Emile Griffith vs. Ernie Lopez (1st meeting)

Emile Griffith 154 lbs beat Ernie Lopez 152 lbs by MD in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1971-05-03
• Location: Nevada Sports Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
• Judge: Art Lurie 47-45
• Judge: Mike Petrovich 46-46
• Judge: Ralph Mosa 47-45

"Emile Griffith has put himself in line for a crack at the winner of Saturday's Carlos Monzon - Nino Benvenuti 160 lb. championship bout. Griffith scored a 10 round decision over Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez of Los Angeles here Monday night. The 32 year old Griffith appeared to shake his 25 year old opponent in the 1st, 4th and 8th but said he didn't believe he hurt Lopez in those rounds. "He was off-balance," he noted." -United Press International

• Attendance - 2,100
• Gate - $15,500
• Newly licensed promoter Harry Bloomfield lost $10,000 on this card.
• This bout had to be interrupted during rounds six and eight because the ring ropes collapsed.
• Because Lopez was a natural welterweight, Griffith had to agree to weigh 155 or less.

Post fight comments

• "I'm a lot stronger at 158 or 159. I could feel his strength through the first six rounds. He was smothering me up to then. But I got to him with some good body shots in the 7th and I thought I had the best of it after that." -Emile Griffith

• "I was too heavy at 152 but I'd like to try him again at 148. I think I could beat him at that weight." -Ernie Lopez