 As a result, on January 16, 1975, NWA Light Heavyweight Champion Ray Mendoza broke away from the new EMLL management, and with the backing of arena promoters Francisco Flores and Benjamin Mora Jr., started a competing federation known as Lucha Libre Internacional, S. C., which has since become known as the Universal Wrestling Association(and the eventual home of longtime champion El Canek).Salvador Lutteroth Jr. retired in 1987; and his grandson Paco Alonso has since taken control of EMLL, which remains the world's oldest wrestling federation while continuing to compete with the UWA and Antonio Peña's AAA promotion.With its fast-paced, athletic style, Lucha Libre is now entrenched among Mexico's top attractions, ranking with soccer and baseball as its most popular pastimes.