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About The Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame

In the United States, there are Sports Halls of Fame that honor professional and amateur athletes in football, basketball, track, tennis, baseball and other sports. There are also ethnic halls of fame that recognize outstanding athletes from different groups including Italian, Jewish, Irish and blacks to name a few. But, there was not a single sports hall of fame that would recognize, honor and salute the outstanding accomplishments/achievements and contributions of our Latino/Hispanic Sports Heritage not only from the United States but also those who came to this country from Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Central and South America and from the vast talent from the Caribbean Islands. The Latin-American International Sports Hall of Fame/Salon de Ia Fama Latinoamericano del Deporte was organized in Laredo, Texas in 1974. At first it was to celebrate, honor and promote local and regional individuals who had excelled at their particular sport but soon it opened the doors to include National and International Professional Athletes. It also recognizes as Sportsman of the Year individuals who continue to preserve and enhance our Latino culture, values and educational opportunities for our youth and who contribute to the betterment of the City of Laredo and South Texas. There have been since its inception an equal recognition of women athletes inductees. It was important to find role models for our youth and the organizers wanted to include all ages, regardless of sex in their programs. The Latin Hall was also created to promote economic development and stimulate business activity in downtown Laredo when local businesses are contracted to provide services to our inductees, their families and guests who visit Laredo during the annual 3-day welcome reception, media luncheon and induction banquet celebration weekend. Through the years. (1975-2014), and with limited amount of funds the organization has, had the opportunity to help the youth of our community with scholarships and other youth activity fundraisers. Plans are to have a Latin Sports International Hall of Fame Museum (downtown) (soon) which will be a first for the United States and to provide clinics (free of charge) to instruct our youth in different sports.

Mission

The Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 1975 to recognize individuals with good and proper standing in the community, high morals and values and who have excelled in sports and/or have contributed to the promotion of sports and goodwill in the Latino community.


Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame

47th Annual Induction Banquet

Ricardo Lopez

Ricardo “Finito” Lopez
Boxing

Ricardo “Finito” Lopez Nava was born in 1966 in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He is a retired and undefeated Mexican professional boxer.

He defended the Lineal and WBC Strawweight Championship a record of 21 times. He also won the WBA and WBO Championships in the same weight class. He later won and defended the IBF Light Flyweight Championship before retiring. As an amateur, he won four consecutive Guantes de Oro de México Championships from 1981 to 1984. He immediately turned pro without ever having lost an amateur fight.

He made his professional debut at age 20, knocking out Rogelio Hernandez in the third round. His record soared to 26-0 before even receiving a shot at a world title.

On October 1990 he defeated WBC Minimum weight Champion Hideyuki Ohashi of Japan with a fourth round knockout to obtain his first world title.  In his 20th title defense he unified his WBC title by defeating WBO Minimumweight Champion, Alex Sanchez. He fought Rosendo Alvarez for the WBA Minimum weight Champion. He defeated Alvarez in a rematch claiming his third title. He vacated his titles to move up in weight.

In his first match of the IBF Light Flyweight Championship he defeated Will Grigsby of the United States. In 2001 he knocked out Zolani Petelo who had recently vacated his IBF Minimumweight title. It was the only title he had not claimed before he moved up to light flyweight. He announced his retirement during a press conference on November 2002 in Mexico City.

Lopez is the third champion in history to retire undefeated and the first to do so as an amateur and professional fighter. He holds an astounding record of 51 wins (38 knockouts), 0 losses and 1 draw. Finito also shares the record for consecutive title bouts without a loss.

López was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007. He was voted as the Greatest Strawweight and Light Flyweight Champion Ever by the Houston Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014. López now works as a boxing broadcaster for the Mexican Televisa network.