Yaqui Lopez vs. Lonnie Bennett

Yaqui Lopez 175 lbs lost to Lonnie Bennett 175 lbs by TKO at 0:30 in round 3 of 10

• Date: 1977-04-22
• Location: Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
• Referee: George DeFabis

"Yaqui Lopez shook his head in bewilderment at the ring doctor's decision that gave a nationally televised light heavyweight victory to a struggling Lonnie Bennett. Bennett, ranked 4th by the WBC, was trailing Lopez on all three officials' cards through the first two rounds. In the 2nd round, Lopez scored on two solid lefts to the head, then dropped Bennett off the ropes and onto the canvas with a combination of punches. But in the 3rd round, Bennett went immediately to Lopez' head, and an accidental butt burst the supraorbital artery. Dr. James Elkins stopped the fight 30 seconds into the round as blood spurted from the wound." -Associated Press

• This bout was part of Hank Schwartz's aborted World Television Boxing Championships tournament. Also on this card was Marvin Johnson against Tom Bethea, also part of the 175 lb. tourney. The eventual victor was to receive $1,000,000. Both Lopez and Bennett received $7,500.00 for this quarter-final bout.
• The WTC tournament collapsed shortly after this. Had it continued, Bennett would have faced Eddie Gregory (Eddie Mustafa Muhammad) in the semi-finals.

Post fight comments

• "It was the referee and doctor. There's nothing I can do about it. I'm still young. I can come back." -Yaqui Lopez

• "You earn everything you can get in boxing." -Lonnie Bennett