This time last year Joseito Lopez was training for the biggest fight of his career when he would be a late pick to fight “Vicious” Victor Ortiz in what was to be a tune up bout for Ortiz as he had Canelo Alvarez on the horizon. Many were calling Ortiz-Alvarez one of the most anticipated fights of 2012.
Josesito Lopez would stop Ortiz, dash any hope of Ortiz-Alvarez and with his win became a beloved figure. A kid who was from the ghetto. “Riverside Rocky” as he eloquently described himself.
Yet in the last year as the boxing world saw Lopez stock rise his opponents seemed to get bigger and stronger. Before the Ortiz bout Lopez rarely fought over the 140lb weight limit his fight with Ortiz was at 147, his first time ever fighting at that weight. After the hard fought win, he was put back in the fire at 154lb less than three months later. A weight class Lopez should have never fought at. However the surprising loss of Ortiz put Goldenboy in a predicament.
As GBP had already announced that Canelo would headline MGM Grand on Mexican Independence Day of last year. However as quality opponents seemed to be hard to come by and Ortiz loss only added to the chaos it seemed that Canelo would be moved to a different date.
Enter Lopez-First a quality opponent now a sacrificial lamb.
Prior to 2011, Lopez had never really fought on a big stage. A solid win over Mike Dallas Jr and a loss to Jessie Vargas was the short list of Lopez opponents.
He was not supposed to beat Ortiz.
Ortiz was his lottery ticket. What many fighters hope and almost always do after a win call out the big names in their respective division, Lopez earned himself a few more “nice” paydays but not much else.
Next up-Canelo Alvarez.
While the win and subsequent story of Lopez was nice it did little to earn him anything in the ring-Lopez was stopped in 5 rounds.
After the loss Lopez admitted 154lb was a little too big for him and would be moving back down.
After a much needed break Goldenboy announced that Lopez would face hard hitting Marcos Maidana as the main event for the GBP fight card from the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
It was a fight that fight fans love. A hard hitting, toe to toe battle that can only end one way. Knockout. While the fight itself had great action and from a boxing fans POV, it was a great night of boxing and it was one of the largest boxing events held at the Home Depot Center, the tremendous turn out that proved Lopez is a fighter worth watching. He puts on the type of display of courage and heart you expect from a fighter.
Yet, as a fan, I wonder, can Lopez last much longer as an elite boxer if he continues to take on fighters such as Canelo, Maidana and even Ortiz fight after fight? While I agree that to be the best you have to fight the best but Lopez seems to be a pawn in the mix more so than a fighter that is actually getting managed and handled the way most promoters handle some of their prized fighters.
Case and point-Adrien Broner.
This is a boxer who never once fought at 140lb let alone 147lb weight class but instead of having to face Danny Garcia, Lucas Matthysse, Devon Alexander, Robert Guerrero, or Andre Berto. Broner gets to face the light hitting Paulie Malignaggi. And even with a win Broner will most likely not be required to face anyone of substance. Broner, unlike Lopez will get a pass to probably fight Shane Mosley or someone that is a limited threat.
Lopez however will probably get one more shot at a big name before he is officially regulated to a stepping stone. A fighter with a name off of one big win that has done little since. He will be the go to guy for fighters trying to establish themselves as the next big thing in their respective division. He was used for what he needed to be used for while he was hot. An opponent that fans like, will give you some quality rounds but in the end may not be a good as once thought.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s just unfortunate that he was viewed as a stepping stone instead of being handled the right way. But boxing is a business and on the business end one has to assume Lopez has got paid pretty decent for the last year of work but in the end will that be worth it?
Only Lopez can answer that and no matter what fans or myself think, Lopez paid his dues it just seems that he is still paying for them.
I agree Riverside Rocky has given fans some great rounds and definitely paid his dues over the last year. My opinion is that people may have read too much into his win over Victor Ortiz last year though. First of all, Ortiz has always been a head case although I continue to root for him to do something deep down. Second, I think Ortiz overlooked Lopez, assuming to a fight with Alvarez. That, along with having the rematch with Berto slip through the cracks as well, the Lopez fight for Ortiz was like a receiver taking off before catching the ball. I also think he mistrained by running marathons and so forth prior to that fight. I got off track a bit here but for a reason. I just think that fight gave people a false sense of who Lopez is as a fighter. First of all, he would be best suited for 140; however with his length I think he has to stay at 147 and at that weight he will be that “stepping stone;” although not to take anything away from him, I am a fan of what he does and how he carries himself. Class act all around. Great article Gabreal.
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