Tiger Keeps Lopez Away in Winning Decision at Irvine

Despite a sore left hand, Young Dick Tiger won a unanimous decision over Kenny Lopez Thursday night in the main event of the monthly boxing program at the Irvine Marriott in front of 1,200 spectators.

Tiger (26-5), from Hollywood, kept Lopez (16-8) away most of the fight with a solid left jab that he threw out of necessity after the third round. That was the round in which Tiger said he hurt his hand throwing a punch.

“My body shots did most of the damage,” he said. “He’s a tricky and strong fighter. If you don’t have a good chin, he will knock you out.”

Lopez landed a punch from time to time but spent much of the fight trying to ward off Tiger’s quick, short combinations.

Tiger landed consecutive left hooks late in the fourth round that stunned Lopez, who headed to the ropes. Tiger continued the assault with uppercuts, but Lopez escaped back to the center of the ring and held on for the remainder of the round.

Tiger was steady in Rounds 5 through 8, leading with the left jab and building up points.

The victory puts Tiger in position to meet Tomas Perez, the California super welterweight title holder, early in 1989, according to promoter Don Fraser.