Ernie Lopez

Biography

Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez, who competed from the mid-1960s through the early 1970s, left an indelible mark on boxing despite never claiming world championship glory. Born September 24, 1945, on Utah's Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation, Lopez's heritage combined Ute ancestry from his mother's side with claimed Juaneño roots through his father.

The 5'8" welterweight, trained by Teddy Bentham and managed by Howie Steindler after early guidance from Frankie Muche, developed his skills early under Stan Chenoweth in Orem, Utah. His aggressive, crowd-pleasing style made him a fixture at Los Angeles' Main Street Gym, where he fought alongside his brother Danny "Little Red" Lopez, who would later capture the featherweight crown.

His nickname, "Indian Red," derived from his striking red hair and Native American heritage, leading to memorable commentary from Pulitzer Prize winner Jim Murray about his unexpected appearance. In 1968, Lopez made history as the first Native American to be ranked as the No. 1 contender in any weight class.

Lopez's career peaked with two unsuccessful but valiant world title challenges against José Nápoles in 1970 and 1973. The second bout proved particularly pivotal - after dominating six rounds, Lopez suffered a knockout that began his decline. Sugar Ray Leonard later observed that if not for Nápoles, Lopez likely would have become champion.

His trilogy with Hedgemon Lewis highlighted his prime years, with Lopez winning two of their three encounters. His aggressive, forward-moving style and warrior mentality consistently filled arenas, compiling a professional record of 48-13-1 with 24 knockouts.

Post-boxing, Lopez's life took a dramatic turn. From 1992 to 2004, he lived as a wanderer, out of contact with his family, until being discovered in a Fort Worth homeless shelter coinciding with his California Boxing Hall of Fame selection. His rediscovery briefly reunited him with his four children and 23 grandchildren before his death on October 3, 2009, in Pleasant Grove, Utah, from dementia complications at age 64.