Alvaro “Yaqui” Lopez Remains One of Boxing’s All-Time Greats
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
What a thrill it was for this reporter in October 2021 to meet all-time boxing great Alvaro “Yaqui” Lopez in Detroit, Michigan, where his hard-working middleweight prospect Fernando Hernandez fought to a four-round draw with Michigan’s Matthew Rodriguez on the Clip City Promotions undercard at Soundboard Nightclub at Motor City Casino.
World Boxing Hall of Fame member Alvaro “Indian Yaqui” Lopez founded his Fat City Boxing Club and Gym at 835 East Miner Avenue in Stockton, California, in 2011. Lopez, a five-time world title challenger who achieved fame but who never won a world title, has received special recognition from the United States Congress and Senate for his achievements in the sport of boxing, and for his world with at-risk youth. His Fat City Boxing Club Gym was created to address the growing need to promote the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of at-risk youths in the community at large, many of whom face disproportionate risks and challenges.
Lopez, 61-15 with 39 knockouts, Stockton, California, by way of Zacatecas, Mexico, fought between 1972 and 1984. Lopez fought John Conteh, Matthew Saad Muhammad and Victor Galindez twice for the world light heavyweight title, and Carlos DeLeon for the world cruiserweight title. Lopez, who held the California State Light Heavyweight and Cruiserweights title, also lost to future world light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Michael Spinks, and future world cruiserweight champion S.T. Gordon. Lopez lost to Saad Muhammad in July 1980 after going down four times in the fourteenth round in the Ring Magazine Fight of the Year.
Statement of Alvaro Lopez and Fat City Gym in Stockton
The goal of the gym program is to encourage positive behavior and teach valuable life lessons about responsibility, community service, pride, discipline, exercise and nutrition as well as stress management. Lopez believes the skills and lessons our participants learn will help them grow into positive, well-balanced adults. Yaqui Lopez’s Fat City Boxing Club is trying to save lives, build productive citizenship and character with its participants. Fat City Boxing Club is open Monday thru Friday from 1:00 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. Weekends are set aside for boxing events, or for private lessons. Fat City Boxing Club is part of the Central California Association and USA Boxing. Amateur and professional boxers compete at events year round. Most of the events we attend are located in Central or Northern California, but we do occasionally travel to Southern California, Nevada (and other states) as well. Anyone is welcome to stop by for more information, or just to check out the gym.
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