Editing Lupe Pintor (section)

==Early life and his career==
Lupe Pintor was born into a poor, working-class family in Cuajimalpa, just outside [[Mexico City]] in 1955 and is alleged to have had an extremely violent relationship with his father, eventually forcing him to run away. He lived for some time on the city streets and began boxing professionally in 1974.

He opened his account with a second-round knockout of Manuel Vázquez and immediately stepped up to ten round bouts, claiming a decision over Francisco Nunez on his next outing. He suffered his first loss three fights later, when he was disqualified against Magarito Lozano, but claimed victory in his next eight bouts, seven by knockout, including wins over notables [[Juan Díaz (Mexican boxer)|Juan Díaz]], Rocky Mijares and [[Willie Jespen]].

Pintor first boxed future World Bantamweight Champion [[Alberto Davila]] on 25 February 1976, losing a decision over ten rounds, then embarked on a winning streak of some twenty-two fights in a row. Amongst the fighters he beat during this period were [[Gerald Hayes (boxer)|Gerald Hayes]] – who later conquered [[Juan Laporte]] – and [[Antonio Becerra]], the only man to get the better of [[Salvador Sánchez]] as a professional boxer.

He then travelled to [[Puerto Rico]], where he lost a ten-round decision to [[Leo Cruz]] – himself a future world champion. Upon returning to Mexico, Pintor lost for the second time in a row, carelessly dropping a decision to journeyman [[Jose Luis Soto (boxer)|Jose Luis Soto]]. Another winning streak, comprising five fights in a row, all by way of knockout and he was ready for a shot at the world title.