Héctor López turned professional shortly after the 1984 Olympics, and soon relocated to Southern California where he fought frequently at the Great Western Forum, and became a fan favorite. López was a Mexican but had grown up in Southern California, even playing high school football at Glendale Hoover High School.
López won 26 of his first 28 pro fights, and in 1993 challenged Miguel Ángel González for the WBC lightweight title, losing a unanimous decision. He twice more fought for, and lost, major titles, losing to Sammy Fuentes in 1995 for the WBO light-welterweight crown, and in 1999 Randall Bailey defeated him in a bout for the same title. López fought one more bout in 2000, and then retired with a career record of 41 wins (23 by KO), 7 losses, and 1 draw. He had some difficulty with violence, drug use, and the law in later life, and was deported to Mexico City, where he died from heart failure, possibly felt to be related to a drug overdose.
Mexico