Burbank’s Lopez set to make pro boxing debut
With 49 amateur fights under his belt, Damien Lopez is ready to take the next step in his boxing career.
Lopez, 20, a Burbank High graduate and product of the Burbank Boxing Club, will make his professional debut Saturday at the Los Angeles Badminton Club in El Monte.
“We have talked it over and Damien feels like he has done what he can do in the amateurs and now it’s time to make the next step to the pro level,” said Burbank Boxing Club trainer Steve Harpst. “He has really put in a lot of hard work and I think he’s ready.
“Just to see how far he’s come and his progression as a fighter is just amazing. Damien is in the gym all the time and that kid’s never out of shape. He does all of his workouts, he does his road work and he is dedicated to improving as a fighter. Whenever sparring is available, Damien’s there and he never misses a day.”
Lopez will will be taking on Jose Majia (1-5) of Santa Paula in a four-round welterweight fight. The feature fight of the L.A. Battle Club event will pit former World Boxing Assn. super bantamweight world champion Rico “Sauvecito” Ramos (24-5, 12 knockouts) against Justin “The Vodou” Savi (28-5-2, 18 KOs).
“I’m excited about turning pro, but I also have that little bit of nervousness,” said the 5-foot-10 Lopez, who competes at 147 pounds. “But I know once I’m in the ring, I will be able to shake that off.
“We have seen the guy I will be going up against once, but other than that I really don’t know that much about him. We really don’t worry about my opponent too much and we keep things focused on me. If I do what I’m supposed to do, listen to my coaches and keep a focused mind, I know I’ll be alright.”
Lopez, who is trained by his father David, began boxing at the age of 10 at the Burbank Boxing Club. He maintained his training and continued to take part in amateur bouts while playing football at Burbank.
“He’s got a great engine and he’s in such good shape,” Harpst said. “He could go 15 rounds right now if he wanted to. He’ll go six, eight, 10 rounds in sparring. He is a very versatile fighter and he has very good hand speed. He also has very good technique and he’s got some power. He is just a very tough fighter.”
Lopez was able to gain valuable experience in the amateur ranks by taking part in Olympic Trials qualifiers in Washington state, Colorado and Tennessee.
“He came really close to qualifying for the Olympic Trials,” Harpst said. “He was just one win away. He really stepped up in those tournaments and he did a great job.”
Going up against some of the top amateur fighters in the country and enjoying his share of success was a confidence booster for Lopez.
“Those gave me a lot of experience and let me see how different fighters are,” said Lopez, who won a championship in the 2014 Adidas National Tournament in Oxnard. “I had to go against short fighters, tall fighters, strong guys, guys who go inside, guys who go outside, just a lot of different fighters and different styles.
“But it also helped me see that I could compete against those guys and that was a good thing for me.”
Lopez said he is grateful that he was able to find a place like the Burbank Boxing Club, which operates out of the Burbank Community YMCA and is celebrating its 20th year, at a young age when he first fell in love with the sport.
“When I first came to classes, I was just doing it for fun,” Lopez said. “I was young and I really didn’t know that much about the sport, but when I got into it, I thought it was great. Now to think how far I’ve come and to think that I’m about to have my first pro fight, that’s pretty amazing.”
Said Harpst: “To see Damien go from that 10-year-old who came into the gym wanting to box for the first time, to 10 years later and now he’s about to turn pro, that’s really special.”
Doors open for Saturday’s L.A. Battle Club event (10410 Valley Blvd., El Monte) at 5 p.m. and the first bout is set for 5:30. Tickets can be purchased online at www.LABATTLECLUB.com or by calling (626) 388-8888.
--
Jeff Tully, jeff.tully@latimes.com
Twitter: @jefftsports