On this day in 1993, Ricardo ‘Finito’ Lopez defended his WBC minimumweight title with a dominant second-round stoppage of Saman Sorjaturong. The victory in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, marked the seventh successful defense for the undefeated champion, further cementing his place in boxing history.
From the opening bell, Lopez demonstrated the technical superiority that would define his career. Entering the bout with a perfect 33-0 record, he immediately neutralised the power of Sorjaturong, a challenger with a reputation as a dangerous puncher. Lopez consistently landed his jab and a sharp straight right hand, preventing the Thai fighter from establishing any rhythm. The disparity in skill became clear midway through the first round when a jab-right hand combination sent Sorjaturong to the canvas. He beat the count, but the champion remained in complete control.
The second round continued in the same manner. Lopez pressed his advantage, and another combination early in the round resulted in a second knockdown. Sorjaturong rose again, but he was visibly hurt and unable to defend himself effectively. Moments later, Lopez landed a decisive left uppercut that felled the challenger for a third time. Referee Vince Delgado correctly judged Sorjaturong was in no condition to continue and waved off the contest at 2:45 of the round.
The victory was another flawless performance in one of boxing’s most accomplished careers. Lopez would go on to win a world title at light flyweight, retiring with an unblemished record of 51 wins, one draw, and no defeats. He is still regarded as one of the most technically gifted fighters in the sport’s history.
For Sorjaturong, the bout was his first loss by knockout, but it did not derail his career. He later moved up to the light flyweight division, where he captured a world title. His most memorable night came in 1995 when he defeated the highly respected Humberto Gonzalez, proving his resilience and quality despite the comprehensive defeat to Lopez.
