Ricardo López (boxer)

On October 10, 1990, López defeated Lineal and WBC Minimumweight Champion Hideyuki Ohashi of Japan via a fifth round knockout to win his first world title.[4] In 1991, he defeated Korean former champion Kyung-Yung Lee (20–1). In 1992, he defended his title against Pretty Boy Lucas (22–2–2) of the Philippines and Rocky Lin (14–0) of Taiwan. López started 1993 with a stoppage victory over amateur standout Kwang-Soo Oh and followed it with a knockout over future two-time champion Saman Sorjaturong of Thailand. Sorjaturong was knocked down once in the 1st round and twice in the 2nd round when the referee stopped the bout.

Later that year, he knocked out Filipino former champion Manny Melchor in the 11th round. In his tenth title defense, López defeated future champion Kermin Guardia (21–0) by unanimous decision. He knocked out Surachai Saengmorakot (10–0) in the first round of his next bout. In 1995, he defeated Andy Tabanas (30–2) of the Philippines via 12th round knock out. In his next bout, he defeated another Filipino boxer and founder of the famous "Ala Gym" Ala Villamor (29–1–1) by knockout. In early 1997, there had been a plan in the works for López to move up in weight to challenge light flyweight champion Michael Carbajal, however, the plan was upended when Carbajal lost his title in an upset loss.[5] López would go on to defend his title against Mongkol Charoen (20–1).

In his 20th world title bout, López unified his WBC title by defeating WBO Minimumweight Champion Alex Sánchez (25–1) of Puerto Rico via 5th round knockout. After Lopez won the WBO title, he said he wanted to give his championship belt to his father, who is a boxing fan. His statement to Mexican newspapers prompted the organization to take away Lopez's title and sanction a match between Eric Jamili and Mickey Cantwell to fill the vacancy. "It was enough for us," said the WBO president, Francisco Valcarcel, of Lopez's intention. "That's a public resignation." Dwight Manley, Lopez's agent, said Lopez should have had a hearing before the WBO took away his title. "He got no letter, he got no telephone call," Manley said.

On March 7, 1998, López fought undefeated WBA Minimumweight Champion Rosendo Álvarez to a technical draw after referee Arthur Mercante Sr. stopped the contest following an accidental head butt in the seventh round. In the rematch, Álvarez came in over the minimumweight limit and was subsequently stripped of his title. Due to the weight disparity, the fight was in jeopardy. However, López chose to proceed with the contest against the heavier Álvarez with only López eligible to claim the now vacant WBA title. López defeated Álvarez by split decision to claim his third Minimumweight title.[6] After the fight, he vacated his titles in order to move up in weight.

In his first bout at Light Flyweight, López defeated IBF Champion Will Grigsby of the United States.[7]. He defended his title against former champion Ratanapol Sor Vorapin. On 29 September 2001, López knocked out Zolani Petelo,[8] who had recently vacated his IBF Minimumweight title, the only Minimumweight title that López had not claimed before moving up to Light Flyweight. He officially announced his retirement from boxing at a press conference on November 28, 2002, in Mexico City.

Ricardo López was the third champion in history to retire undefeated and the first to do so as both an amateur and professional fighter. He also shares with Joe Louis and Floyd Mayweather Jr. the record for most consecutive title bouts without a loss (twenty-six).[9][10] This streak began with his knockout of Hideyuki Ohashi to win the WBC Minimumweight title in 1990 and ended with his knockout of Zolani Petelo to defend his IBF Light Flyweight title in 2001. Ricardo only had one draw, which came against Rosendo Álvarez in 1998 in López's 48th bout and was avenged in the rematch eight months later. His final record was 51 wins (38 knockouts), 0 losses and 1 draw.

López was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007.[12]

Ricardo "El Finito" López was voted as the greatest Strawweight and Light Flyweight Champion ever by the Houston Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2014, while BoxRec rates him the best Minimumweight of all time.[13] The Houston Boxing Hall Of Fame is a voting body composed entirely of current and former fighters.