewis in July 1969 at the Olympic. But three months later, at the Sports Arena, Lopez stopped Lewis in the 10th round and earned himself a title shot at welterweight world champion Jose Napoles.
Lopez was courageous, but Napoles was too much for him and stopped Lopez in the 15th round in February 1970 at the Forum. Lopez got another crack at Napoles' title three years later - in February 1973 at the Forum - but Napoles stopped Lopez in the seventh round.
"He beat good fighters, but he just couldn't beat the best, which was Napoles," said Don Fraser, who promoted both of Lopez's fights against Napoles.
Benny Georgino managed and trained Danny Lopez and was an advisor to Ernie Lopez. Georgino portrayed the latter as exciting in the ring and classy out of it.
"He always put on a good show, he never put on a bad show," Georgino said. "I would say he was an uncrowned champion of his time. He could punch, he could take a good punch.
"He was a terrific guy and he had a lot of friends. He made friends because he was an easy-going guy. He was a credit to boxing. He was the kind of guy you liked to see do good."
Unfortunately, Lopez (47-13-1, 23 KOs) was crushed by a divorce in the 1970s as well as his failure to realize his dream of becoming champion. When the mid-1990s rolled around, he left and didn't tell anyone where he was going.
But 10 years later, he was back in the L.A. area being enshrined in the California Boxing Hall of Fame. He didn't say much, but his smile and that of his children and siblings told the story.
"When he came in, there were television crews waiting for him," said Fraser, president of the California Boxing Hall of Fame. "He became a big celebrity that day at Steven's Steak House (in Commerce, site of the ceremony)."
Danny Lopez could not be reached for comment Friday. But Steindler-Ferris said she spoke with him shortly after his older brother's demise.
"We both thought of the same thing," she said. "Danny said, `Howie is going to be happy because he will see Ernie up in heaven and that will be great.' "
Lopez will be laid to rest today in Utah. He is survived by a son, three daughters and five siblings.
Courtesy: Los Angeles Daily News
When Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004, he spoke humbly and softly during his acceptance speech.
That was not surprising because that's who he was.
Lopez had been a drifter for 10years when he finally was found that year in a homeless shelter in Fort Worth, Texas. He told yours truly he really liked being on his own, but he was happy to be reunited with his family, whom he had not seen for a decade.
Lopez died last Saturday from complications of dementia in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He was 64.
Howie Steindler, who was murdered in 1977, managed and trained Lopez and his younger brother, former featherweight champion Danny "Little Red" Lopez. Steindler owned the Main Street Gym in Los Angeles and after his death - which remains unsolved - his daughter, Carol, took over operations of the gym.
Carol Steindler-Ferris on Friday recalled Lopez, whom she said was a lovable man.
"He and Danny, they were like his (her father's) sons," she said. "He always wanted sons, obviously, because he was in boxing and he had two girls. They were like my brothers.
"Ernie was always a very gentle man. That is what I remember most about him - being kind and gentle. He always made my father very happy, and to me that is very important."
Lopez, an American Indian, was born in Utah on an Indian reservation. Most of the early part of his career, from 1964-74 (he did fight once in 1987, after a 13-year retirement), was spent fighting in Las Vegas. He became a fixture in Los Angeles in the late 1960s, when he fought a trilogy against world-class fighter Hedgemon Lewis.
Lopez stopped Lewis in the ninth round at the Olympic Auditorium in July 1968. Lopez reeled off four more victories, then lost a 10-round decision to Lewis in July 1969 at the Olympic. But three months later, at the Sports Arena, Lopez stopped Lewis in the 10th round and earned himself a title shot at welterweight world champion Jose Napoles.
Lopez was courageous, but Napoles was too much for him and stopped Lopez in the 15th round in February 1970 at the Forum. Lopez got another crack at Napoles' title three years later - in February 1973 at the Forum - but Napoles stopped Lopez in the seventh round.
"He beat good fighters, but he just couldn't beat the best, which was Napoles," said Don Fraser, who promoted both of Lopez's fights against Napoles.
Benny Georgino managed and trained Danny Lopez and was an advisor to Ernie Lopez. Georgino portrayed the latter as exciting in the ring and classy out of it.
"He always put on a good show, he never put on a bad show," Georgino said. "I would say he was an uncrowned champion of his time. He could punch, he could take a good punch.
"He was a terrific guy and he had a lot of friends. He made friends because he was an easy-going guy. He was a credit to boxing. He was the kind of guy you liked to see do good."
Unfortunately, Lopez (47-13-1, 23 KOs) was crushed by a divorce in the 1970s as well as his failure to realize his dream of becoming champion. When the mid-1990s rolled around, he left and didn't tell anyone where he was going.
But 10 years later, he was back in the L.A. area being enshrined in the California Boxing Hall of Fame. He didn't say much, but his smile and that of his children and siblings told the story.
"When he came in, there were television crews waiting for him," said Fraser, president of the California Boxing Hall of Fame. "He became a big celebrity that day at Steven's Steak House (in Commerce, site of the ceremony)."
Danny Lopez could not be reached for comment Friday. But Steindler-Ferris said she spoke with him shortly after his older brother's demise.
"We both thought of the same thing," she said. "Danny said, `Howie is going to be happy because he will see Ernie up in heaven and that will be great.' "
Lopez will be laid to rest today in Utah. He is survived by a son, three daughters and five siblings.
Courtesy: Los Angeles Daily News
Monday, October 5, 2009
Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez Dead at 64
In what seems like an endless stream of boxing deaths, there is yet one more. Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez has passed away. I wrote the following on Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez two years ago. It now seems an apt obituary on one of Los Angeles's favorite fighter so I am reposting it. My condolences to the entire Lopez family. Rest in Peace Red
By Randy De La O
When I saw this photo of Ernie “Indian Red” Lopez recently, I couldn’t help but be moved. You can still see the fighter’s determination, but you can also see the pain of a hard life, whether by his own choosing, or by fate, circumstances and life. I wonder if he realizes just how vital a part of California’s boxing history he is, especially to Los Angeles boxing history, which has become, arguably the best fight town in the country, in terms of a fan base, and in it’s rich contribution to boxing in general. Lopez was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame on March 6, 2004, and he certainly deserved it. Thanks to Don Fraser for making sure it happened.
Ernie “Indian Red” Lopez began his professional career on January 1, 1964, winning a 6 round decision over Armand Laurenco, at The Castaway Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. They would fight two more times, drawing in the second fight, and Lopez stopping him in their third fight in the first round of a ten round fight. He fought his last fight against future welterweight champion John H. Stracey on October 29, 1974 at the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, London. He was stopped in the seventh round of a scheduled 10 round fight. In between those two fights he fought the likes of Armando Muniz, Jose “Mantequilla” Napoles, Emile Griffith and Hedgemon Lewis. Lopez and Lewis had three fights, with Lopez stopping Lewis twice, and losing a decision in the second fight. He was a mainstay at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, and in the Hotel arenas in Las Vegas. His career record reads: 60 fights with 47 wins, 23 of them by KO, he lost 12 times and he drew once. Not too shabby.
For reasons of his own Ernie seemingly dropped off the planet, beginning in the 1970’s he hitchhiked and roamed the country, coming back from time to time to visit with his family, however briefly. In the early 1990’s he disappeared completely. The family had no idea if Ernie was dead or alive, until early 2004, with the help of the Los Angeles Police Department, he was found in the Presbyterian Night Shelter in Fort Worth, Texas.
Any fight fan knows that Ernie is the older brother of Danny “Little Red” Lopez. I hope that they have reconciled any differences they may have had. One was a champ, one wasn’t. Two different fighters, two different weight classes, completely different opponents, one should not reflect on the other. With or without an official title Ernie “Indian Red” Lopez will always be a champ to his many fans. He always fought with heart and was crowd favorite. If ever a boxer’s life and career called out for movie to be made, it’s Lopez’. I can’t imagine a more compelling story. We are proud that he is one of Los Angeles’ Greats!
Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez vs Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles
Ernie with Los Angeles rival Hedgemon Lewis
By Randy De La O
When I saw this photo of Ernie “Indian Red” Lopez recently, I couldn’t help but be moved. You can still see the fighter’s determination, but you can also see the pain of a hard life, whether by his own choosing, or by fate, circumstances and life. I wonder if he realizes just how vital a part of California’s boxing history he is, especially to Los Angeles boxing history, which has become, arguably the best fight town in the country, in terms of a fan base, and in it’s rich contribution to boxing in general. Lopez was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame on March 6, 2004, and he certainly deserved it. Thanks to Don Fraser for making sure it happened.
Ernie “Indian Red” Lopez began his professional career on January 1, 1964, winning a 6 round decision over Armand Laurenco, at The Castaway Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. They would fight two more times, drawing in the second fight, and Lopez stopping him in their third fight in the first round of a ten round fight. He fought his last fight against future welterweight champion John H. Stracey on October 29, 1974 at the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, London. He was stopped in the seventh round of a scheduled 10 round fight. In between those two fights he fought the likes of Armando Muniz, Jose “Mantequilla” Napoles, Emile Griffith and Hedgemon Lewis. Lopez and Lewis had three fights, with Lopez stopping Lewis twice, and losing a decision in the second fight. He was a mainstay at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, and in the Hotel arenas in Las Vegas. His career record reads: 60 fights with 47 wins, 23 of them by KO, he lost 12 times and he drew once. Not too shabby.
For reasons of his own Ernie seemingly dropped off the planet, beginning in the 1970’s he hitchhiked and roamed the country, coming back from time to time to visit with his family, however briefly. In the early 1990’s he disappeared completely. The family had no idea if Ernie was dead or alive, until early 2004, with the help of the Los Angeles Police Department, he was found in the Presbyterian Night Shelter in Fort Worth, Texas.
Any fight fan knows that Ernie is the older brother of Danny “Little Red” Lopez. I hope that they have reconciled any differences they may have had. One was a champ, one wasn’t. Two different fighters, two different weight classes, completely different opponents, one should not reflect on the other. With or without an official title Ernie “Indian Red” Lopez will always be a champ to his many fans. He always fought with heart and was crowd favorite. If ever a boxer’s life and career called out for movie to be made, it’s Lopez’. I can’t imagine a more compelling story. We are proud that he is one of Los Angeles’ Greats!
Ernie's career record can be found at this link to Boxrec.com
Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez vs Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles
Ernie with Los Angeles rival Hedgemon LewisPopular L.A. Area Fighter Ernie"Indian Red" Lopez Dies
Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez lost welterweight title bouts to Jose Napoles in 1970 and '73 but was still a fan favorite. (Theo Ehret / March 3, 2004)
By Keith Thursby
October 5, 2009
Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez, a popular boxer in the 1960s and '70s who twice lost title fights before sellout crowds at the Forum and was found in a Texas homeless shelter just in time to be honored for his accomplishments in the ring, has died. He was 64.
Lopez died Saturday in Pleasant Grove, Utah, from complications of dementia, said one of his sisters, Naomi Adams. He had lived with Adams' family for five years before recently moving into a rest home, she said.
"He never became a champion, but he was very popular with the fans," said Bill Caplan, longtime Los Angeles boxing publicist. "He was aggressive; he didn't worry about getting hit."
Lopez fought for the welterweight title twice against Jose Napoles, losing in the 15th round in 1970 and in the seventh round in 1973. "He was a very good fighter, but Napoles was a great fighter," Kaplan said.
He also had three memorable fights against Hedgemon Lewis, winning twice.
"Lopez was a warrior," actor Ryan O'Neal, who managed Lewis when he fought Lopez, said in 2004. "He was also a gentleman, a decent man. But as a fighter, Lopez would hit the other guy so much he would become exhausted. Because of that, Lopez would always fill an arena, because he would give fans their money's worth. . . . It was his heart that made him win."
By 1974, Lopez was divorced and his career was over. His connections to his family decreased as the years went by.
"It was the losses to Napoles and the divorce that sent Ernie into a tailspin," his brother, former featherweight champion Danny Lopez, said in 2004. "He was a hurt man."
That year, family members saw an item in The Times about Lopez being named to the California Boxing Hall of Fame, and they tried to find him. A Los Angeles police detective tracked down the former boxer in a Fort Worth homeless shelter.
Don Fraser, president of the California Boxing Hall of Fame and a retired boxing promoter, paid for Lopez's flight to Los Angeles. "Some of the guys got him a suit and a hat," he said. "To him it was really something. I think he was overwhelmed."
Lopez was born in 1945, on a Ute Indian reservation in Fort Duchesne, Utah, one of eight children. He met his former wife, Marcia Park, when they were students at Orem High School in Orem, Utah. They moved to California in the mid-1960s, and he fought most of his career out of Los Angeles' Main Street Gym.
Lopez is survived by his son, Lance, and daughters Cindy, Kami and Tracy, three brothers and two sisters, 22 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Services will be Saturday in Utah.
keith.thursby@latimes.com
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Then and Now
Photos Courtesy of Frank Baltazar Sr.
Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez, Howie Steindler and Danny"Little Red" Lopez
Ernie "Indian Red " Lopez and Danny "Little Red" Lopez
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