STEVE LOPEZ WAS ONE BRAVE MAN
Steve Lopez
San Francisco, CA– When Phoenix, AZ promoter Steve Lopez was diagnosed with Stage 4 Throat Cancer about five years ago, it looked as if he would be checking out of his room in the hotel of life shortly.
AMATEUR WRESTLER TOOK “BIG C” TO MAT
But that wasn’t the case as Steve refused to give in and battled Cancer in a manner that I am certainly not brave enough to do, to take “head on” the disease that took his life March 20. Having been a police officer and a fighter, I’ve seen people face death plenty of times, but none with the dignity of Steve.
CELL PHONE DISCONNECTED A BAD SIGN
When I last had Steve on “Ring Talk” some six months ago, I knew the tide was turning as he was having a feeding tube installed the following week. Having always buzzed Steve every three months or so, I lagged and when I hit his cell today, it being disconnected had ominous overtones.
SHED A TEAR FOR A MAN’S MAN!
When I found his obituary Saturday AM, I shed a tear for a guy more man than myself and most of you put together. Steve Lopez was a great family man, with unparalleled respect as a person and boxing promoter. His promotional life spiked in 1992 when he put a record 17,000+ people in a Phoenix arena with Oscar De La Hoya.
BROKE OFF WITH TOP RANK
After being interviewed by the FBI and watching Arizona Boxing head John Montano run things in what he called a “crooked” manner, Steve backed away from boxing, especially when and if it involved Bob Arum’s Top Rank as he was fully aware of the criminal Top Rank had in charge of their Arizona boxing interests, convicted Felon and ex-promoter Peter McKinn.
IT’S ALWAYS THE GOOD DYING YOUNG
In closing, they (people) just don’t get any better than my buddy Steve. His community contributions were in the six figure range as he railed for the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and the annual Turkey Trot Run. Steven is survived by companion Lein Lai and son Pedro Lopez. A classier man, there probably wasn’t!
Pedro Fernandez
Talk Show Host & Award Winning Writer
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