By Joe Koizumi
After thirty-four years former rivals, Ricardo “Finito” Lopez and Hideyuki Ohashi will make a reunion today (Tuesday) in Tokyo, Japan. Tomorrow there will be a promotion featuring all minimumweight or strawweight competitions at the Korakuen Hall in the center of our capital Tokyo. On the eve we will see a special ceremony of their reunion since Lopez dethroned then WBC 105-pound titleholder Ohashi at the Hall on October 25, 1990. Finito went to score 21 defenses thereafter to his credit, while Ohashi established his gym and cultivated five world champs including Naoya “The Monster” Inoue. The MC and interpreter will be yours truly.
Promoter of this event: Hachioji Nakaya Promotions.
Finito a true throwback fighter and a gentleman
The greatest straw weight champion ever
Finito is one of the only ones or maybe the only one who box rec never moved his position (1st) in the straw weight ranking
There was a time where according to box rec ranking Mexico used to have 9 mexican fighters as the best in their own division.
They were :
105 finito Lopez
108 Chiquita Gonzalez
112 Miguel canto
115 Gilberto Roman
118 Ruben Olivares
122 Marco Antonio Barrera
126 Vicente Saldívar
140 Julio Cesar Chavez
147 oscar de la Hoya
At 122 Wilfredo Gómez lasted a very long time as the best 122 lbs fighter until Barrera was moved to first position
Finito has a diamond belt that given only to 5 fighters
Muhammad Ali
Sugar ray Robinson
Mike Tyson
Julio Cesar
Finito Lopez
Finito also as far as I know he never lost a fight not even in amateur career with 36 fights
He was number one pound for pound in 1997 over great boxers like holifield de la Hoya Trinidad Roy jones etc etc etc and it was very impressive to ocuppied the first position Of the list after being 105 lbs fighters
Also finito is one of the 3 most discipline Mexican fighters ever along with Salvador Sanchez and Saul canelo Alvarez
Finito had the record of the longest champion ever til if I not mistaken Floyd Mayweather broke that record
Finito had lots of records but I’m tired r now to listed all of them
Fighting the best asiatic warriors finito is one of the best Mexican fighters ever
His biggest flaw??? Being too small fighter (105 lbs )
Bye nowwww see you in Christmas guys
Dude, where are you going?
WILFREDO GOMEZ greatest 122 pound fighter in the history of the sport!! Imagine a round robin with the likes of Gomez, Barrera, Morales and Inoue!!!!
Finito’s poetic and strong skills used to make grown people shake their heads (in admiration). Finito Lopez is my 2nd favorite Mexican fighter, and JMM is my favorite Mexican fighter.
Thank you again Mr. Koizumi. I consider this a historic pugilistic event. This was the fight that made the world aware of Finito Lopez. His run of 21 title defenses might never be equalled again in today’s sport. Ohashi created a legacy both in and out of the ring and both are well earned.
– Good story and thank you for posting it…….
Calling them “rivals” is a bit far fetched. Lopez crushed Ohashi like he did just about everyone else. Rosendo Alvarez was his rival and closest to ever defeating him. I would have loved to see them battle at least one more time before Lopez’s retirement. To Oshahi’s credit he fought the best and establish gym has produced some diamonds especially Monster.
I was living in Japan as an English teacher when this fight took place. Boxing magazines featured it heavily. I didn’t see Lopez until years later against Villamor on a Tyson undercard. Footwork, poise, precision punching. He had it all!!