Good, bad, worse: Adam Lopez makes strong statement in defeat

Adam Lopez lost to Oscar Valdez but made a strong impression Saturday.

GOOD

Two careers seemed to have changed after Andres Gutierrez inexplicably missed weight by 11 pounds this past Friday.

Gutierrez was scheduled to fight Oscar Valdez in a Valdez’s 130-pound debut Saturday in Las Vegas but weighed in at 141 pounds, which technically made him a welterweight. He was thrown off the card and reportedly out of his hotel shortly thereafter.

What promoter is going to want to work with the Mexican fighter again after that fiasco?

Meanwhile, Gutierrez’s downfall turned into an opportunity for Adam Lopez, who was set to fight another opponent at 126 pounds on the card. The son of the late Mexican Olympian and pro contender Hector Lopez agreed to step up and face Valdez, who also fought for Mexico in the Olympics.

Lopez made the most of the moment, beautifully outboxing Valdez for much of their fight – including a second-round knockdown – before suffering a seventh-round knockout that many believe referee Russell Mora stopped too soon.

Lopez, only 23, was devastated, particularly because of the way the fight ended, but he had made a strong statement. This young man can fight. The pain from the loss will soon give way to the opportunities of which he’s dreamed. And no one will be surprised if he makes the most of them.

As his trainer, Buddy McGirt, put it, “He lost the battle but won the war.”

BAD

Hector Lopez (left) is pictured fighting Mario Morales in 1994. Holly Stein / Allsport

I had the opportunity to cover and get to know Hector Lopez in the mid-1990s.

The 1984 Olympic silver medalist from Mexico, who lived in the Los Angeles area, was an edgy, but interesting person. And, boy, could he box. He never won a world title – losing to Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Sammy Fuentes and Randall Baily in his only three shots – but anyone who saw him fight could recognize his impressive skill set.

“This kid had all the boxing skills in the world that anybody could dream,” longtime manager Harry Kazandjian once told the Glendale News-Press.

Navigating life outside the ring was Lopez’s problem. His career was interrupted in 1989 when he went to prison for 19 months on burglary and gun charges. He was later deported to his native Mexico after another prison term. And he took drugs, which cost him a one-year suspension when he tested positive for marijuana in 1995.

I always imagined how good he might’ve been had he focused solely on boxing. Instead, his demons dragged him down and ultimately led him to an early death in Mexico City. He reportedly succumbed to a drug overdose or a heart attack related to drug use in 2011. He was only 44 and considering a comeback.

“He was his own worst enemy,” Kazandjian said.

Adam Lopez, who was 15 when his father died, was fortunate to inherit his boxing skills. The fact the elder Lopez isn’t around to see his son blossom is tragic.

WORSE

Andres Gutierrez missed weight by 11 pounds and didn’t fight Saturday. Mikey Williams / Top Rank

Last week, I railed against Julio Ceja and Luis Nery for missing weight by 4½ pounds and 1 pound, respectively. Then Gutierrez proceeds to come in an absurd 11 pounds over the limit for his junior lightweight fight against Oscar Valdez on Saturday.

What’s worse than unprofessional? Bob Arum, who promoted the card, was livid.

“I’ve seen a guy two, three pounds overweight,” he told ESPN.com. “That’s still unprofessional. To come in 11 pounds overweight is a f—ing disgrace. A disgrace. I’ve never seen anything like it. He showed up at the last minute. It’s disgraceful. Valdez trained his ass off, and then for a guy to come in 11 pounds overweight is a disgrace.”

And it doesn’t even make sense because Gutierrez was on track to make weight. According to the WBC, which requires weight checks leading up to the fight, he weighed 142.7 30 days before the fight, 136.8 14 days out and 133 a week before.

How the hell did he come in at 141? The only fathomable answer is that he didn’t want to fight, at least not at the agreed upon weight. Maybe he thought he’d be closer to the limit and Valdez would fight him anyway, as he did against an overweight Scott Quigg last year.

No one says it’s easy to make weight. By all accounts, it can be hell. Still, a professional in essence promises to come in under the limit when he agrees to fight. Failing to so, particularly by such a large amount, is inexcusable.

Oscar Valdez survives spirited effort from Adam Lopez to score KO

Oscar Valdez survived a spirited effort from late replacement Adam Lopez to score a controversial seventh-round KO Saturday.

Sometimes the loser makes a bigger impression than the winner.

That might’ve been the case on Saturday at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, where Oscar Valdez was outboxed by replacement opponent Adam Lopez, went down in the second round and scored what arguably was a premature knockout in the seventh round of a scheduled 10-round junior lightweight bout he was losing on the cards.

Valdez did rally. And a victory is a victory, which keeps Valdez on course for a title shot in his new division. But those who watched the fight probably were talking more about Lopez than Valdez afterward.

Lopez was scheduled to fight another opponent at 126 pounds on the card but agreed at the last minute to replace Andres Gutierrez as Valdez’s foe after Gutierrez missed weight by 11 pounds.

Of course, it was a big assignment, taking on a hard-punching, longtime featherweight champion with only 14 pro fights under your belt. No one would’ve been shocked if the fight had ended the first time Valdez landed a punch.

Instead, Lopez looked like the better boxer, using his quickness, mobility and obvious ring acumen to frustrate Valdez for much of the fight. In other words, Lopez looked a lot like his late father, the slick Mexican Olympic silver medalist and pro contender Hector Lopez.

And the younger Lopez obviously can punch. He put Valdez down with a half hook-half uppercut about two minutes into Round 2. Valdez seemed more embarrassed than hurt but Lopez had made a statement.

After that, his confidence soaring, Lopez demonstrated that a quick, skillful boxer will give Valdez trouble, particularly when Valdez has only 30 hours to prepare to fight him.

But, to Valdez’s credit, he never became desperate. He simply continued what he had been doing since the opening bell, patiently stalking Lopez, landing punishing shots to the head or body when he could, looking for any opportunity to hurt him.

That finally came late in Round 7, when a crushing left hook disrupted his brain function and an overhand right sent him flying into the ropes for a knockdown. Lopez got up, defended himself as best he could and seemed to be on his way to surviving the round.

But a flurry from Valdez in the final seconds prompted referee Russell Mora to jump between the fighters and stop the fight. There were only 7 seconds left in the round.

Many will argue that Mora stepped in too soon because Lopez seemed to have his wits about him, wasn’t taking an inordinate amount of punishement and the round was about to end. Others will say that it’s better to stop a fight one punch too soon rather one too late.

Alas, Valdez (27-0, 21 knockouts) did what he came to do, win the fight and put himself in position to challenge for a 130-pound title. He hopes to fight highly respected titleholder Miguel Berchelt, who was on hand Saturday.

“I was very surprised,” said Valdez, referring to the second-round knockdown. “I take my hat off to him. He’s a great fighter, a great warrior, just like his father was. I just got hit. This is boxing. I prepared two, three months for Gutierrez but no excuses. That kid is a warrior.

“… My experience made me win the fight. I had a great amateur background, a lot more experience than him.”

Lopez (13-2, 6 KOs) was devastated afterward, particularly because of the stoppage.

“He hurt me but I was up and fine, blocking shots (after the knockdown),” he said. “I think he caught me one time. The referee just jumped in and stopped it. I would’ve been fine. I think I was up on the cards. It’s a shame. This is boxing. Nothing I can do about it.

“I’d like a rematch. I’m not a 130-pounder but I’m a real fighter. I’ll take on anyone, anywhere.”

In time, Lopez probably will see he accomplished more in defeat than many fighters do in victory. He demonstrated admirable skill and poise for a such a young fighter. He’s only 23. This defeat could be the start of something big for him.

He was asked afterward whether he thinks he made his father proud of him. He responded with a shaky voice, “I’m sure he’s up there smiling.”

Oscar Valdez to face Adam Lopez after Andres Gutierrez comes in 11 pounds over

Adam Lopez to fill in for Andres Gutierrez against Oscar Valdez after Gutierrez misses weight by 11 pounds.

Andres Gutierrez’s inability to make weight was a stroke of luck for Adam Lopez.

Gutierrez missed weight Friday by a head-scratching 11 pounds for his 10-round junior lightweight fight against Mexican-born star Oscar Valdez on Saturday in Las Vegas on ESPN+.

Thus, Gutierrez was out and a sub was needed. In stepped Lopez, who had been scheduled to face Luis Coria in a featherweight bout on the undercard.

Valdez made the 130-pound limit, weighing 129.8 pounds. Lopez weighed the featherweight limit of 126.

“I trained hard for three months making the sacrifices, and I am very upset with Andres Gutierrez,” Valdez told BoxingScene.com. “He was unprofessional. As soon as I heard 141 pounds, I still wanted to fight him, but my team and (promoter) Bob Arum said Gutierrez was out. I give credit to Adam Lopez for stepping up. It will be a great fight tomorrow night.”

Said Lopez: “It was surreal when I got the offer to fight Oscar. I‘ve known Oscar for a long time and I‘ve wanted this fight for a long time. I’m ready for it. Deep down, I’ll take anyone. Ultimately, I left it up to my trainer (Buddy McGirt), and he gave the fight his blessing.”

Valdez (26-0, 20 knockouts) is making his debut as a full-fledged junior lightweight. He won his featherweight title in 2016 and successfully defended six times.

Lopez (13-1, 6 KOs) is a 23-year-old from Glendale, California. He has fought in only one scheduled 10-round fight, which ended by seventh-round KO over Jean Carlos Rivera in his last fight.

Also, Carl Frampton (26-2, 15 KOs) and Tyler McCreary (16-0-1, 7 KOs) made weight for their scheduled 10-round junior lightweight bout. Frampton weighed 128, McCreary 127.5.

And, in a bout for an “interim” junior middleweight title, Carlos Adames (18-0, 14 KOs) and Patrick Teixeira (30-1, 22 KOs) made weight. Adames weighed 153.5, Teixeira 153.25.

Oscar Valdez Jr. wants Miguel Berchelt if he wins on Nov. 30

Oscar Valdez Jr. is moving up to 130 pounds to face Andres Gutierrez on Nov. 30 but has his sights set on Miguel Berchelt.

Oscar Valdez Jr. is adding a few pounds and some very big aspirations in pursuit of a second division title.

The former 126-pound champion is moving up to 130 to face Andres Gutierrez (38-2-1, 25 knockouts) on Nov. 30 at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on ESPN+, a fight Valdez hopes is a springboard to an immediate showdown with junior lightweight titleholder Miguel Berchelt.

“If we go out the way we want, with the hand held high after this fight, I think we already deserve the position to face Berchelt,’’ Valdez said Monday during a question-and-answer session with media in Los Angeles.

Valdez (26-0, 20 KOs) doesn’t plan to waste any time at the new weight. Berchelt is considered the best of the current 130-pound class. He has made six successful title defenses, just three short of Julio Cesar Chavez’s record.

“In that division, the goal is to fight him,’’ Valdez said. “He is the boxer to beat.’’

The boxer to fear, too.

Oscar Valdez has had a lot to celebrate in his career but is looking for more worlds to conquer. Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Berchelt has power and a presence. He is often mentioned as a possible opponent for current lightweight champion and pound-for-pound leader Vasiliy Lomachenko.

Valdez has never backed away from a big risk. His fearless streak was oh-so evident against Scott Quigg on a rainy night on March 3, 2018 in Carson, California. Quigg failed to make the featherweight limit but Valdez decided to fight anyway. Quigg busted his jaw. Valdez lost a lot of blood and spent several days getting his meals through a straw after his mouth was wired shut in surgery. But he won the fight, scoring a unanimous decision over the bigger Quigg.

It was a sure sign of his courage.

And his determination.

“If I had to retire tomorrow I would not be happy with my career,’’ said Valdez, a two-time Mexican Olympian who was born in the Mexican border town of Nogales but went to school in Tucson. “I think there is much to achieve , and some of that is to go up and win another title.”

Valdez will be fighting for the third time with Canelo Alvarez’s trainer, Eddy Reynoso, in his corner.

“More than anything, I am grateful to him that he opened the doors for me,’’ said Valdez, who had worked with Manny Robles, heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr.’s trainer. “He has a lot of work with Canelo. At first, we doubted if he would have enough time. But on the contrary, we have spent Christmas together.

“I have learned a lot with Eddy Reynoso, and I will demonstrate it in my next fight. In boxing, you never stop learning.”

Leo Santa Cruz hopes to join Mexico’s titles-in-four-divisions club

Leo Santa Cruz has moved up to 130 pounds in a bid to become the fourth Mexican-born fighter to win a title in a fourth division.

Erik Morales was the first to do it. Jorge Arce and Juan Manuel Marquez did it. Now it’s Leo Santa Cruz’s turn.

Santa Cruz, who has won belts at bantamweight, junior featherweight and featherweight, is moving up the scale to junior lightweight in a bid to become the fourth Mexican-born fighter to win a title in a fourth division against Miguel Flores on the Deontay Wilder-Luis Ortiz card Nov. 23 in Las Vegas.

“My dream was to be a four-division world champion,’’ Santa Cruz said in a conference call. “I wanted to win the title so when I retire, I’m remembered as one of the only fighters that wins a fourth title, in four divisions. Not a lot of people do that. So that was my dream.

“I have the opportunity. So I’m going to go for it and hopefully everything goes good. People ask me, and I say, I don’t know what’s going to happen that day on November 23. But if I win, I want the big fights.’’

Miguel Flores will be the underdog when he faces Leo Santa Cruz for a vacant 130-pound title on Nov. 23. Hosanna Rull / iRULL FOTOS

Santa Cruz (36-1-1, 19 knockouts), who is fighting for a vacant 130-pound belt, is moving into the division just as Gervonta Davis is leaving it. Davis has moved up to lightweight and will face Yuriokis Gamboa on Dec. 28 in Atlanta.

“I want the big names that people will want me to fight,’’ said Santa Cruz, who mentioned Gary Russell Jr.

A week after Santa Cruz’s junior lightweight debut, Oscar Valdez Jr. another former featherweight champion, will fight for the first time at 130 pounds against Andres Gutierrez on Nov. 30 in Las Vegas. Santa Cruz-Valdez was seen as good featherweight bout, but it never happened because of the usual promotional divides. Valdez is a Top Rank fighter; Premier Boxing Champions promotes Cruz.

It’s likely that Santa Cruz will get his title in a fourth division. He is a significant favorite to beat Flores (24-2, 12 KOs), who is 2-2 in his last four fights.

“I train hard no matter who the opponent is,’’ Santa Cruz said Wednesday at a media workout at City of Angeles Boxing. “That’s the only thing I know how to do. So I don’t think about any let downs, only about winning the fight in front of me. I think this is a great opportunity to introduce myself to the division.’’

Mexican Canelo Alvarez claimed to win a title in a fourth division when he stopped light heavyweight Sergey Kovalev on Nov. 2. However, one of his titles is the WBA’s “regular” version, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.