Ernie Lopez vs. Hedgemon Lewis (1st meeting)

Ernie Lopez 147 lbs beat Hedgemon Lewis 146 lbs by TKO at 1:48 in round 9 of 10

• Date: 1968-07-18
• Location: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Referee: John Thomas

"Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez earned himself a possible title bout with welterweight champion Curtis Cokes Thursday night when he thrilled a sellout crowd (10,400) at the Olympic Auditorium with a come-from-behind victory over Hedgemon Lewis. Referee John Thomas stopped the fight at 1:48 of the 9th round and awarded Lopez the victory by knockout. Lopez, 146 1/2, was badly outclassed in the early rounds. But he reversed his form and gave Lewis, 145 1/2, such a merciless pounding in the 9th that the fight was stopped to prevent needless punishment." -United Press International

• The Olympic Boxing Club, after this bout, issued a $45,000 guarantee to Curtis Cokes to meet Lopez for the title
• Through eight completed rounds, the Pasadena Star-News had Lopez leading 4-3 and the Pomona Progress-Bulletin also had Lopez up by one point, although a detailed scorecard was not given.
• Attendance - 10,400 (sellout)
• Gate - $50,164

Post fight comments

• "Sure, I'll fight him again, but first I want Curtis Cokes." -Ernie Lopez

• "I felt I was strong all the way. I never got tired. But he nailed me with that good right and he was able to follow it up." -Hedgemon Lewis