Philippines, 19 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


YAQUI LOPEZ SPEAKS: MATTHEW SAAD MUHAMMAD WAS THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR IN AND OUT OF THE RING, R.I.P. BROTHER


PhilBoxing.com




STOCKTON, California -- This past Sunday the boxing world lost a true warrior in and out of the ring, Matthew Saad Muhammad also known as Mathew Franklin, who passed away at the Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia native was 49-16-35KO and was the former WBC Light Heavyweight Champion of the world between 1979-1980 and defended it eight times.

Alvaro ?Indian Yaqui? Lopez (61-15-39KO) the pride of ?FAT CITY? Stockton, California who had engaged in two exciting mind blowing bouts with Muhammad in a WBC World Light Heavyweight and a NABF Light Heavyweight encounters. The WBC Title fight was ?Fight of the Year? in 1980 and round eight was ?Round of the Year.? Ring Magazine ranked this fight as #84 in the top 100 fights of all time.

?Muhammad was a true gentleman after the first encounter. He told me if he was ever world champion, he would give me a title shot. He kept his promise and we had a war,? Lopez stated.


Matthew Saad Muhammad.

In that memorable fight, Muhammad once said, ?Lopez hit me like 40, 50 or 60 straight unanswered punches and the referee didn?t stop it, I got my second wind and finished the round.?

?In those times, there were only two boxing organizations, the WBC and the WBA and we would fight 15 rounds. Now there are six boxing organizations and many chances to become a world champion, and in my time, the Light Heavyweight division was stacked with great fighters: Michael Spinks, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, John Conteh, Marvin Johnson, Anthony Mundine, Victor Galindez, Mike Rossman, and Dwight Muhammad Quawi, to name a few,? Lopez added.


Yaqui Lopez and Mike Lopez.

Matthew Saad Muhammad and Yaqui Lopez were both inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Lopez will fly this weekend to Pennsylvania and pay respect to his dear friend out of the ring and his toughest opponent in the ring.

As a 12 year old kid watching this fight, it will forever be one of the greatest fights I ever witnessed. Lopez is presently training amateur fighters and his advocacy is to keep kids off the streets by training and learning discipline thru boxing.
Muhammad was adopted by catholic nuns at the age of 5 after he was left on their doorsteps and they named him Matthew after the apostle. He never stopped fighting.

Muhammad was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig?s disease and succumbed to a stroke that eventually ended his life.

PHILBOXING.COM AND FAMILY SEND THERE DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF MATTHEW SAAD MUHAMAAD, MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Mike Angel Lopez.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Usyk Registers Career-Heaviest Weight as Dubois Looks Ready for Undisputed Rematch at Wembley
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Rodriguez vs. Cafu Unification Clash Set for Frisco, Texas; All Fighters Make Weight
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • LOPEZ VS. VARGAS WEIGHTS FROM PECHANGA RESORT CASINO
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • “Bambol” Tolentino in Las Vegas: Supporting Filipino Athletes and Pacquiao
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Unstoppable: Team Philippines Storms Into Davis Cup Finals After Qatar Sweep
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Stumble Against Taipei, Look to Regroup vs. Hong Kong
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Fighting for clean sweep
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • WBA No. 2 Heavyweight Contender Michael Hunter Is Ready to Take on World Champion Kubrat Pulev; All Systems Go for Purse Bid Winner Don King
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Weights from Panama City; WBA Women's Interim Superfly Title at Stake
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated prospect Pryce Taylor Working hard to join Brooklyn’s Elite list of top heavyweight boxers
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Justin Goossen-Brown Set to Make DAZN Broadcasting Debut This Friday at Boxlab Promotions’ Night of Champions in Orlando
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Davis Cup Team Sweeps Kuwait to Stay Unbeaten in Group IV
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Promises Surprise Against Barrios
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • PACQUIAO VS. BARRIOS UNDERCARD MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Rosaupan rules Pasay rapid chess championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Fall to China in Nail-Biter, Slip to 5–2 in Asia Cup
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • The 19th Thousand Island Cup Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on August 3
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao’s Legacy in Motion: PacMan contra El Azteca
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Crush Singapore 13-0, Set Sights on China in Asia Cup Showdown
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Laylo, Dableo to play in Baguio Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Shines in Final Press Conference: Can The Pacman Defeat Father Time and Barrios? (Analysis & Prediction)
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • More lucrative fights await Manny Pacquiao
    By Leo Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Rumors about Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Tapales, Laurente to help Inoue against MJ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • AL BERNSTEIN, CHRISTY MARTIN AND ERIC BOTTJER TO SERVE AS ALL-STAR COMMENTARY TEAM FOR THIS FRIDAY’S ‘LOPEZ VS. VARGAS’ EVENT
    , Thu, 17 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.