Hector Lopez Jr and Adam Lopez will debut on the boxing card titled “Redemption” on May 13th at the Mezzanine Hall in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Hector “Torero” Lopez, undoubtedly was a great fighter. He was Mexico’s National Amateur Champion, Olympic Silver Medalist for that country in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and after winning several regional championships, a three-time world title challenger. He never managed to conquer the coveted crown.
The biggest obstacles towards reaching the championship were not in the ring, but away from it, where problems with the law and drugs, largely curbed his opportunity to achieve the goal.
Deported from the United States after a stint in prison, Lopez died at the age of 44 in the Federal District of Mexico, victim of a heart attack that according to close sources, was caused by drug usage. As a legacy, he left two sons, Hector Jr. and Adam, who now at the age of 21 and 18 years old respectively, also seek glory in the ring.
Both will be debuting professionally on 13 May, on the boxing card named “Redemption” to be held in the Mezzanine Hall of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
The fight card is promoted by Borizteca Boxing Promotions, headed by former boxer, Saul Rios.
After winning the silver medal in the bantamweight division, Hector senior began his career in 1985 in the featherweight division, then went up to the lightweight, where he beat Juan Laporte, before challenging unsuccessfully unbeaten Miguel Angel Gonzalez with the WBC lightweight title in play.
He then ascended to the junior welterweight division, where he lost title fights to Sammy Fuentes and Randall Bailey, respectively.
Hector Jr. will begin his career in the super featherweight division, while Adam, will compete with the featherweights.
Hector father came to lime lights, at age 17, when he arrived as the youngest boxer to take part in the 1984 Olympic boxing held at the Sports Arena in Los Angeles. He was the same age when he start as a pro on a card organized by the World Boxing Council on January 1985. Hector junior begins his professional boxing career at age 22, while Adam is 19 years old.
Both fighters have over 60 fights as amateur experience. Hector junior was preparing for an amateur tournament in Indio, California, when the family was informed of his father’s death in 2011. Adam began boxing a few weeks after the death.
In the best days of his career, between 1990 and 1998, Hector father was guided and manager by Harry Kazandjian, who after the death of the fighter said:
“It was a great loss in the boxing world. He was his own worst enemy. This guy had all the skills that a boxer would dream to have.”
Norma Lopez is the mother of the two young fighters. She was part of the turbulent life of “Torero” Lopez and witnessed the boxer’s path inside and outside the ring. She will now lead the fighter’s career along with Manager-Trainer Jay Sanz, who had a brief amateur career and close links to a boxing sibling and to his stepfather. Most of his experience comes from the business world but has believes that he has the knowledge and passion to take the fighters towards a championship journey.
“I have mostly been ad adviser to Norma and the kids. As an amateur you don’t need a Manager per-se. Now there are other financial matters, sponsorships and marketing, so now we have a team to collectively oversee Hectors and Adams career,” said Sanz.
“That team includes many people, not only Norma, but other people that have worked with them in the past, advisors, as well as other professional boxers, like Shane Mosley and trainers like Freddy Roach that have allowed them to train at their gyms, just to ensure that they have as much experience as possible going into competition and now into the professional ranks”, he added.
On the similarities and differences between their late father and the young boxers, Sanz says”.
“The similarities are there; they both have determination. Adam resembles his father not only in physical characteristics, buy is also slick in the ring. Hector Jr. is more of a boxer-puncher but can also box against the best. They also have a great work ethic, training daily Monday through Saturday. That was one thing that Norma had always had as a condition for them getting into the sport. If they are not in shape, they do not box.”
The concept of the title for the event began a main theme for several fighters who in this card will have a second chance to straighten their boxing career after past defeats. For the Lopez brothers, the word “Redemption” also has a unique and very special meaning:
“I definite feel that part of the goal is to match and improve on what Hector senior did on the ring and make the whole team proud in their accomplishments. Reaching a Championship would be redemption to their fathers legacy. I feel that title is very appropriate for their start”, Sanz said.
To honor their father, both brothers proudly show the slogan also tattooed by “Torero”: “I’d rather die standing than live on my knees.” Also, both have used boxing shorts with a leopard print, for many of their amateur bouts.
“This will not be the case anymore”, said Sanz. “From now on, they will consciously choose other colors, as they want to make sure that they do not coat-tail in their father’s persona. These are new careers, these are new stories and they both have agreed that they are now in the boxing world to make a name for themselves and no to benefit from their father’s popularity, former branding or relationships”, he concluded.
The promoter, Saul Rios, talk about the boxer’s debut:
“I am honored to present these two fighters in their debut. We talked with the whole team and we all agree that we can direct their boxing career successfully. There are two clean boys, responsible and eager to excel in professional boxing, following the footsteps of his father and improving on his accomplishments if possible, “Rios said.
“They are part of the young talent that we are aligning to the company and they will be part of a lineup that includes 13 fights, many of them between fighters from the US against Mexican talent,” said Rios.
The “Redemption” card is part of the World Class Boxing series, produced and distributed by PAP Sports. The event will be taped for delayed telecast to Baja California and the United States as well as worldwide via the Internet.
Tickets for the “Redemption” card are available at the venue. Doors open at 7:30 PM; First bout will start at 8: 15 PM.
